New ‘Wonder Woman’ TV series a possibility

After over three decades of unsuccessful reboot attempts, Wonder Woman may finally be returning to television.

Wonder Woman has been an incredibly difficult character for DC Comics to make possible over the years. Her name can barely sell comic books and animated movies and, ever since the end of her original TV series in 1979, she hasn’t been able to able to make the jump to the big or small screen yet.

That might be changing soon however, as the CW network has ordered a script for a Wonder Woman prequel series (a la “Smallville”).

This is coming right off of the fan service-laden announcement that Wonder Woman and Superman will be hooking up in the comics and the terrifically hot mess that was last year’s David E. Kelley (“Ally McBeal,” “Boston Legal”) take on the project. Kelley attempted to bring the series back through NBC last year and even got as far as producing a pilot starring Adrianne Palicki (“Women in Trouble,” “Legion”) in the titular role and what appeared to be a costume fashioned out of bus seat vinyl. Kelley’s project was met with something less than enthusiasm by fans and was ultimately not picked up by the ailing television network.

Joss Whedon (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Firefly”) also tried to create his own take on the comic book heroine in film form a few years ago with Warner Bros. However, that project, too, failed to find traction and was ultimately dropped (presumably in favor of the atrocity that was the “Green Lantern” film). Whedon seems to have moved on just fine in the superhero film department, having recently written and directed a small, little-known movie for Marvel and Disney called “The Avengers.”

Maybe the third time will be the charm for the Amazonian princess with Allan Heinberg (“Grey’s Anatomy, The O.C.”) taking over this latest script project.

The CW does seem a likely – if not preferable – fit in terms of networks to take over the franchise. The station produced the final few seasons of Clark Kent’s own prequel show, “Smallville,” and will be premiering a series loosely based on Oliver Queen, aka Green Arrow, simply titled “Arrow.”

The CW’s take on Diana Prince is being called “Amazon” and takes place on the heroine’s secluded, island home of Themyscira.

Heinberg’s penchant for producing soapy, melodramatic television dramas no doubt makes him a less than ideal choice for fans of the character and her comics, but makes him a perfect choice for whatever teen demographic the CW network seems to have been chasing for these last few years. However, it may also be worth bearing in mind that Heinberg does have at least some geek credibility, having penned a run on Marvel’s “Young Avengers” comic series, so he does have that going for him.

Will Wonder Woman finally be brought back to mainstream media? Will Heinberg and the CW make a complete mockery of the character? Will 30 years worth of half-interested fans be able to bring themselves to actually care? We’ll find out as the story develops.