Beyonce wants to lasso the role of Wonder Woman

EXCLUSIVE

Beyoncé is ready for an Amazon-sized challenge -- the pop superstar wants to be the first actress to wear Wonder Woman's famed red, white and blue bathing suit on the silver screen.

"I want to do a superhero movie and what would be better than Wonder Woman? It would be great. And it would be a very bold choice. A black Wonder Woman would be a powerful thing. It's time for that, right?"

Beyoncé says that she has met with representatives of DC Comics and Warner Bros. to express her interest in a major role in one of the many comic-book adaptations now in the pipeline following the massive success of "The Dark Knight," "Iron Man" and the "Spider-Man" and "X-Men" franchises. Beyoncé's acting to career to date has included a comedic role in "Austin Powers in Goldmember" and two notable music world roles, the first as a quasi-Diana Ross character in "Dreamgirls" and as the defiant and heroin-addicted Etta James in the upcoming "Cadillac Records."

"After doing these roles that were so emotional I was thinking  to myself, 'OK, I need to be a superhero,'" Beyoncé told me this week when I met her for an interview in a suite atop the Rivington Hotel in New York. "Although, when you think about the psychology of the heroes in the films these days, they are still a lot of work, of course, and emotional. But there's also an action element that I would enjoy."

The recent success of sophisticated comic-book adaptations is the main reason for Beyoncé's interest, she said, but her focus on Wonder Woman was intensified earlier this year when she saw Lynda Carter's costume from the 1970s television show on display at the Costume Institute’s “Superhero” show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Beyoncé is in amazing shape right now (she had gained more than 20 pounds for the James role and came back from that leaner than before), but she said the Wonder Woman costume is an unforgiving one.

"I would definitely have to keep it right for that costume. The way that Lynda Carter wore it, she was sooo fine. She was amazing. I saw her costume at the Met. Her waist was unbelievable. It was pretty crazy, actually, her proportions. But I love Wonder Woman and it'd be a dream come true to be that character. It sure would be handy to have that lasso. To make everybody tell the truth? I need that. It would come in very handy."

The 27-year-old Houston native also recently finished work on the Scott Shill thriller "Obsessed" and, in her role as a woman whose husband is being stalked, she got her first experience with a staging a brawl for the camera.

"I play a wife fighting for her family and I have this big, big fighting scene with Ali Larter, who is an incredible actress. It took us days just to film it. I had my boots on and, wow, I got into it. So I really want that now. Now I have to do an action film. It's like dancing and choreography. And the superhero movies now, they're not corny, not corny at all, so that's what I want to do. And I would love if it could be Wonder Woman."

It''s not clear if anyone will be able to deliver a Wonder Woman project anytime soon, however. The heroine, who debuted in 1941, is by far the most iconic superhero who has yet to reach theaters. Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Hulk and the Fantastic Four have all had multiple bites at the Hollywood apple and Captain America and Captain Marvel, both of whom were featured in 1940s serials, have adaptations now in the pipeline, as do Thor, Flash and Green Lantern.

"Catwoman" and "Elektra" both fizzled at the box office, which certainly didn't help the cause of female costumed characters as properties. In 2005, Warner Bros. announced with some fanfare that Joss Whedon of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" fame would bring the pride of Paradise Island to the screen but even his considerable affinity for strong female characters didn't help him deliver a script that stirred studio chiefs. Still, earlier this year Warner president Jeff Robinov said that a solo Wonder Woman project remains one of the studio's future plans as it mines the DC library.

If not Wonder Woman, what other character, either Marvel or DC, could Beyoncé want to portray? With a laugh, she said: "I'm open to suggestions!"

Well, anyone?

-- Geoff Boucher

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Credits: Wonder Woman by Alex Ross, courtesy of DC Comics. Beyoncé in concert photographed by Kevork Djansezian of the Associated Press. Beyoncé arriving at the premiere of "Dreamgirls" in 2006, photgraphed by Matt Sayles of the Associated Press. Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman in the 1970s, image from Los Angeles Times archives.

Comments

[Bobby]

I am fully in favor of this. Primarily because I would like to see Beyonce in the WW outfit. Green light!

[D]

girl can't act

[Citizen]

I will start a RIOT if that happens. First, she whines about the measly 20 pounds she gained to play the 200-lb + Etta James, who is infinitely more talented than Beyonce, and now she wants to play another one of my heroes?

Ugh! Would this woman just go away!!!

[Lindsay]

She is NOT a good choice for Wonder Woman. Please studio execs do not give her the role!!

[jim]

I hope they dont do it. I used to watch the show when I was a kid. Its better to get a no name actress, than spmeone with a over sized ego. I like the original show. I hope they dont mess it up with a lot of hype.

[El Grito]

Does anyone recall that Linda Cordova-Carter was Mexican? We need to really think before we start saying that barriers are being broken when they already have been.

[Adrock]

Yes please!

[memo]

Anyone but her! Nothing against her, but she does not have the talent to pull this strong role off. She should stick to selling music and cosmetics. Would Lucy Lawless "XENA" be too old?

[Lee Bradley]

If they go with a woman of colour then Rosario Dawson got dibs on the part - she's Artemis in the upcoming Wonder Woman animated direct to DVD movie, plus her attitude about the character is great!!!

[Roy]

This would be as good of an idea as Halle Berry as Catwoman--wah wah wah...

Not even for Vixen would I cast Beyonce... Halle Berry would be a good Vixen--too bad she already starred in Catwoman...

[jp]

PLEASE! If there are any studio heads or anyone with any power over this possible casting. I beg of you, along with all of the other men who were young boys in the 70's and 80's....NO BEYONCE!!!! You might as well cast Jessica Simpson while you're at it.

[Misha]

I cant stand her acting and her songs are too poppy for me. If she gets the role of wonderwoman i'm boycotting and starting a petition

[Brandon Mendelson]

I don't know to be honest. Wonder Woman is an icon, a role model for women around the world. It's like running for president when it comes to casting for fanboys like me. It's not just, "Will they put butts in the seat?" it's, "Do they live up to the character they're playing?"

So, Beyonce as Wonder Woman? As lovely as she might be in the costume, I just don't know enough about her to figure out if she's the right fit.

[Steele Bracelets]

hell no!

listen i understand beyonce's fascination with wonder woman, heck, which little girl didnt? but please if she wants to play a comic book character, pick one that fits her, not the other way around. that is exactly the mistake they made with halley berry's catwoman. have they not learned anything from that?

if beyonce wants to be part of this wonder woman project she could probably play nubia, who was wonder woman's sparring partner at paradise island and at one point did help wonder woman in her missions.

if a starring role is what she wants then heck she can take vixen. the character is closer to her own personality and lifestyle, not to mention she can wear a skintight animal pelt/print for a costume.

[Jack Brooks]

Dear D: You said it.

Wonder Woman is supposed to be a female Superman -- beautiful, intelligent, forceful, but also moralistic (in spite of the costume!). I would vote for that "Ziva" gal from NCIS.

[Comic Book Scientist]

This is a joke, right? Beyonce is a great singer and she does have a certain sass but there's NO WAY that she could pull off the role of our favorite Amazon princess.

[Comic Book Scientist]

PS: She looks like Tina Turner in that picture.

[AmbroseKalifornia]

Can't act. No. Look what happened when you let other bad actors take the roles of super-heroes. Fantastic Four: Fail Superman Returns: Fail. Catwoman. EPIC Fail.

Who would be good? I honestly don't know. It's not that easy of a role, and she's got to look PERFECT. Jessica Biel's got the body for it, but that's about it. Can't think of any one else. Jennifer Connolly twelve years ago?

[Ti]

I would be okay with Beyonce as Wonder Woman!

[NativeNYker]

As If she had any of the originals' attributes!!

Yes, a black Wonder Woman would be fabulous so long as you - Beyonce, aren't that black woman! Wasn't Halle Berry's Catwoman bad enough? She wasn't anywhere near Ms. Eartha Kitt's class and she played the "i'm black" card to get that role and she trashed it!

Beyonce wants a suggestion? Hows bout Wonder Weave!

[Alexa]

First there's the rumors that Will Smith will play Captain America (false, as it turns out), now Beyonce wants to play Wonder Woman? I'm sick of this "Isn't it time for a black [insert white superhero name here]?" Why don't actors and actresses of color, I don't know, try to get more superheroes of color on to the screen? There's a lot of really cool black superheroes that I would love to see movies of (Even though I don't think Beyonce's right for any of them). Where's my Luke Cage movie, dammit?

[DrBeeMe]

Are you guys kidding? I am not a Beyonce fan... neither do I like her music... but after watching her as Foxy Cleopatra there is ONE thing you can't say... that she can't act. The girl IS a great actress... you people just need to be a little more open minded.

[mario]

plz!! not one of ya would pass up a chance to see Beyonce in that red white and blue custom. Say what you want, I would pay money to see that. What do u mean she cant act, so what It aint never stop her before, besides I dont recall Ms. Carter winning any acting awards for wonder woman, popularity sells. So get ready! Go Beyonce!!

[oakmonster]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Um yeah. No.

[P]

No way! She's no Lynda Carter and certainly no Etta James!