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SALT LAKE CITY — Warner Brothers and DC are so confident in the success of this weekend’s “Man of Steel,” Deadline is reporting they’ve signed writer David Goyer to a lucrative three-deal contract that includes not only the inevitable Superman sequel but also the ever-rumored “Justice League” movie.
While that may sound like great news for DC fans, Goyer has famously expressed concerns about one specific Justice League team member. In one of Reddit’s “ask me anything” threads, Goyer responded to one poster with the following:
"I think Wonder Woman is a very difficult character to crack. More difficult than Superman, who is also more difficult than Batman. Also, a lot of people in Hollywood believe that it's hard to do a big action movie with a female lead. I happen to disagree with that. But that tends to be the prevailing wisdom. Hopefully, that'll change in the next few years. Who should play here (sic)? No idea ...."
Well, when wildly successful and obscenely wealthy screenwriters are out of ideas, KSL’s movie guys, John Clyde and Travis Poppleton, are happy to offer suggestions. So in honor of this weekend’s Superman reboot, and in light of yet another Justice League rumor, here are nine actresses who could possibly fill the boots of the star-spangled warrior princess.
#poll1
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Clyde's picks
Clyde: Wonder Woman needs to both catch your eye and utterly terrify you all at once, and I cannot think of someone who does that to me more than Gina Carano. We know she can do action, we know she can beat up just about any living thing and she can actually act. It just seems like Carano was born to play Wonder Woman.
Poppleton: I really like Carano, and think she’s one of John’s best picks. Unlike most female action heroes that rely on speed and agility to dismantle their enemies, Wonder Woman is a character that would stand in the center of a ring and trade punches with anyone, no matter how physically intimidating. Since that pretty much describes how Carano spends her weekends, she’s an easy fit for the “difficult to crack” character.
Clyde: Lynn Collins isn't a household name, but she's gaining traction and could kill it as Wonder Woman. While both "John Carter" and "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" weren't great films, Collins was solid and she's ready to break out and take the world by storm as Diana Prince.
Poppleton: The world has already seen Lynn Collins play Wonder Woman in the 2012 film “John Carter,” and I just wasn’t a fan. I’d like to be diplomatic and suggest maybe there’s more here than meets the eye, but I don’t see her slow-talking melodrama finding a place in the Nolan/DC universe. I’m not surprised she made John’s list, she just represents a direction I hope the Justice League creative team avoids.
Clyde: This is a different choice, but man it could work. The Wonder Woman in a new movie does not have to fit the exact mold as all of the comics or earlier TV shows, and Zoe Saldana would be a great choice. She is physical, strong and she's proved she can act. "Colombiana" wasn't a very good movie, but it proved Saldana can lay the smack down if needs be, and if that's not Wonder Woman, I don't know what is.
Poppleton: I agree with John that Saldana would be absolutely great as Princess Diana, but I doubt the powers that be have her on their radar while she’s lined up to play Gamora in “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Every recent “Avengers” rumor suggests “Guardians” plays a big part in the next film, which means she’s probably not playing any part in the first “Justice League” movie.
Clyde: This is my curveball. Emily Blunt doesn't totally fit the mold for Wonder Woman, but she can pull off the look, she can do an American accent and the girl can act. Blunt is just too good of an actress to not pull off the part. As we've seen lately, when it comes to superhero movies, the performances are vitally important. You now have a two-time Oscar nominee playing Iron Man, an Oscar winner as Batman and even the Hulk is now played by an Oscar nominee. So, it only makes sense that a three-time Golden Globe nominee would be given a chance to play Wonder Woman.
Poppleton: I really like Emily Blunt, and I’m willing to entertain the idea that her acting abilities might elevate a big-screen Wonder Woman adventure. True, I find it hard to imagine her tossing super villains around or giving Superman a run for his money in a friendly arm wrestling bout. But I’m very prepared to be wrong on this, and if cast, I’ll be in line with ticket in hand.
Poppleton's picks
Poppleton: Let’s get this one out of the way, because I can’t imagine John or any other self-respecting moviegoer agreeing with me on this. But here’s the thing: Casting always begins with a headshot, and Odette looks exactly like Wonder Woman. She has a terrible resume and she was pretty, not great, on “House,” but ever since she first showed up on the “Cloverfield” shaky-cam, I thought, “She looks exactly like Wonder Woman.” So, it might take a few acting classes and a crafty director to sell her credibility, but if Princess Diana of Themyscira were to leap out of her illustrated world and into reality, she’d look like Odette Annable.
Clyde: To each their own on this one, but this is all Travis. Is she attractive? Sure, but Wonder Woman is a lot more than a pretty face. Wonder Woman needs to be a woman who I'm too afraid to approach not because of looks, but because I know she will destroy me if I make a wrong move. I don't get that from Annable.
Poppleton: Jaimie Alexander is my Odette 2.0 pick. Alexander definitely enjoys a Wonder Woman resemblance, but she also comes with the physicality other Diana lookalikes lack. True, she’s spent some time with Marvel, but not in a role most people would immediately identify. As long as we live in a world where J.J. Abrams can direct both “Star Wars” and “Star Trek,” anything is possible — except Saldana being in “Guardians” and “Justice League.” That just goes too far.
Clyde: I nearly added Jaimie to my list, but decided to bail at the last minute. She fits the look and has the physicality to pull off the action sequences, but maybe my subconscious panicked and wouldn't allow me to let her live in both the DC and Marvel universes. It's like matter and anti-matter; they just don't mix. Does this directly contradict my earlier statement about Zoe Saldana? Sure. But, I just like Saldana in the role too much to worry about continuity here.
Poppleton: Tall, beautiful and no stranger to action, Bond girl Olga Kurylenko may just be amazing as an Amazon princess — or, you know, whatever origin story they choose to go with. I’m not entirely sure where Paradise Island is, or Themyscira, but if they have French accents there, I’m prepared to live with that. Also, if DC and WB want to go with a quick, slip-through-your-fingers action hero more akin to Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow, Kurylenko might be a better fit than a few of our other selections.
Clyde: Olga Kurylenko is an interesting choice. She's been a Bond girl and starred in other action flicks like "Hitman" and "Max Payne." So, she's knows action, but those movies are also the reason I say no. "Quantum of Solace" is by far the worst of the Daniel Craig Bonds, and those who actually saw "Hitman" and "Max Payne" know why you don't want those films on your resume. I'd also have a tough time with a Wonder Woman who has an accent.
Poppleton: Michelle Williams wouldn’t be the classic Wonder Woman, but if DC wants an actress who will still be interesting after the initial costume reveal, I can’t think of anyone better. Williams has proven she can carry iconic roles and consistently holds her own with some of Hollywood’s biggest names — attributes that will be essential to a Wonder Woman hanging out with Superman and Batman — and her sentimental connection to Heath Ledger also seems appropriate.
Clyde: At first I wanted to laugh at Travis for this pick, but after thinking about it I have to give it to him. Michelle Williams is not a "traditional" pick, but she's a fantastic actress and she would bring a totally different feel to Wonder Woman that we've never seen. I like this pick. Well done, Travis. This almost makes up for the Odette Annable pick. Almost.
Clyde and Poppleton agree
Clyde: Great minds think alike on this one. Mary Elizabeth Winstead looks like a Wonder Woman to me and we know she can play a super villain thanks to "Sky High," and she's in "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," which should just automatically qualify her for anything. But the best thing she has going for her: She's John McClane's daughter. Enough said.
Poppleton: Leading with my sentimental connection here, Mary Elizabeth Winstead may be the only actress on this list who has shared screen time with the original Wonder Woman, Lynda Carter. She can act, she does action, she has the look, and she carries a lot of geek-cred. At the end of the day, she’s probably my favorite pick for the iconic wonder-role.
Who do you think should play Wonder Woman ont he big screen? Let us know on the comment boards, Facebook or send an email.
Travis Poppleton has been writing tech and film reviews for Deseret News and KSL.com since 2010 and continues to contribute coverage for the Sundance Film Festival and other live events in Utah. You can contact him at TSPoppleton@gmail.com.
