Jun 19 2009
Carter Likely to Remain Definitive Wonder Woman
Three decades ago, Lynda Carter concluded her run as TV’s Wonder Woman. A live-action feature film chronicling the latest adventures of the Amazon Princess remains one of Hollywood’s all-time longest-in-development projects.
You’re a wonder, Wonder Woman- as is Lynda Carter.
In her satin tights, fighting for our rights and the old red, white and blue, Carter’s turn as Wonder Woman (and alter-ego Diana Prince) faded from the television airwaves 30 years ago this year.
ABC first brought the comic book icon Wonder Woman to life in 1975, with a two-hour movie set in the World War II era. A number of specials followed, airing sporadically throughout the next year-and-a-half. Oddly, ABC did not commit to a giving the show a regular time slot, thus allowing rival CBS to pick up the series for the 1977-78 season.
Upon leaving ABC, the series lost much of its charm. CBS did away with the 1940’s setting and propelled the amazon right into the modern age. After an initial transition that incuded several episodes linking Wonder Woman’s 1940’s adventures with those of the current time, the series began to resemble any number of interchangeable female-driven action series. It it were not for the star-spangled, crime-fighting suit, it may as well have been The Bionic Woman, Charlie’s Angels or Police Woman we were watching.
Nonetheless, thanks to the series, Carter became as much of an icon as the character she portrayed. Tall, brunette, buxom and beautiful (and 1972’s Miss World USA), she may not have been the greatest actress to grace the small screen, but she embodied Wonder Woman better than any other female could hope to. (What exactly was ABC thinking with its 1974 movie starring Cathy Lee Crosby?) Both she and Wonder Woman helped pave the way for strong, take-no-bull female females to follow- Xena the Warrior Princess and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, to name just a couple notables.
Since the series ended in 1979, the Wonder Woman character has remained visible in popular culture via animated series and a recent direct-to-DVD animated film. A much-discussed, much-planned live-action film adaptation has stalled on numerous occasions through the years; at one point Buffy creator-writer-director Joss Whedon was to script the film, but dropped out following creative differences with Warner Bros. and Silver Pictures. The film reportedly remains in “active development,” according to Warner Bros. representatives.
Perhaps one reason there’s been so much dragging of the feet in the film adaptation coming to fruition is Carter herself. Few superhero roles are so closely tied to one actor, after all- and, seriously, what female could fill Carter’s red and white boots, not to mention her ample red, white and blue bathing suit?
Over the years, DC Comics’ other two most powerful and iconic heroes have seen smooth transitions from television to the big screen. George Reeves portrayed Superman in the TV series, but Christopher Reeves more than made the character his own in the Supermanmovies (and we had Brandon Routh put on the cape in 2006’s Superman Returns). Adam West was TV’s Batman, but Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney and Christian Bale donned the Batsuit in the many Batman films- granted, some were stronger than others, but audiences had no trouble adapting to and accepting new blood.
If Wonder Woman’s Amazonian adventures should ever come to theaters, let’s hope that the actress who lands the plum role embodies the character half as well as Carter did. Those are some mighty fine boots to fill, and if we’re lucky, Carter (who turns 57 next month) will make a cameo appearance in the film. That way, she can remind audiences who helped shape our perceptions and ideals about Wonder Woman and her indomitable role as a historical figure in pop culture.
