With screenwriter Allan Heinberg (Gilmore Girls) busy developing a Wonder Woman prequel series entitled Amazon for The CW, producer David E. Kelley has taken a moment to reflect on his failed NBC pilot from 2011, which starred Adrianne Palicki (Friday Night Lights, G.I. Joe: Retaliation) as the Amazon Princess. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Kelley – whose TV successes include Chicago Hope, Ally McBeal, The Practice and Boston Legal – admitted that mistakes were made on the pilot, although he firmly believes that the legendary DC superhero is ready for a return to the small screen almost thirty-five years after Lynda Carter’s iconic portrayal:
“I still believe it’s viable for a television series. I think it’s ripe to do it,” states Kelley, who was attending the Television Critics Association’s press tour to support his new medical drama Monday Mornings. “We made mistakes with ours. My only regret is we were never given a chance to correct them. We had a lot that was right about it and a great cast. In time, we could have fixed what we had done wrong, we just didn’t get that chance. All my series have been a work in progress to a certain extent where you figure them out by episodes three, four or five. This one actually gelled sooner than any that I have had in the past. We would have gotten there and I wish we were afforded a little more time. I do believe in the potential of the series and I wish [The CW] well with it. I think it could be a great success.”
Asked what he might have done differently with the pilot, Kelley responded: “We produced it at warp speed and it’s a special effects show and it took more time than we were able to give it. We were able to give it more time and extended it had we been picked up. Just learning the storytelling — the genre was very different for me and I had a lot to learn; my learning curve probably would have gotten better. I’m sad we didn’t get to do it but I do believe it can work for the CW. They’re smart to try it.”
Kelley also discussed whether he would be interesting in tackling Wonder Woman again, should The CW decide against picking up Amazon, or if he has any desire to try his luck with another superhero: “I would. It’s different for me, it’s a genre that I have a lot to learn about. At this point in your life, everybody should do something that they’re scared of; I was a little scared of it, I remain a little scared of it and be happy to wade into the fear again… If I were going to do a superhero franchise, I’d probably call Joss Whedon and beg him to try and do it with me! He’s pretty good at it.”
Originally published January 6, 2013. Updated April 10, 2018.
