One of the biggest questions about DC's new Wonder Woman film is whether or not Lynda Carter, the original Wonder Woman herself, would be making an appearance. While she was open to being a part of Patty Jenkins' 2017 would-be blockbuster, it looks like it's not to be – as she's been announced as a non-participant.
In an item that was recently run in The Washington Post, Carter's publicist revealed that the legendary actress would not be playing any part in the new reboot. This comes after a long period of speculation, which was partially stoked by Carter herself. The actress had always said that she wasn't opposed to playing a part, but wanted to have a role of moderate importance that didn't wind up being just a small scale cameo. It simply looks like Lynda Carter turned down the film not for any negative reasons, but merely because if there was a role offered, it just didn't feel right.
While most comic films can't help but include an appearance or mention of previous actors that have played the part, it doesn't always work out. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as a Lynda Carter cameo would have probably drawn attention away from Gal Gadot's performance as the famed Amazonian princess. Gadot's casting was quite controversial when first announced, but audiences seem to have finally settled into her possession of the role. So really, for Carter to have a role that doesn't distract from the proceedings, it would probably have had to be a cameo smaller than she would have liked.
Thankfully, this doesn't mean that future Wonder Woman movies couldn't feature some screen time from Lynda Carter. If anything, proposing a key role in a sequel that not only serves the story, but also gives Carter something more to do than appear on screen and give the audience a chuckle, is the best idea. Sticking the landing on Wonder Woman is important to the future of the DC Cinematic Universe, so really the focus on the initial entry is to do right by the character. After the origin story has been told, and Gal Gadot has clearly made the role her own, the issue of an appearance by Lynda Carter would make a lot more sense.
Whether there will be any future involvement for Lynda Carter and the Wonder Woman franchise has yet to be seen. But at the very least, Carter has given her best wishes to the film and has expressed enthusiasm for the new incarnation of the role she made famous. If that's not a good spirited way to pass the torch to the next generation, then we don't know what is. That torch will be passed when Wonder Woman brings her brand of truth and justice to theaters on June 23, 2017.
