It seems a little amazing that Gal Gadot is the first actress to take on the role of Wonder Woman in a live-action project since Lynda Carter in the 1970's TV series. The release of WONDER WOMAN is now less than a month away, but director Patty Jenkins has been campaigning to make the film for close to seven years, and part of the reason she's so passionate about the character is her love of the TV series. While speaking with SciFi Now, Jenkins said that the upcoming film will carry on the spirit of the Lynda Carter series.
I feel like we're homaging it in a big, spiritual way. It's partly what inspired me and started my love affair with Wonder Woman. And so, more than anything, I think we're homaging the spirit of that Wonder Woman. That spirit was very true to the original spirit, and I think her optimism and positivity and warmth came from that show in a clear way.
As for whether or not WONDER WOMAN will contain any direct references to the 1970's series, Patty Jenkins teased that "there are little moments in the film where we got to do really subtle homages. I'll be curious to see if people get them because they are very subtle!" Although Jenkins wasn't yet involved with the DCEU when Zack Snyder cast Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, she can't say enough good things about the actress.
She is just an incredibly good Wonder Woman in that she naturally exudes all of the strength of character and kindness, warmth and charm come so naturally to her. That doesn't always happen with superheroes. I think a lot of people who get cast as superheroes are sometimes true to the character and sometimes not. But when they are you never forget it, like Christopher Reeve with Superman. People stay focused on that forever after.
The official synopsis for WONDER WOMAN:
Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, when an American pilot crashes on their shores and tells of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home, convinced she can stop the threat. Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers…and her true destiny.
WONDER WOMAN will hit theaters on June 2, 2017.