Wonder Woman Search Begins at the CW, but Have They Changed Her Name?!

Amazon series' writer addressed the controversy over possibly changing Diana's name to Iris on Twitter, writing, "So much for using code names to avoid internet speculation."

By Tierney Bricker Nov 30, 2012 4:07 PMTags
Wonder WomanDC Comics

New generation, new Wonder Woman!

The CW and Warner Bros. are beginning their search for the lead role of Wonder Woman in their Amazon project, putting out a casting call for actresses in their early to mid-20s who are 5'8" or taller.

The project, which is an origin story being helmed by Allan Heinberg, courted a bit of controversy after the casting call was released. Why, you ask? Because the lead character's name was Iris, not Diana, as it was in the comic book series. Heinberg, who has worked on The O.C. and Grey's Anatomy, as well as written for the Wonder Woman comics, addressed the name change on Twitter.

"So much for using code names to avoid internet speculation. ;)," he posted after news of the casting search broke. Geoff Johns, a writer who recently made headlines by finally having Wonder Woman and Superman hook up in Justice League issue 12, chimed in saying, "If a WW show happens her name is of course DIANA. Codenames (like IRIS) are used in casting a lot to try and avoid speculation." Heinberg retweeted Johns' message.

Though the script is still being written and the CW has yet to officially order a pilot, Warner Bros. and the CW have hired casting directors Barbara Fiorentino and Danielle Aufiero.

Deadline, who first obtained the casting breakdown, writes that this Wonder Woman, after being raised in a brutal and secluded country where she spent most of her time on the battlefield, is a fierce warrior who is completely unschooled in our world and culture. She's described as having "the innocent heart of a romantic ­ and she will fight to the death to make the world safe."

Though NBC tried and failed to bring Wonder Woman back to the small screen last year with Adrianne Palicki donning the infamous suit and lasso, the CW successfully launched Arrow, a retelling of DC Comics' Green Arrow, this fall season, which has been the network's highest-rated series since The Vampire Diaries.