Joss Whedon, a prominent filmmaker and TV creator, has had his fair share of ups and downs with in the comic book movies. While he has created successful projects like The Avengers and its sequel, he also directed the much-criticized Justice League movie in 2017. Whedon’s treatment of the project, which saw him taking over from original director Zack Snyder, drew criticism from fans and cast members, including Gal Gadot, who accused Whedon of abusive and threatening behavior on set.
Before his involvement in Justice League, Whedon had been attached to a Wonder Woman movie that never materialized. While the project was in its development stage, Whedon met with potential actors for the role of the titular superheroine, including Evangeline Lilly, who recently spoke about her experience on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast.
Lilly revealed that she met with Whedon about playing Wonder Woman but lacked any interest in the part. According to Lilly, the conversation was unproductive, with no connection between her and the director. Lilly’s disinterest was evident, and Whedon was quick to realize that she had no desire to play the character. She admitted that at that time in her life, she was “too young” to fake enthusiasm for the role.
“I had no interest in doing it,” Lilly said on the podcast. “I just gave the impression that I had no desire to do it, and that part of the reason was because the meeting itself was awkward. Nothing clicked, nothing felt good, and at no point did I feel like I was going to be able to show enthusiasm for the project.”
While Lilly may have declined the role of Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot stepped into the part and made it her own. Gadot’s performance in the 2017 Wonder Woman movie was widely praised for its depth and strength, and she went on to reprise the character in Justice League and Wonder Woman 1984.
However, Gadot’s experience working with Whedon on Justice League was not as positive. In a recent interview with Israeli publication N12, Gadot spoke out against Whedon’s behavior on set, alleging that he had threatened her career and behaved unprofessionally towards other cast and crew members. “I had my issues with [Whedon] and Warner Bros handled it in a timely manner,” Gadot said. “I’m happy for the changes that have been made.”
The allegations against Whedon have led to renewed calls for accountability in Hollywood and a broader conversation about toxic behavior in the industry. For Lilly, her decision to decline the role of Wonder Woman ultimately led her towards a different comic book universe – the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She played the role of Hope Van Dyne in the Ant-Man movies, a part that allowed her to showcase her range as an actor and eventually become one of the franchise’s breakout stars.
In the end, the story of Joss Whedon’s Wonder Woman movie offers an intriguing glimpse into the challenges of adapting beloved comic book characters to the big screen. Whether Lilly would have been a good fit for the part or not is impossible to say, but one thing is certain – the legacy of Wonder Woman and the impact of the DC Comics universe will continue to captivate audiences for years to come.
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