Wonder Woman....you're a wonder Wonder Woman!
Remember that refrain. Yep, Linda Carter's Wonder Woman TV show theme song. For it's flaws, it was done right. In fact, just about every Wonder Woman incarnation has been done right, even the recent animated movie.
So, why can't they get her on the big screen in live action?
From all indicators, the recent pilot featuring the (smoking hot, athletically gifted, built for the role) Adrianne Palicki was good. Heck, Smallville was excellent and Arrow is somewhat decent. They can get Batman to the big screen and even Superman. So, what set's the ultimate Amazon in her own impossible to figure out for a movie situation? Well, let's take a look.
First up, The Origin! Every character has one. It's almost a prerequisite for a super hero big screen debut or reboot. Wonder Woman has several origins over the years. Here's a list:
1-) Random Amazon champion with Olympian blessed gear
2-) Blessed by each Olympian as a baby
3-) Formed from clay by Hippolyta and given life & powers by the Olympians
4-) Daughter of Hippolyta and Zeus
The first one, really, means that it could've been Diana or it could've been any of the Amazon's. She just happened to be the best on that day. Really, nothing special to that origin.
The second one basically means the oft-portrayed-capricious Olympians took time to do something good. Definitely against the grain but, really, not a special origin.
The third one is what really gives Wonder Woman a sense of purpose. Formed out of clay by a queen unable to bear children who prayed until the Olympians gave in and granted the child life and power. Now, she is more than just a child blessed with powers or a random champion. She is destined to do something special.
The fourth one smacks of desperation. Gee, Zeus has another child with a human woman. Another Hercules. More reason to make Hera angrier than the last one. Yeah, not feeling that at all. Making her the half-mortal child of any of the Olympians takes away from her being unique as all of the Olympians have half-mortal children all over the place. This origin is lame.
Okay, then, it looks like that the third origin, which seems to be the most popular with the fans, is really the only one truly worth going with for the Wonder Woman movie franchise. Why, then, do they not just do it that way? Simple, it's not the current comic book origin, which is the fourth one, which is too Hercules.
After the origin, there's the reason she left Paradise Island/Themyscira to enter the world stage.
1-) To return with Steve Trevor and be an ambassador of sorts
2-) To be an emissary of Themyscira to the outside world
3-) To protect another of Zeus' lovers with child from Hera
Well, number one is the classic. It makes sense in that the Queen realizes the need to see what is really going on in the world to protect her people and, at the same time, show the world that Amazons are good, strong, and honorable.
Number two is rather lame. Sure, there's the need that's the same as number one but, there is no trigger point, ie Steve Trevor.
Number three is, again, bleh, Hercules in female form. Need I say more.
The obvious is simple: formed from clay by the queen, granted life and power in answer to persistant prayer of a faithful servant, and winning the tournament in disguise to return with modern day test pilot Steve Trevor as an emissary of Themyscira to find a strange, technological, superhero populated world.
Why is the obvious not in play? It is not in line with current comic book continuity, which lacks the quality to go to the big screen.
Following origin and reason is the story/villain of the movie. Now, Wonder Woman has a nice rogues gallery but, it really doesn't compare to Batman's or Superman's. Even the Flash has more impressive foes, really. Who, then, would be the best of Wonder Woman's enemies to kick off her big screen franchise? A little analysis is needed.
1-) The Olympians- oh, golly, just what we need, another movie with Olympians as the baddies or key players right now. Percy Jackson, Clash/Wrath, and, now, Hercules returning to the big screen. Overdone. Sure, they need to be villains in one of her movies but, not the first one. Sorry.
2-) Cheetah - the classic Wonder Woman antagonist most know, outside of the Olympians. The Barbara Minerva origin works best and can translate well to the big screen.
3-) Circe - yeah, she's a pain but, her main story point ties in best to the Olympians. Still, she could become the behind the scenes player manipulating the events of a trilogy of films. She could even be the one to give Cheetah her powers instead of the plant deity Urtzkartaga.
4-) Silver Swan - all three incarnations could work but, they all have the same downside: a woman manipulated by men to kill Wonder Woman. Kind of meh in terms of quality. Silver Swan would work better in a TV series.
5-) Veronica Cale - a woman with many issues but, works better for a TV series.
6-) Giganta - big female villain for the big screen. She would definitely work but, her origin would need a little tweeking. Dr. Doris Zuel would be a solid choice, dabbling in gene splicing to cure her disease and gains gigantic transformative powers and an obsessive new desire to gain power with her new abilities. Perhaps with a little Circe manipulating.
7-) Maxwell Lord - good villain but, belongs more in a Justice League movie.
8-) Nikos Aegeus - an interesting choice, yet, contemporary as a terrorist leader. He could be stopped by Wonder Woman and, perhaps, given his powers by Circe as the behind the scenes manipulator.
9-) Queen of Fables - a dastardly foe, to be certain, and one who would translate nicely to the big screen in 3D with her menagerie of spells and illusions. Sadly, with Once Upon a Time and many fairy tales heading to the big screen in live action form, she could be viewed as a cash in attempt. Maybe the second movie.
10-) Devastation - I like her! Perhaps not for the first movie but, with Circe manipulating the Titans to believe the Olympians plan to return and are setting the stage with the only one with Olympian power on earth, Wonder Woman, thus goading the Titans into making and sending Devastation to destroy Wonder Woman and draw out the Olympians for one final war, she could definitely work for movie two or three.
An impressive list of foes to be sure but, to do it right, the first movie must have just the right level of evil to push Wonder Woman to the limit while making it clear more evil awaits and she will have to dig even deeper to face the coming challenges.
With all that in mind, I propose they do the following for a movie trilogy:
Trilogy Story - Circe's attempt to bring about one last war between the Olympians and Titans so she can take Olympus after the dust settles and rule the world.
WONDER WOMAN
Origin - Formed from clay by Hippolyta and given life & powers by the Olympians
Reason - To return with Steve Trevor and be an ambassador of sorts after
winning the right via tournament
Setting - Washington DC, Themyscire(Hawaii or New Zealand), and Florida,
close to a USAF test base
Villain - Minor - Nikos Aegeus
Major - Giganta, with Circe behind the scenes
Story - Aegeus is the first criminal Wonder Woman takes down and returns with powers as a minor problem during a major crisis, the rise of Giganta.
WONDER WOMAN: DAWN OF DARKNESS
Setting - Washington DC and Chicago, it needs movie love
Villain - Minor - Cheetah, with Circe still manipulating
Major - Queen of Fables, by this time it will be the right time
for her, with Circe releasing her to weaken the powers
of the Olympians and Titans while strengthening her with
outpouring of dark magic.
Story - Wonder Woman puts down another unbeknownst Circe agent in Cheetah as a distraction while Circe releases the Queen.
WONDER WOMAN: AGE OF WAR
Setting - Washington DC and Themyscira(Hawaii or New Zealand)
Villain - Minor - Devastation
Major - Circe
Players - The Olympians and Titans
Allies - Amazons of Themyscira
Story - As Wonder Woman deals with Devastation, it causes a rift and makes Themyscira ground zero for the Olympian-Titan War. Once Circe is revealed, Wonder Woman must unite all sides to bring her down and, afterward, negotiate a peace that keeps Olympians and Titans off earth for good.
THE CAST:
Wonder Woman/Diana Prince - Adrianne Palicki, she deserves it!!!
Steve Trevor - Josh Duhamel, a solid yet quirky action guy!!
Circe - Famke Janssen, cause she is still hot and does evil beautifully!!!
Giganta - Kate Beckinsale, the right look and can go bad to the bone!!
Cheetah - Elodie Yung, the looks, the skills, and the talent!!
Nikos Aegeus - Shemar Moore, a breakout role for a great actor!!!
Queen of Fables - Charlize Theron, when evil's done so good, do it again!!
Devastation - Jennifer Garner, a role she can handle as a decent actress!!
Zeus - Liam Neeson, he just works well in this role!!!
Cronus - Dennis Haysbert, a talent and presence to match Liam!!
Hippolyta - Lucy Lawless, great actress with skill for the role!!!
Alright, Warner Bros., DC, and all other involved parties:
HERE IS YOUR WONDER WOMAN TRILOGY GIFT WRAPPED FOR FREE!!!
Wake up and get it done! Seriously! We, the fans, are tired of waiting on you to get your heads out of your butts because you can't figure out something so simple!!!