Adrianne Palicki Cast As 'Wonder Woman' For New NBC Series

Yes, we know this is television news but considering how long a “Wonder Woman” feature has been rumored and knocked around, and given the heat now building up around the new television series — if it does well — you can bet a movie won’t be too far behind.

Deadline reports that Adrianne Palicki (“Friday Night Lights“) has landed the lead role in the upcoming series spearheaded by David E. Kelley (“Ally McBeal,” “Boston Public“). In this new version, Diana Prince is a corporate executive in LA doubling as a vigilante at night, “trying to balance all the elements of her extraordinary life.”

Last we heard, McG was eyeing the director’s chair for the pilot episode though it’s not yet known if he’s signed on. The show is set up at NBC, though they have to be a bit concerned that their most recent attempt to bring a superhero to the small screen — “The Cape” — was met with a resounding shrug; the network ended up cutting back the episode order. Granted, Wonder Woman is an iconic name but it will have to transcend (or fully embrace) its kitschiness if it’s going to be a big broad hit.

The character has come close to hitting the big screen a number of times in recent years, with “The Avengers” director Joss Whedon being hired by Joel Silver to pen a take at one stage, while model Megan Gale was reportedly cast in the role in George Miller‘s aborted “Justice League: Mortal” movie. But if any studio has its druthers, they will let Nicolas Winding Refn take a stab at it.