A Wonder Woman film has been in development hell for years. Having never even seen the light of green, recent news says she'll get a TV show on the CW. She WAS set to appear in the cancelled Justice League movie years ago, but would've been played by a model. Personally, that's enough reason for me to believe that she shouldn't get her own adaption, if we can only think of her as eye candy. In reality, shes the opposite of eye candy, and that's what I'd like to discuss.
The movie, Night of the Living Dead, was seen as a major civil rights allegory. George Romero wrote the lead role for a white man, but chose Duane Jones (a black man) because he was the best actor in town. That movie is one of the best horror films ever made. They didn't go for a crowd pleasing actor, or an actor who the public would've been fawning over, they went with the actor that was best fitted for the role. Christopher Nolan has a history of not giving two craps about what the public wants, and chooses the actors that he sees as best fit. Just ask Nolanites.
So why can't the same be done with Wonder Woman? The main reason, above all else, is because shes
female. Females in CBMs have a history of being thought of as eye candy. Even Black Widow, though she admittedly turned out well. We as comic book fans, see Wonder Woman as a strong female warrior. But the general public, thinks of Wonder Woman as Megan Fox. This may just be grouped with all the other ignorances of the general public, but characters like Batman and Superman are thought of as these really cool guys who will always save the day. This is why a Wonder Woman adaption should advertise and cater to
feminism.
What do you think of, when you think of Catwoman? You probably get an automatic hard on, right? Wrong. Comic book fans know that Catwoman is more than eye candy. Shes a bit of a foil to Batman. Batman believes in justice at all turns, where as Catwoman is a jewel thief (though still takes part in heroics). Pitof, the man who made the Catwoman movie, had eye candy in mind when he cast Hallee Berry in the lead role. I bet he couldn't wait to see her in the skimpy outfit. Hallee Berry even said that the movie was made for hardons. Catwoman is thought of as one of the worst movies in CBM history.
Wonder Woman is the feminist hero. She comes from an island of all female warriors. She travels to the world of men to declare peace. She was probably sexualized somewhat when first arriving in America, but earned respect and honor like any superhero. She is one of the most prominently known members of the Justice League, and there are ample reasons for it. But the biggest reason is because she is a female who can hang with the other heavy hitters. That's not to say that any woman superhero couldn't, but she MADE a name for herself.
Admittedly, I prefer her pre-new 52 look, because I'm not a big fan of the pants. But in the real world, she wouldn't be taken seriously without pants. She would just be zeroed down to eye candy. And even more than that, feminists would have a field day protesting against it. Does that mean she can't show any skin at all? No. Just no naughty scenes. If you don't have feminists on your side, there's a high chance you won't have the general audience.
Personally, I'd love to see a Wonder Woman movie, just like any DC character. But if we can't respect and understand the character, why make a movie about her?
Leave a comment if you'd like, but try to be respectful.