NBC Green Light Pilot for "Wonder Woman" from David E. Kelly

Wonder Woman will fly this pilot season after all. New NBC entertainment president Bob Greenblatt capped a day of high-profile pilot pickups with a surprise order to David E. Kelley's Wonder Woman reboot. Additionally, he formally greenlighted another hourlong project from an A-list showrunner, Michael Patrick King's Mann's World. Both shows hail from Warner Bros. TV. Meanwhile, the commitment to the J.J. Abrams/WBTV-produced drama Odd Jobs starring Michael Emerson and Terry O'Quinn, whose script came in very late, is being rolled to next season when it will be applied to the same or new Bad Robot project. And Greenblatt has passed on the Josh Schwartz/WBTV supernatural drama Ghost Angeles starring Rachel Bilson.

WBTV took Kelley's Wonder Woman spec out to the networks in the first week of January. At the time, NBC was the most interested but, with Greenblatt still on the sidelines, the network couldn't commit to the type of license fee that the studio was seeking in order to do the show Kelley had envisioned, and WBTV decided to shelve the project. With Greenblatt now firmly taking the reins and Kelley just delivering one of the most promising new series for NBC this season, Harry's Law, NBC stepped up to greenlight Wonder Woman. The project is described as a reinvention of the iconic D.C. comic in which Wonder Woman -- aka Diana Prince -- is a vigilante crime fighter in L.A. but also a successful corporate executive and a modern woman trying to balance all of the elements of her extraordinary life. "I had a lot of fun writing it," Kelley said of the script at TCA last week when the project had just been put on hold. "It's a huge project, and it was probably a bit too much to ask anyone to try to chew on it for next season. But I'm confident it will still happen. It's a very complicated piece, which is the most fun thing about it."

Source

Colour me interested.

I presume they'll play it *straight*.

Well, as "straight" as anything written and produced by Kelly can be I'd assume. Since in this issue I'm by no means a comic purist, as long as it's entertaining and displays deft comedic touches rather than being all urban and "Grim N' Gritty", that will suit me fine.

The big hurdle for them to overcome here is casting somebody as all round perfect as Lynda Carter was in the role.

Indeed, she certainly was a wonder.

*wistful sigh*

Ah, those were the lost days of my youth...

Indeedy!

As for casting for the new version, I've often idly thought while watching her that our own Jamie Murray would make a rather fetching Amazon princess. Of course, if this new reworking was taking place a decade or or so ago, the obvious choice would have been Lucy Lawless during her "Xena" days.

Not that there's anything wrong with Lucy now - very, very far from it in fact. It's just that I don't see the studio exec's wanting to go with a more Mature woman for the role.

So Spartacus, Gods of the Arena is definitely not influencing you then!

Honestly no. It really is sheer coincidence that I start two threads on the same morning that mention the same two women. I've thought LL would be a perfect WW from the very beginnings of Xena. While Jamie Murray's suitability for the role came to me back during her Hustle days.

Honest, Guv!

David E. Kelly. Expect a stick thin and flat chested Wonder Woman that not even Linda Carter's corsetry from the original series will be able to help.

I could never enjoy the original series because it was on the only TV in the house, and my mother used to rip the wee out of it. "How can she run in high heeled boots? Oh look she has miraculously changed them mid-stride." or "If that is really a river she is swimming in, why is the water so crystal clear? Oh look, is that a swimming pool wall I spot in the distance." etc.

Somehow I don't think Kelly will get his usual casting way in this particular instance. I think the character's too recognisable in the public mind for the studio executives and the DC/Warner brass to allow him to get away with that.

Oh, and I can definitely see how you were put off the original with that kind of running commentary going on during the episode!

*slouches in all "Huggy Bear"*

Latest word on da street is that the pilot episode will most likely be directed by McG

*slouches out again*

More details regarding the pilot script for the proposed series are available...here.

It sounds...interesting.

OK, getting interested now.

If this is information is anywhere near accurate that makes two of us, Cat.

And Kelly and NBC have their new Wonder Woman. One Adrianne Palicki.



Palicki played Sam's doomed girlfriend Jessica in Supernatural. She's also guested in Smallville and it's abortive Aquaman pilot for The CW. Although currently she's probably best known for her portrayal of the character Tyra, on Friday Night Lights. She's also an athlete who ran track in high school and collects comic-books.

The Wonder Woman pilot will be directed by The Event's Jeffrey Reiner. Now, let the Neadrage begin!

Sid Seadevil wrote:And Kelly and NBC have their new Wonder Woman. One Adrianne Palicki.



Palicki collects comic-books.

Initial reaction: Schwing!!!!!!!
Second reaction: she's a bit of a geek who collects comic books. Why oh why where there no geek girls like her when I was in my 20's.
Third reaction: I think this version of Wonder Woman could really work. Problem is David E. Kelly doesn't get the concept of adapting other people's stories, he prefers his own creations. I mean, look at the pigs ear he made of the original pilot for the US version of Life on Mars.

Initial reaction: Same as yours.
Second Reaction: Same as yours.
Third Reaction: Well, judging from some of the scuttlebutt and reaction to the first draft pilot script doing the rounds it seems he's got quite a firm handle on the concept. Plus, DC are probably going to be keeping a close-eye on Kelly when it comes to one of their flagship characters.

Oh yes - one other titbit: She's 5"11 in her bare feet. So the height's about right too.

Post deleted.

I'm sure I'm not the first male to have this thought, but I'll express it anyway.

I'm perfectly prepared to be subjected to Ms. Palicki's lasso of truth. Indeed, I volunteer. It will no doubt be a sacrifice, where my only weapon will be my patented Joey from Friends "How You Doin'?", but I'm prepared for that awful fate.

Someone I know has read the script for the pilot and describes it as "diabolical".

I too am prepared to sacrifice myself at the lady in question's hands. I do it for the benefit of males everywhere, naturally.

Please - there's no need to thank me. I'm eager resigned to do so.

The Co=Ordinator wrote:Someone I know has read the script for the pilot and describes it as "diabolical".

Hmmmm...interesting. I wonder if your friend read one of the very early drafts? I've read a number of the notoriously rabid WW comic fans reactions and most of those were quite positive.

I suppose we can only wait, watch and ultimately decide for ourselves.

OK, so version #1 was extremely pony, so here is version #2.

I had a better picture of Lynda Carter in costume to work with. Yes, they were Ms. Carter's chunkier legs, I made them smaller to fit the proportions of Ms. Palicki.

Excellent work, Cat. You're close to constructing the perfect WW.