Superman and Batman have been the subject of various live-action films, enjoying portrayals from the likes of Christopher Reeve, Christian Bale, and Henry Cavill. But the third member of DC's Holy Trinity has yet to leave Paradise Island -- until now.
Wonder Woman will finally make her blockbuster debut in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" before headlining her solo film in 2017.
It's been a long journey on the road of development hell for Warner Bros., which has spent years trying to make a Wonder Woman movie (or TV show) happen. Here are 11 notable times they tried, and failed.
1. "Who's Afraid of Diana Prince?" (1967)
What Went Wrong: Actress Ellie Wood Walker played Wonder Woman for a presentation reel for a prospective TV series. Following the success of the Adam West-led "Batman," "Who's Afraid of Diana Prince?" featured a similar style of camp. It's unclear why the network execs passed on this project specifically,...
Wonder Woman will finally make her blockbuster debut in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" before headlining her solo film in 2017.
It's been a long journey on the road of development hell for Warner Bros., which has spent years trying to make a Wonder Woman movie (or TV show) happen. Here are 11 notable times they tried, and failed.
1. "Who's Afraid of Diana Prince?" (1967)
What Went Wrong: Actress Ellie Wood Walker played Wonder Woman for a presentation reel for a prospective TV series. Following the success of the Adam West-led "Batman," "Who's Afraid of Diana Prince?" featured a similar style of camp. It's unclear why the network execs passed on this project specifically,...
- 3/18/2016
- by Nick Romano
- Moviefone
From Wonder Woman to Red Sonja, here are the female comic book projects that we’ve missed out on…
Although Supergirl, Catwoman and Elektra are movies that exist, there are times when we wish they didn’t. To be honest, the ‘perfect’ female-headlined superhero movie is still the stuff of our cinematic dreams. Saying that, TV’s Agent Carter provided us with a brilliant example of bringing a female comic book character to the small screen earlier this year, which hopefully Hollywood will learn a lot from going forward.
Of course, Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel will be joining their respective cinematic universes soon, with Supergirl getting a pop at small screen success too. It looks like female comic book heroes will be getting the attention they deserve in the live action realm, finally.
This isn’t the first time the powers-that-be in Hollywood have tried to launch a slate of female superheroes,...
Although Supergirl, Catwoman and Elektra are movies that exist, there are times when we wish they didn’t. To be honest, the ‘perfect’ female-headlined superhero movie is still the stuff of our cinematic dreams. Saying that, TV’s Agent Carter provided us with a brilliant example of bringing a female comic book character to the small screen earlier this year, which hopefully Hollywood will learn a lot from going forward.
Of course, Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel will be joining their respective cinematic universes soon, with Supergirl getting a pop at small screen success too. It looks like female comic book heroes will be getting the attention they deserve in the live action realm, finally.
This isn’t the first time the powers-that-be in Hollywood have tried to launch a slate of female superheroes,...
- 3/18/2015
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Nicolas Winding Refn says he was "born to make" a Wonder Woman movie.
The Danish filmmaker previously wrote and directed the Pusher crime trilogy; 2009 biopic Bronson, starring Tom Hardy; and this year's Viking warrior fantasy Valhalla Rising, starring Mads Mikkelsen.
In a BBC interview, he revealed: "I guess one of the aims I am having, but at the very early stage, is that I always wanted to do Wonder Woman as a feature film.
"I would say that Wonder Woman is probably something that, to me, would be not just a satisfaction, but almost a catharsis and I was born to make it."
He's already illustrated that he can tackle ancient culture and mythology with Valhalla Rising, which does have a sci-fi/supernatural element, although it's very bleak and bloody.
He added: "After Valhalla Rising I thought the most surprising thing for me would be to go to Los Angeles and do a studio movie.
The Danish filmmaker previously wrote and directed the Pusher crime trilogy; 2009 biopic Bronson, starring Tom Hardy; and this year's Viking warrior fantasy Valhalla Rising, starring Mads Mikkelsen.
In a BBC interview, he revealed: "I guess one of the aims I am having, but at the very early stage, is that I always wanted to do Wonder Woman as a feature film.
"I would say that Wonder Woman is probably something that, to me, would be not just a satisfaction, but almost a catharsis and I was born to make it."
He's already illustrated that he can tackle ancient culture and mythology with Valhalla Rising, which does have a sci-fi/supernatural element, although it's very bleak and bloody.
He added: "After Valhalla Rising I thought the most surprising thing for me would be to go to Los Angeles and do a studio movie.
- 5/18/2010
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
In My previous poll on here, I asked if you wanted to see a Wonder Woman movie - and the majority of you said yes.
Over the month the poll ran, the results remained fairly consistent: 69 per cent want a movie, 17 per cent don't and 14 per cent don't care.
There were 1,770 votes, which is lower than on some other polls I've had recently - indicating that perhaps Wonder Woman is not in everyone's minds right now - but it's not exactly a trivial number either.
The Wonder Woman animated DVD/Blu-ray (released in March in the Us, and in July in the UK) may have helped to raise the profile of the character out of total obscurity.
So are we going to see the Amazon princess on the big screen again and what's the right way to do it?
Problems And Solutions
Firstly, take a look at this video in which the TV presenter,...
Over the month the poll ran, the results remained fairly consistent: 69 per cent want a movie, 17 per cent don't and 14 per cent don't care.
There were 1,770 votes, which is lower than on some other polls I've had recently - indicating that perhaps Wonder Woman is not in everyone's minds right now - but it's not exactly a trivial number either.
The Wonder Woman animated DVD/Blu-ray (released in March in the Us, and in July in the UK) may have helped to raise the profile of the character out of total obscurity.
So are we going to see the Amazon princess on the big screen again and what's the right way to do it?
Problems And Solutions
Firstly, take a look at this video in which the TV presenter,...
- 9/28/2009
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
With Warner Bros. looking to jump-start production on their DC Comics–related comic book movies, Wonder Woman may finally get her invisible jet off the ground and into theaters soon. No, the script's not the Joss Whedon one, which was inexplicably tossed in the trash by Warner Bros. and producer Joel Silver, but a brand new script from newcomers Brent Strickland and Matthew Jennison.
The two screenwriters wrote a spec script involving Wonder Woman in World War II that got Silver's attention. Silver then asked for the script to be updated for modern times. In doing so, not unlike Whedon before them, Strickland says they had to take some liberties.
We certainly took liberties on our spec Wonder Woman, but we also used a ton of stuff from the comic. My feeling is that ultimately something iconic like Wonder Woman needs to be a hybrid of the source material and the writer's original inspiration.
The two screenwriters wrote a spec script involving Wonder Woman in World War II that got Silver's attention. Silver then asked for the script to be updated for modern times. In doing so, not unlike Whedon before them, Strickland says they had to take some liberties.
We certainly took liberties on our spec Wonder Woman, but we also used a ton of stuff from the comic. My feeling is that ultimately something iconic like Wonder Woman needs to be a hybrid of the source material and the writer's original inspiration.
- 8/14/2009
- by Ryan Gowland
- Reelzchannel.com
Bridget Regan might have won over Wonder Woman fans, but what's the scoop on the actual live-action "Wonder Woman" film? As Warner Bros. and DC Comics continue to develop movie versions of their characters, the star-spangled heroine is rumored to be towards the top of the list. If nothing else, there is a script in the works for "Wonder Woman" -- and no, it's not the fabled Joss Whedon version.
CineFools spoke with screenwriter Brent Strickland who, along with writing partner Matthew Jennison, wrote the most recent version of the "Wonder Woman" script for Warner Bros. and DC Comics. Strickland said that the film will straddle the line between faithful adaptation and creative interpretation.
"We certainly took liberties on our spec 'Wonder Woman,' but we also used a ton of stuff from the comic," he said. "My feeling is that ultimately something iconic like 'Wonder Woman'...
CineFools spoke with screenwriter Brent Strickland who, along with writing partner Matthew Jennison, wrote the most recent version of the "Wonder Woman" script for Warner Bros. and DC Comics. Strickland said that the film will straddle the line between faithful adaptation and creative interpretation.
"We certainly took liberties on our spec 'Wonder Woman,' but we also used a ton of stuff from the comic," he said. "My feeling is that ultimately something iconic like 'Wonder Woman'...
- 8/11/2009
- by Josh Wigler
- MTV Splash Page
Look at the Joker, Lex Luthor, Adrian Veidt: sometimes being a bad guy is just more fun. That’s certainly the belief of the main character in the Viper Comics miniseries “Villains,” who decides he wants to learn the dark art of villainy after discovering the old guy living next door is actually a retired baddie.
Universal is giving the series the big-screen adaptation treatment and producers are conceiving the film as a big-budget, super-dark adventure directed by someone with a sensibility similar to the men who’ve helmed “Fight Club” and “Collateral.”
“I think we want to go big with it,” producer Sean Bailey told MTV News. “My personal ambition is to have it be operatic and epic. If Michael Mann or David Fincher were ever to go make one of these movies, what would that look like? That’s my hope for it. To be in that kind of world.
Universal is giving the series the big-screen adaptation treatment and producers are conceiving the film as a big-budget, super-dark adventure directed by someone with a sensibility similar to the men who’ve helmed “Fight Club” and “Collateral.”
“I think we want to go big with it,” producer Sean Bailey told MTV News. “My personal ambition is to have it be operatic and epic. If Michael Mann or David Fincher were ever to go make one of these movies, what would that look like? That’s my hope for it. To be in that kind of world.
- 7/28/2009
- by Eric Ditzian
- MTV Splash Page
In keeping up with the comings and goings of DC’s comic book franchises that have plans to segue to the silver screen, here we have put together Warner Bros. more recent plans on making that adaptation for some of our favorite heroes, as well as some other characters and how close we are to seeing them in theaters.
Wonder Woman
In January 2001, producer Joel Silver approached Todd Alcott to write a Wonder Woman screenplay, with Silver Pictures backing the project. Early gossip linked actresses such as Mariah Carey, Sandra Bullock, Rachel Bilson, and Catherine Zeta-Jones to the role of Wonder Woman. Leonard Goldberg, speaking in a May 2001 interview, named Bullock as a strong candidate for the project. Bullock claimed that she was approached for the role, while Lucy Lawless and professional wrestler Chyna both expressed interest. Lawless indicated that she would be more interested if Wonder Woman was portrayed as a "flawed hero.
Wonder Woman
In January 2001, producer Joel Silver approached Todd Alcott to write a Wonder Woman screenplay, with Silver Pictures backing the project. Early gossip linked actresses such as Mariah Carey, Sandra Bullock, Rachel Bilson, and Catherine Zeta-Jones to the role of Wonder Woman. Leonard Goldberg, speaking in a May 2001 interview, named Bullock as a strong candidate for the project. Bullock claimed that she was approached for the role, while Lucy Lawless and professional wrestler Chyna both expressed interest. Lawless indicated that she would be more interested if Wonder Woman was portrayed as a "flawed hero.
- 11/1/2008
- by Matt Raub
- Comicmix.com
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Universal has picked up the movie rights to the upcoming Viper Comics graphic novel Villains. Universal reportedly paid a mid-six-figure sum for the rights, which could prove profitable if the lesser-known property enjoys the same super-hero buzz that other films in the genre have yielded. Sean Bailey produces via his Idealogy banner, and Matt Jennison and Brent Strickland are set to write the screenplay. Jennison and Strickland are also working on the stalled Wonder Woman for Warner Brothers and Joel Silver.
Villains, not to be confused with the current Heroes volume on NBC, is a four issue mini-series by Adam Cogan and Ryan Cody. Villains focuses on Nick Corrigan, "an aimless 20-something who discovers that his aging neighbor used to be the notorious supervillain known as 'Hardliner,' now retired and living in hiding for the past few decades. Rather than turn him in to the authorities,...
Villains, not to be confused with the current Heroes volume on NBC, is a four issue mini-series by Adam Cogan and Ryan Cody. Villains focuses on Nick Corrigan, "an aimless 20-something who discovers that his aging neighbor used to be the notorious supervillain known as 'Hardliner,' now retired and living in hiding for the past few decades. Rather than turn him in to the authorities,...
- 10/29/2008
- by Josh Wigler
- Comicmix.com
It wasn't long ago that we were debating whether supervillains could be front and center in their own movie. And now we might get to find out! According to The Hollywood Reporter, Universal has optioned Villains, a four-issue series penned by Adam Cogan and Ryan Cody.
Villains follows Nick Corrigan, an aimless young man who discovers that his elderly neighbor, Charlie Cobb, used to be the notorious supervillan, Hardliner. He's now living the quiet and anonymous life -- and Corrigan offers to help keep it that way if only Hardliner will teach him the ways of the supervillain. Hardliner would rather, in the words of Issue 2, "rip the kid's throat out," but he grudgingly complies, and even lends Corrigan his armor. But if there's one man you shouldn't trust to be straight with you, it's a retired supervillain, and things go sour pretty quickly. You can get a peek at...
Villains follows Nick Corrigan, an aimless young man who discovers that his elderly neighbor, Charlie Cobb, used to be the notorious supervillan, Hardliner. He's now living the quiet and anonymous life -- and Corrigan offers to help keep it that way if only Hardliner will teach him the ways of the supervillain. Hardliner would rather, in the words of Issue 2, "rip the kid's throat out," but he grudgingly complies, and even lends Corrigan his armor. But if there's one man you shouldn't trust to be straight with you, it's a retired supervillain, and things go sour pretty quickly. You can get a peek at...
- 10/29/2008
- by Elisabeth Rappe
- Cinematical
Universal has acquired the rights to adapt Viper Comics noir anti superhero action adventure series Villains for the big screen. Wonder Woman writers Matt Jennison and Brent Strickland will be adapting this for the screen.
Villains is a 4 issue mini series written by Adam Cogan, drawn by Ryan Cody, with colors by Russ Lowery. The story follows Nick Corrigan, and aimless 20 something who discovers that his aging neighbor used to be the notorious supervillain known as Hardliner, now retired and living in hiding for the past few decades. Rather than turn him in to the authorities, Nick decides to blackmail him in exchange for lessons in the fine art of career super crime. But the old pro is about to teach his student some lessons he will never forget.
“The...
(more...)...
Villains is a 4 issue mini series written by Adam Cogan, drawn by Ryan Cody, with colors by Russ Lowery. The story follows Nick Corrigan, and aimless 20 something who discovers that his aging neighbor used to be the notorious supervillain known as Hardliner, now retired and living in hiding for the past few decades. Rather than turn him in to the authorities, Nick decides to blackmail him in exchange for lessons in the fine art of career super crime. But the old pro is about to teach his student some lessons he will never forget.
“The...
(more...)...
- 10/29/2008
- by John
- ReelSuave.com
Continuing the darker, villainous trend that we discussed during Sony's Venom spin-off announcement, Universal has picked up the rights to an adaptation of Viper Comics graphic novel Villains. The comic, told from the perspective of the villains, follows a young man who is failing at life and finds purpose when he meets a retired notorious supervillain known as "Hardliner" who takes him under his wing. Newcomers Matt Jennison and Brent Strickland (who have also been tapped by Joel Silver to write the upcoming Wonder Woman script) were hired by producer Sean Bailey to write this adaptation of Villains. I've been waiting to see when Hollywood would officially make the jump to villains, and this might finally be the big break we've been waiting for. The comic sounds like it potentially has the kind of story needed to finally integrate villains as the lead character into mainstream cinema, although I haven't...
- 10/29/2008
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Well this is interesting. Yeah, I know having a graphic novel adapted is nothing new, but Universal has found one that shows us how the other half lives.
Universal Pictures Gives Us Villains
Universal Pictures paid mid-six-figures for the screen rights to the upcoming Viper Comics graphic novel, Villains.
Bringing on scribes Brent Strickland and Matt Jennison to adapt the comic, Villains will tell a story from the perspective of two, you guessed it, villains. The title character is a young man who is failing at life and finds purpose when he meets a Svengali-style villain who takes him under his wing.
Universal Pictures Gives Us Villains
Universal Pictures paid mid-six-figures for the screen rights to the upcoming Viper Comics graphic novel, Villains.
Bringing on scribes Brent Strickland and Matt Jennison to adapt the comic, Villains will tell a story from the perspective of two, you guessed it, villains. The title character is a young man who is failing at life and finds purpose when he meets a Svengali-style villain who takes him under his wing.
- 10/29/2008
- www.canmag.com
After a summer of superheroes, will super-baddies now get their due?
Universal has paid mid-six-figures for the movie rights to an upcoming Viper Comics graphic novel titled "Villains" and tapped Matt Jennison and Brent Strickland to pen the adaptation. Sean Bailey is producing via his Idealogy banner.
The graphic novel, by Adam Cogan and Ryan Cody, puts super bad guys center stage. The plot, told from the baddies' perspective, follows a young man who is failing at life and finds purpose when he meets a Svengali-style villain who takes him under his wing.
Idealogy's Matt Smith is executive producing. Viper Comics' Jessie Garza will co-produce. Scott Bernstein is overseeing for Universal.
Other Idealogy projects in development include the "Tron" re-imagining at Disney, with Joe Kosinski directing; "The Blade Itself" at Miramax; and "Solace" at New Line, which Bailey wrote with Ted Griffin and Mark Pellington is directing. Bailey also just...
Universal has paid mid-six-figures for the movie rights to an upcoming Viper Comics graphic novel titled "Villains" and tapped Matt Jennison and Brent Strickland to pen the adaptation. Sean Bailey is producing via his Idealogy banner.
The graphic novel, by Adam Cogan and Ryan Cody, puts super bad guys center stage. The plot, told from the baddies' perspective, follows a young man who is failing at life and finds purpose when he meets a Svengali-style villain who takes him under his wing.
Idealogy's Matt Smith is executive producing. Viper Comics' Jessie Garza will co-produce. Scott Bernstein is overseeing for Universal.
Other Idealogy projects in development include the "Tron" re-imagining at Disney, with Joe Kosinski directing; "The Blade Itself" at Miramax; and "Solace" at New Line, which Bailey wrote with Ted Griffin and Mark Pellington is directing. Bailey also just...
- 10/29/2008
- by By Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Warner Bros. Pictures and Silver Pictures are quietly in the process of buying a Wonder Woman spec script from newcomers Matthew Jennison and Brent Strickland, sources said.
The studio and producer Joel Silver have been developing a big-screen rendition of the DC Comics superhero, with Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon writing the script and attached to direct.
So why does the studio want another "Wonder Woman" script? Sources said the purchase is a pre-emptive measure aimed at taking the spec off the market to protect itself against the possibility that any similarities between the scripts could be fodder for future legal action. It is understood that the Jennison-Strickland script is set against the backdrop of World War II, while Whedon's script is set in the present day.
Silver has no interest in making a period Wonder Woman, sources said. But as the spec script made the rounds, it landed at Silver Pictures, and executives there were impressed by Jennison and Strickland's writing.
The studio and producer Joel Silver have been developing a big-screen rendition of the DC Comics superhero, with Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon writing the script and attached to direct.
So why does the studio want another "Wonder Woman" script? Sources said the purchase is a pre-emptive measure aimed at taking the spec off the market to protect itself against the possibility that any similarities between the scripts could be fodder for future legal action. It is understood that the Jennison-Strickland script is set against the backdrop of World War II, while Whedon's script is set in the present day.
Silver has no interest in making a period Wonder Woman, sources said. But as the spec script made the rounds, it landed at Silver Pictures, and executives there were impressed by Jennison and Strickland's writing.
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