Last week, director Michelle MacLaren (Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead) stepped away from Wonder Woman due to “creative differences”, and she was quickly replaced by Patty Jenkins (Monster). We’d heard rumors that MacLaren’s exit came about because what she wanted to do with the film might have “alienated fandom”, but now Variety offers a more in-depth explanation, while debunking a Suicide Squad rumor to boot.
According to multiple sources close to the project, the director’s vision for the movie was vastly different from the studio’s view. MacLaren envisioned the DC Comics-based Wonder Woman movie as an epic origin tale in the vein of Braveheart, whereas Warner wanted a more character-driven story that was less heavy on action.
Warner executives, these insiders said, became increasingly concerned about MacLaren directing a large-scale, action-packed production when her experience was limited to the small screen. (Via)
Variety also says one executive told them the studio didn’t like the test footage turned in. Variety goes on to say the studio is rushing to “find the male lead and love interest” for Wonder Woman, which contradicts the rumor that Scott Eastwood’s character in Suicide Squad is Steve Trevor, being introduced in that film before appearing later in Wonder Woman.
That rumor, it appears, came about due to an understandable confusion. As Jeff Sneider explained on Meet The Movie Press (via ScreenRant), Eastwood was offered a three-picture deal for a small role in Suicide Squad or an audition — only an audition — for the male lead in Wonder Woman.
Sneider said Eastwood would have been auditioning “alongside guys like Alexander Skarsgård and Liam Hemsworth”, although it isn’t clear if either of those actors are really up for the role in Wonder Woman. This tweet from Sneider makes it sounds like he’s just naming guys he thinks are tall enough for the part (Gal Gadot is 5’10”). I don’t know. It would be kind of cool if they cast a Steve Trevor who was way shorter than Wonder Woman. Maybe she could carry him around on her shoulder and feed him crackers. Wait, I’m thinking of a parrot. Steve Trevor should be a parrot.
(Via Variety, Jeff Sneider, and ScreenRant)