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Unlike other superheroes like [[Superman]], [[Batman]], or [[Shazam|Captain Marvel]], Wonder Woman never made it to either television or film until the late-1960's, despite having a long-running dedicated title within the comics industry.  William Dozier - creator of the hit ''Batman'' series - attempted to be the first producer to put the character on television, but his screen test<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWiiXs2uU1k</ref><ref>http://www.wonderwoman-online.com/tvshow.html</ref> never made it past the network approval stage for a pilot program.  Extremely campy, this version starred Ellie Wood Walker as Wonder Woman's alter-ego Diana Prince, and Linda Harrison as the heroine; Dozier's interpretation of Wonder Woman made the character into a slightly dim-witted narcissist.

Unlike other superheroes like [[Superman]], [[Batman]], or [[Shazam|Captain Marvel]], Wonder Woman never made it to either television or film until the late-1960's, despite having a long-running dedicated title within the comics industry.  William Dozier - creator of the hit ''Batman'' series - attempted to be the first producer to put the character on television, but his screen test<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWiiXs2uU1k</ref><ref>http://www.wonderwoman-online.com/tvshow.html</ref> never made it past the network approval stage for a pilot program.  Extremely campy, this version starred Ellie Wood Walker as Wonder Woman's alter-ego Diana Prince, and Linda Harrison as the heroine; Dozier's interpretation of Wonder Woman made the character into a slightly dim-witted narcissist.

But Wonder Woman would join Superman, Batman, and [[Aquaman]] on Saturday mornings in 1973 in Hanna/Barbera's ''Super Friends''.  Sporting a moral message at the end of every episode, ''Super Friends'' would be broadcast in various incarnations through the mid-1980's, with voice actress Shannon Farnon<ref>http://www.tv.com/superfriends/show/13644/cast.html</ref> as Wonder Woman.

Wonder Woman's first appearance in animation was done in 1972 as a single episode of Filmation's ''The Brady Kids'', a Saturday morning spin-off of the ABC comedy ''The Brady Bunch''.  In the episode titled "It's All Greek To Me" the kids are transported to ancient Greece courtesy of a mathematician who happens to be Wonder Woman<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ju9FhgGRgc</ref>.  A year later she would join Superman, Batman, and [[Aquaman]] in Hanna/Barbera's ''Super Friends''.  Sporting a moral message at the end of every episode, ''Super Friends'' would be broadcast in various incarnations through the mid-1980's, with voice actress Shannon Farnon<ref>http://www.tv.com/superfriends/show/13644/cast.html</ref> as Wonder Woman.

In 1974 a made-for-television film was broadcast on ABC, and - set in contemporary times - pitted Wonder Woman against a powerful agent (played by Ricardo Montalban) running a world-wide espionage ring. Starring Cathy Lee Crosby in the title role, this first live action version of ''Wonder Woman'' bore little resemblance to the comic character; Crosby was blonde, had no powers except her intellect, and wore an athletic-appearing jump suit.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izz4OdHxyJo</ref><ref>http://www.wonderwoman-online.com/tvshow.html</ref>

In 1974 a made-for-television film was broadcast on ABC, and set Wonder Woman in contemporary times against a powerful agent (played by Ricardo Montalban) running a world-wide espionage ring. Starring Cathy Lee Crosby in the title role, this first live action version of ''Wonder Woman'' bore little resemblance to the comic character; Crosby was blonde, had no powers except her intellect, and wore an athletic-appearing jump suit.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izz4OdHxyJo</ref><ref>http://www.wonderwoman-online.com/tvshow.html</ref>

===Lynda Carter series===

===Lynda Carter series===

Despite the dismal ratings of the Crosby-version, ABC decided to take a chance on a second take, in which this time the character would stay true to the comic's interpretation.  Titled ''The New Original Wonder Woman'', this two-hour telefilm aired in November, 1975, and led to two more films (titled simply ''Wonder Woman'') broadcast the following spring.  A ratings success, the three episodes led to an 11-episode run during 1976-1977, and a renewal the following year for another 22 episodes.  Despite the success, ABC was uneasy about funding the program, as it was originally a period piece set during [[World War II]], which required the necessary, and more expensive, set designs, props, and vehicles.  CBS would pick up the series and change the setting to a modern time for one more season before the series was cancelled.  

Despite the dismal ratings of the Crosby-version, ABC decided to take a chance on a second take, in which this time the character would stay true to the comic's interpretation.  Titled ''The New Original Wonder Woman'', this two-hour telefilm aired in November, 1975, and led to two more films (titled simply ''Wonder Woman'') broadcast the following spring.  A ratings success, the three episodes led to an 11-episode run during 1976-1977, and a renewal the following year for another 22 episodes.  Despite the success, ABC was uneasy about funding the program, as it was originally a period piece set during [[World War II]], which required the necessary set designs, props, and vehicles for that time period which contributed to the cost.  CBS would pick up the series and change the setting to a modern time for one more season before the series was cancelled.  

For all three seasons the character was played by Lynda Carter, a former member of the [[Bob Hope]] [[USO]] tours, winner of the Miss World USA beauty pageant in 1972, and an actress who had relatively few parts up until that time.  Ironically, she was also an avid reader of the ''Wonder Woman'' comic book series when she was young, and when she was cast in the role she became fully identified in popular culture with that part.  Unfortunately, her contract was such that she did not make any money at all if her image was used in marketing Wonder Woman merchandise<ref>''The Late Show'', Fox Network. Air date: February 9, 1987</ref>, and occasionally a company comes out with a bust or figure of Wonder Woman in Carter's likeness, such was her impact on the character<ref>http://www.dccomics.com/dcdirect/?dcd=14432</ref>.

For all three seasons the character was played by Lynda Carter, a former member of the [[Bob Hope]] [[USO]] tours, winner of the Miss World USA beauty pageant in 1972, and an actress who had relatively few parts up until then.  Ironically, she was also an avid reader of the ''Wonder Woman'' comic book series when she was young, and when she was cast in the role she became fully identified in popular culture with that part.  Unfortunately, her contract was such that she did not make any money at all if her image was used in marketing Wonder Woman merchandise<ref>''The Late Show'', Fox Network. Air date: February 9, 1987</ref>; occasionally a company comes out with a bust or figure of Wonder Woman in Carter's likeness, such was her impact on the character<ref>http://www.dccomics.com/dcdirect/?dcd=14432</ref>.

 

In June, 2013, following the success of ''Man Of Steel'', it was announced that Warner Bros. had given the green light to produce a sequel to the film, to be released a year later.  At the San Diego ComicCon the following month it was announced that instead of a sequel, it would be a stand-alone film meant to kick-start the [[Justice League]] storyline.  Titled ''Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice'', the film would mark the first time both heroes appeared together on the silver screen, as well as the first screen appearance of Wonder Woman.  Gal Gadot, an Israeli actress whose credits include the popular ''Fast and Furious'' franchise, was cast to play the Amazonian princess in this film, as well as a stand-alone film to be released in 2017 and the two-part ''Justice League'' for 2017 and 2019.

==References==

==References==