It was only in September when word got out that The CW was giving Wonder Woman another shot after David E. Kelley’s epic misfire. Since we only knew that it would be an origin story, speculation about the direction this take’s showrunner, Allan Heinberg (who has some experience with the character), would go abounded. Thanks to Deadline, we now know a bit more, though some fans were a bit shocked and confused by one aspect of it.
Now that the series (titled “Amazon” which should go well with “Arrow”) is casting it was only a matter of time before someone got their hands on a character breakdown and put it online, and here it is.
Iris comes from a remote, secluded country and until now has spent most of her life as a soldier and a leader on the battlefield. Because of relentless brutality of her life at home, Iris looks at our world with absolute awe and astonishment. She’s delighted and just as often horrified by the aspects of everyday life that we take for granted: skyscrapers, traffic, ice cream. It’s all new and fascinating and sometimes slightly troubling to her. Iris is completely unschooled in our world, our culture, our customs. And she’s completely inexperienced at interpersonal relationships. She has no social filter, does not suffer fools, and tends to do and say exactly what’s on her mind at all times. She’s bluntly, refreshingly honest. She can tell when you’re lying to her. And she doesn’t have time or patience for politics or tact because she’s too busy trying to experience everything our world has to offer. There are too many sights to see and things to learn and people to care for. Hers is a true, noble, and generous heart. And she will fight and die for the people she loves. Iris is a fierce warrior with the innocent heart of a romantic and she will fight to the death to make the world safe for innocents and true romantics everywhere.
That sounds like a great description of an early-career Wonder Woman to me, but wait a second… What’s all this “Iris” business?!?
As expected, this led to a bit of panic – not exactly unwarranted, though, given how Diana had an extra secret identity in the NBC pilot and the mess of characters not really being themselves on Arrow. Of course, it wasn’t anywhere near the big deal it was made out to be, as both Geoff Johns and Allan Heinberg explained that the info came from coded casting sheets* and that Iris will not be Wonder Woman’s name on the actual show.
Now we just have to wait to find out who gets the role. Apparently they’re looking at actresses in their “early to mid-20s who are 5’8″ or taller” and based on the casting on Smallville and Arrow, probably mostly unknowns. Who would you cast?
* – Remember that Karen Gillan auditioned for “Panic Moon” and Jenna-Louise Coleman went out for something called “Men on Waves.”
