‘Wonder Woman’ Actors Gal Gadot and Lynda Carter Bond Over Refusing to Make Wonder Woman a Joke
Wonder Woman has come a long way since Lynda Carter played her for three seasons on television. The movies starring Gal Gadot have all the benefits of lavish big studio productions and modern day visual effects. However, there is one thing that is exactly the same as the 1975 TV series.
Gadot interviewed Carter on Gadot’s Instagram on Jan. 7 about their mutual experiences as the superhero. Wonder Woman 1984 is now in theaters and on HBO Max until the end of January.
Lynda Carter’s ‘Wonder Woman’ started this tradition
The 1975 series was coming after the Batman TV series. Originally, producers were thinking of an equally campy Wonder Woman show. However, Carter and director Leonard Horn thought differently.
“The original producer sort of had the idea to do the pow wow of the old comic book thing,” Carter told Gadot. “My take and the wonderful director’s take of that first pilot was to play it for real. I was on board with that. Wonder Woman was not a cartoon to me growing up. I loved her. I felt powerful when I read the comic books. My main objective was that women would love her.”
Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman took her seriously too
Gadot debuted as the character in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Patty Jenkins directed her solo films, and she realized her filmmakers had the same attitude as Carter’s.
You and the director decided you wanted to play the humane side of the character which is actually by default something that we did exactly the same. I think maybe that’s part of the reason why Wonder Woman is such a beloved character is because she’s all about humanity. It’s not about her greatness and her powers and her immortality and all these things, or being an Amazon. It’s about the fact that she acts from her heart and also not afraid to reveal her vulnerabilities, the exact opposite of what the producer tried to do with your character back then.
Gal Gadot, Instagram 1/7/21
Neither Gal Gadot nor Lynda Carter feel they own her
Both Gadot and Carter feel their portrayals are there to inspire the next generation. Gadot just happens to be playing her right now.
“I think that I feel honored to be the vessel for this character that means so much to so many people and it only changed my life for the better,” Gadot said. “It’s the best thing one could ever want, ask for and I’m forever grateful. Forever and it’s a blast. I love Wonder Woman so much. It’s like she’s our baby.”
Gadot thanked Carter for paving the way for her.
“I’m so lucky to have you as a mentor,” Gadot said. “I’m so grateful. You opened the gates to the Wonder Woman world. Thank you for doing this for us.”
Carter returned the gratitude for what Gadot’s films are doing for Wonder Woman.
“The world belongs to the new generations of people and it is this inspiration, Gal, that you and Patty are helping to bring forth is this new generation,” Carter said. “To your daughters and to my daughter and my son, it’s their turn.”
