Diana Prince, a.k.a. Wonder Woman is going to be a major player in Warner Bros.' DC Extended Universe with appearances in Batman V Superman, Justice League, and her own solo vehicle all in the next year. Gal Gadot will be portraying the first live-action cinematic version of the character, but she's not the only actress to bring life to the iconic heroine. During the 1970s, Lynda Carter was Wonder Woman on a TV series which had a successful run from 1975 to 1979.
There were fans hoping that Carter could be included in the Wonder Woman standalone film, and actor Chris Pine (who plays Steve Trevor in the movie) made headlines recently when he slyly remarked that he couldn't tell reporters if the original Wonder Woman would be making an appearance. However, it's now been reported that Carter does not have a part in the 2017 blockbuster.
The news comes courtesy of the Washington Post, who reached out to Carter's publicist and asked about her potential involvement. She isn't "so much as an extra," but there apparently isn't any ill will between Carter and the studio. According to the article, Carter wishes the Wonder Woman film finds success when it is released.
This development will be disappointing for longtime fans that have followed Wonder Woman media for years. Carter's turn as the character was well renowned and even influenced the comics as she rose in popularity (the spin transformation). She's been a vocal supporter for various Wonder Woman remakes over the years, and at one point said she'd be willing to take a small role in a movie - as long as it wasn't gratuitous. It may never be known if Carter was offered a cameo and turned it down, or if it's something director Patty Jenkins never considered while developing the project.
In all honestly, this is probably the best direction to go. After being introduced in Batman V Superman, the solo Wonder Woman film will give Gadot a chance to shine on her own before she joins the large ensemble of Justice League. Carter showing up could arguably be distracting for viewers, especially if there isn't a natural place to fit her into the main story. The makers of Wonder Woman have 75 years of history to draw from, so they more than likely will include a few Easter eggs, tipping their hats to what came before in more subtle ways.
Which is to say, fans of the Wonder Woman TV show may still see that program be referenced in the film in some capacity. WB is aware that there are certain versions of their characters that have resonated with the viewing public, setting the stage for superheroes to be the dominant force in pop culture today. Man of Steel allegedly has Henry Cavill's face transform into Christopher Reeve for a moment while Superman is fighting the world engine, so previous incarnations of Justice League members are in the backs of the filmmakers' minds. For what it's worth, we still haven't seen Gadot's Diana go from her civilian get-up to Wonder Woman armor, so perhaps Gadot will be spinning her way into battle soon.
NEXT: Wonder Woman Movie Preview
Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice will see theatrical release on March 25th, 2016, followed by Suicide Squad on August 5th, 2016; Wonder Woman on June 23rd, 2017; Justice League Part One on November 17th, 2017; The Flash on March 23rd, 2018; Aquaman on July 27th, 2018; Shazam on April 5th, 2019; Justice League Part Two on June 14th, 2019; Cyborg on April 3rd, 2020; and Green Lantern on June 19th, 2020. The Superman and Batman solo films have release dates TBD.
Source: Washington Post