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"Wonder Woman" gets animated

by
Reese DoWitt

Move over Dark Knight, step aside Iron Man: Ladies, it’s our turn to save the world. Coming this summer winter to theaters DVD is the new live-action animated feature film, Wonder Woman. Sure, this version of Wonder Woman won’t be breaking any weekend records at the box office, but judging by this movie poster, it could have if only given the chance.

Despite its straight to DVD status, the cast behind this new animated flick appears to have all the benchmarks of a could-be-blockbuster: Keri Russell is the voice of Wonder Woman, Virginia Madsen is Wonder Woman's mother, Queen Hippolyta; Rosario Dawson is Diana's Amazon rival Artemis; and Alfred Molina is Ares, Wonder Woman’s nemesis.

Comic book fans can take heart in knowing that this version stays true to the original story. The movie will tell the story of how Wonder Woman came to be, beginning with her origin as an Amazon princess. Keri Russell said of her character: "She's a true, strong warrior, but she's also right at the break of being a young woman standing on her own and fighting out in the world.” I hear you sister — who among us hasn’t been there? (Sans the whole warrior thing.)

Here is a peek at the recently released trailer:

I know that the “some heroes are made, this one is born” tag line is a bit cliché, but that aside this trailer made me want to grab my Wonder Woman swimsuit, throw on some tin foil wrist shields and go out and save the universe — or at the very least rescue kitty out of tree. (I know that confession was awkward for both of us but come on now, you can’t help but get sucked in by all that action and of course the intense gothic power ballad that played during the preview.)

Perhaps this film will serve as a springboard to show that Wonder Woman is as great of a character as any caped crusader, man of steel or otherwise and deserves her own film with you know, actors in it, special effects and the glitzy red carpet fanfare. Other female comic characters have managed to make the leap off the drawing boards and into live-action films (surely the benchmark of success among those in the superhero world), but was their less than stellar box office performance an indicator that movie goers aren’t ready for a super heroine? Angelina Jolie’s film Tomb Raider did well at the box office but was that just because she happens to be the sexiest woman alive, wielding guns in a tank top? Throw a cape on her character or perhaps a colorful unitard would her character still be appealing to men and women?

There has been talk of a live action picture of Wonder Woman for some time now, but alas the business side and the creative side of the movie biz cant seem to get agree on a solid concept (come back Joss Whedon) thus the movie will remain in limbo. Until then we keep busy by trying to figure out how is it that The Hulk managed to get remade before Wonder Woman could even begin. In the meantime we have this kick ass animated version of Wonder Woman to keep us swooning.

Would you watch this animated version? And riddle me this: Do you think female superhero box office flops like Cat Woman and Elektra has made Hollywood leery of producing a live action film of Wonder Woman?

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    • Submitted by
    Reese DoWitt
    on August 7, 2008 - 1:00pm.
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    cosmiccowgirl's picture

    Elektra and Catwoman

    Submitted by
    cosmiccowgirl (571 posts)
    on August 7, 2008 - 1:10pm.
    Elektra and Catwoman probably did badly because they were HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE movies. I doubt it had anything to do with their being about women. If someone would make a decent movie about a female superhero, maybe we could find out if it would be popular.
    brutal_romance's picture

    ah, the trailer gave me goosebumps

    Submitted by
    Brutal_Romance (138 posts)
    on August 7, 2008 - 1:23pm.

    but lets face it, some female super hero movies tend to flop and bring great disappointment *cough*Elektra*cough*, but i personally liked Catwoman so i have no idea how come they didnt profit from my 3 visits to the movies, (dragging along a friend everytime) and my purchase of the DVD.

     and yes, they REMADE The Hulk, and Wonder Woman didnt even touch the silver screen yet?! tsk tsk...

    Kaytiana's picture

    I quite liked Elektra, but

    Submitted by
    Kaytiana (189 posts)
    on August 7, 2008 - 1:40pm.
    I quite liked Elektra, but then what's not to like about a movie with Jen Garner skantily clad?!?!  But seriously, Elektra is a really interesting character, the movie wasn't great (although I didn't think it was awful, and certainly not remarkably worse than other less good comic book movies) but I don't understand why it did so much worse?!?!  Surely all the same fanboys and girls would go to see Elektra and any other superhero movie?  I would say it is possibly that she is not as well established hero as Supes or Batman.  However I do agree that a great female superhero movie needs to be made, and I am holding out great hopes for WW! I would really, really love for Joss to get back involved, I was so overly hyped when he was, and fully believe he is the best person for the job.
    red08's picture

    My hero *sigh*

    Submitted by
    Red08 aka The Joker (984 posts)
    on August 7, 2008 - 1:48pm.

    I would really enjoy seeing Keri Russell kick some booty. And Rosario Dawson COME ON she would make a perfect amazonian. To bad we can't see that on the big screen. My fav. part of the tv show was when Diana would run to a safe spot  to become WONDER WOMAN!! Just came to mind of who would make a perfect wonder woman, Erin Daniels! 

    Arcane Tremere's picture

    yes

    Submitted by
    Nyssa (3530 posts)
    on August 7, 2008 - 3:53pm.

    This seems like another good film that they have released in the last year or so. i wonder if they are going to be drawn tother ( superman Batman and Wonder Woman ) into a new JLA. since they have stopped the long runningConroy arc of goodness. I hope this is just as good as that legacy .

     

     

     

    ~~

    Lost in the Wild Roses

    kdbyrd2's picture

    cool... but..

    Submitted by
    Amanda Kay! :) (19 posts)
    on August 7, 2008 - 4:13pm.

    Why is SHE 'our' favorite super hero? What about Batwoman? She is a lesbian with superpowers!! :)

    Its cool though, we need MORE women superheros!

    Batman's picture

    well, this is a start...

    Submitted by
    Batman (375 posts)
    on August 7, 2008 - 4:46pm.

     anyone think Lucy Lawless would be the best live action Wonder Woman?

    as for Hulk getting rebooted before WW ever getting off the ground is because Marvel is having an Avengers film hopefully in 2010.  Because of this they want all new people for thier films (that's why The Punisher is rebooted for '08) so they can have all the films seem like it really is in the Marvel universe ( Tony Stark at the very end of Hulk, Captain America reference and shield in Iron Man)

    WW is part of DC who really only have Batman to look towards for future films, but FINGERS CROSSED!  *** Wonder Woman will be in the Justice League film still in the talks but is def. happening.  So we will see her in a live action film, even if it has other superheroes...

    _______________________________________________________

    got Cloverfield? 1-18-08-underground.com does...
    FilmGrrl's picture

    Xena anyone?

    Submitted by
    FilmGrrl (91 posts)
    on August 7, 2008 - 8:00pm.
    I agree that Lucy Lawless would make a terrific Wonder Woman. I am looking forward to this animated version. However, I don't want to jump the gun. What about a Xena movie? The Xena character seems like a natural for the big screen and I know there have been talks about bringing her (and Gabby, of course too!) to film. Before any of the comic characters move from the page to celluoid, I'd like to the Warrior Princess up there on that huge screen.
    Reese DoWitt's picture

    In the Justice League

    Submitted by
    Reese DoWitt (57 posts)
    on August 7, 2008 - 8:21pm.
    In the Justice League animated feature Lucy Lawless voices Wonder Woman....hey it's a start.  You both should be casting agents!
    GrrrlRomeo's picture

    It's the age thing

    Submitted by
    GrrrlRomeo (618 posts)
    on August 10, 2008 - 12:50am.

    Lucy Lawless is a pretty obvious choice in my book, at least on the short list of who could play WW. But they wouldn't cast anyone over 25 to play WW.

    Batman's picture

    true...sad but true...

    Submitted by
    Batman (375 posts)
    on August 10, 2008 - 11:23am.

    the only other woman I could think of ever playing WW would be jessica biel...(?) your right it is a short list, but you can't just have any person play Wonder Woman, I mean COME ON!

    and the Justice League film that DC is working on is LIVE ACTION so we get the cartoon and real people yea!  so...they better get someone on that friggin phone. lol.

     

    ________________________________________________________

    got Cloverfield? 1-18-08-underground.com does...
    gato's picture

    Justice League

    Submitted by
    gato (866 posts)
    on August 12, 2008 - 5:37pm.

    Will never happen.. too much to pack into a two hour movie and the budget for the actors alone..will not happen.. DC/WB will never be able to pull that off. too many suits in the kitchen.

    Now Marvel on the other hand. Having a stand alone produciton compnay, they have had some pretty successful franchises and I believe they have a fantastic plan in the works for the Avengers movie. I have faith in them pull it it off.

    As for Lucy..she has been my number one choice since day one. But she will never get the role..age for one..but they want a Megan Fox type of Wonder Woman...young hot and cute regardless of weather she fits the part or not.

    DameRhetorica's picture

    Wonder Woman, Every Time

    Submitted by
    DameRhetorica (53 posts)
    on August 7, 2008 - 5:12pm.
    As the Halloween episode of Bones makes clear, Wonder Woman beats out other female superheroes—and especially Catwoman—every time!
    glandahl's picture

    If only

    Submitted by
    Sheena (3378 posts)
    on August 7, 2008 - 7:54pm.

    they had not pulled Joss Whedon off Wonder Woman.  He could have done to the female superhero movie genre what Peter Jackson did to the fantasy movie genre (or at least came close). 

    I think one of the problems is as far as I have seen there hasn't been a strong enough female superhero carrying a comic.  Of course there are plenty of male superheroes carrying the comics.  Though more females reads comics now than they used to it is still a male dominated industry.  Cause of this I think it would be hard to have a female superhero carry a movie.  In order for this to work you will need a hell of a lot of talent behind the camera as well as in front of it.

    To me the best female "superhero" on the big screen was Ripley from Aliens. 

    captainsam's picture

    I'm terribly afraid of a

    Submitted by
    captainsam (67 posts)
    on August 7, 2008 - 8:13pm.

    I'm terribly afraid of a live Wonder Woman feature--knowing our luck, they'd cast some twig of a starlet with a black dye job, instead of someone like Lucy Lawless who's got the stature for the role.  Lucy Lawless is too old now, though, since I think they'd want to do an origins-type film for Wonder Woman. 

    Artemis wasn't really Diana's rival; in fact, I think they got on pretty well from the beginning.  Artemis was the only one who was all, hey, I don't think invading Themyscira is such an honorable thing to do.  If they posit Diana and Artemis as rivals in the DVD, that'll really suck.

    gato's picture

    um...

    Submitted by
    gato (866 posts)
    on August 12, 2008 - 6:34pm.
    May I be your friend!!!?!?!?*swoon*
    geeness's picture

    the video is not working

    Submitted by
    Gillian (153 posts)
    on August 8, 2008 - 4:03am.

    the video is not working for me (maybe cos i'm outwith the usa) does anyone know where else i can view it??

    i loved the tomb raider films, and also liked elektra and catwoman. i don't understand why everyone says they were crap *shrugs*


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