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

[Cristina]

wtf! no!! look if this was some other movie fine go for it but when it comes to comic characters its a big deal! there are so many fans and if u dont get the right person to play the part fans will get angery plus fans like new faces someone new its more realistic that way not a famous music artist thats spoils everything its not very realistic its like getting justine timberlake to play superman!!!

[gina]

Since when is April Fools' Day observed in November? Cuz Beyonce has to be JOKING!

[Maria]

It could work. As long as the role involved very little dialog and lots of body shots... I'd watch that.

I actually think that physically shes perfect, shes just so "over acty." The way she talks is over dramatic. It worked in Austin Powers, but it would get old FAST playing a superhero. Still, I think she could pull it off with the right cast/director.

What about Jessica Beil? Very athletic, good actress... plus her body is the kind of body I picture for a modern WonderWoman; tall, toned, VERY sculpted legs and butt. Her or Jessica Alba.

[Adrienne]

Please GOD no!! No No No No No!! Please go sit down and have some babies, take a break....and i agree she can play another role or another superhero but NOT our beloved Superwoman it would just be WRONG!!!

[Super R]

I say give Jennifer Hudson the role. Or maybe Anika Noni Rose. And Oscar and a Tony trumps a bunch of Grammys!

But seriously, this issue should not be about race. But obviously its become that. If we are to be correct about the roots and ethnicity for Wonder Woman then she should be Latina. Hello, where is the Amazon people? If you can't find it on a map, you shouldn't have an opinion on this matter! But more importantly, There aren't enough Latina roles in American cinema anyway.

I say give the role to Selma Hayek. Sophia Vergara. Or even dare I say Jennifer Lopez.

Yes, America is not just black or white.

[DE]

SHE CANT ACT

[Branimir9000]

Beyonce is so 2005. If she can act, how about Tennis Star Ana Ivanovic?

[Wonderfan]

I'm a black person, and I will say it. NO WAY! First off, no one can fill Lynda Carter's shoes. Second, I'm wary of this "lets get a ethic person to play a traditionally white establish character" crap. That's taking the PC bit too far. (I still refuse to accept Jessica Alba as Sue Richards). Find a talented white no name actress like they did with Carter.

[Duval Stowers]

Absolutly NOT! She cannot act nor does she have the athletic physique for the role.If she wants to play a DC Hero,she could play "Vixen" if Warners decide to make Justice League.And say,wasn`t Lynda Carter hispanic? The barrior was broken a long time ago when she put on the outfit.They`re better off with an unknown actress,of greek descent.

[sausana]

she would be graet at it

[Carl]

Interesting twist on the Beyonce choice here:
http://www.sportsfanlive.com/web/poll?pollId=6784866

[Vivian]

Well, Beyonce had her chance to play Wonder Woman. Maybe she will get that chance again next year. on that one special day: October 31---Hollyween.

[MizzML]

she cant act these kind of strong, bold roles, shes more of a Diva

she should stick to music, thats what shes good at

i am black (i am only saying this to avoid sounding racist ) and i dont think that there should be a black wonder woman because its like shaft being white or james bond being chinese, you have to stick to the story and not change it up too much

xx

[D.D.]

As if going to the press about her ambitions gives her claim over the W.W. role? Is this really the protocol for auditioning a role? It is hard to take Beyonce's words too seriously, as they are inflated as her zeppelin sized ego. A bit embarrassed for her...

[jj]

She's begging to sing for Obama & now she's begging to be W.W? Don't call us we'll call you!

[alaa]

yh.............
BEYONCE..WOULD..BE..GREAT..
GET..LOST..HATERS

[Joseph]

Super R,

Sorry, you're mistaken about the Latina thing. Amazons aren't the same thing as Amazonians. In other words, Wonder Woman, or Princess Diana, and her people, aren't from the Amazon Basin in South America. The Amazons were a warrior tribe of women in Greek mythology. In fact, the iconography seen on Themyscira (Paradise Island), where the Amazons live in the Wonder Woman story, is all Greek. They worship the Greek gods, for example.

I love Beyonce, and she should definitely play a superhero sometime, but Wonder Woman is not right for her. Wonder Woman has black hair, blue eyes, and creamy white skin. As another poster mentioned, Jessica Alba wasn't exactly the right fit for Susan Storm, although they blondified her enough to where it wasn't too bad of a fit. When we go to see comic book movies, we go to see the comic book come to life on the big screen. When the movie character doesn't look like the comic book character, it really dampens the whole experience. Going back to Halle Berry...had she played a catlike superhero, it would have been better than actually calling her Catwoman, even though it wasn't the same Catwoman from the Batman comics.

And lest anyone say it's a racial thing, it totally isn't. The best example for that is the Incredible Hulk. The last two Hulk movies have shown a Hulk that just doesn't quite look right from the comics, and it really makes a difference. And both times, the Hulk was done in CGI. And even going back to the TV show, Lou Ferrigno looked ridiculous as the Hulk...too small. The Hulk is supposed to be way taller, wider, and much much stronger, and all we got was a muscleman painted green. So yeah, it has nothing to do with race and everything to do with getting the look of the characters right to match up as closely as possible with the comics.

[Bill]

MEGAN GALE = WONDER WOMAN.

Google Megan's pictures. Tall, stunning, humane and intelligent!

[Lee]

I`m a chinese student. I know little about your Wonder Woman. but i can see she is really a hero in your minds. whatever, this is the industry of entertainment, so is in China. Every singer acts and every actor sings and all people cheers no matter what they really are and really desreve. All I wanna say is that everyone entertains , entertain us.

[Sakinah S.]

Beyonce is acceptable as a pop singer but she should not play Wonder Woman. I agree with some of the comments preceding my own such as 1) she cannot act , though she has moments (brief moments) that hint she may have potential 2) it's best to stick to the original character when bringing their story to the screen (I figure E. Kitt played Catwoman due to the t.v. series but she was excellent, regardless). I actually would like to see Angelina Jolie or Catherine Zeta-Jones. They still look young enough to play the role but DEFINITELY not Beyonce--PLEASE

[Andie]

is Beyonce willing to bleach her skin to really take on this role and really look like the character? probably not. it's disgraceful the whole ethnic angle. you are playing the character not the other way around.
i don't appreciate that she is using my hero in order to gain publicity for herself.

[MizzML]

how bout megan good as wonder woman???

she might need to gain a little bit of weight,,,

i think wonder woman should be curvy

xx

[MizzML]

I MEANT MEGAN FOX

i duno if i put that but i think i wrote megan good loool

xx

[Lisa]

Maybe she should learn how to speak, that would help.

[Franny]

she's not even a good actress, she sucks!, please do not make her poop on my childhood hero.