Joss Whedon

Sydney firms as Wonder Woman location Date: 13/09/05 By Jonathon Moran

Writer/director Joss Whedon has tipped Sydney as a frontrunner for production on the upcoming Hollywood film Wonder Woman.

Hollywood producer Joel Silver, who made the Matrix movies, has already touted Australia as top of his list to make the film.

"Joel Silver likes to film here and I see nothing wrong with that," Whedon said in Sydney, promoting the release of his first feature film Serenity.

"I will do what is right for the movie."

The Wonder Woman project is a closely kept secret at the moment with Whedon signed on to write the screenplay and direct the film.

He is currently writing the script and expects to be finished within a couple of months.

"I am writing it," he said of the film which is slated for a 2007 release.

"Right now it exists only in my brain. This is the best part, the free associating, really finding the moments."

Casting is also top secret.

Silver would not be drawn on who might slip into the skimpy red, white and blue costume and bullet-reflecting bracelets Lynda Carter made famous in the 1970s TV series.

"There are no actors in the running for this movie," said Whedon, the creator of hit US TV series’ Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.

"The stipulations and agreements that I have with Joel (Silver) and Warner Bros is not to worry about casting or time constraints."

Tom Cruise’s wife-to-be Katie Holmes and The OC’s Mischa Barton are rumoured candidates, as is Stealth actor Jessica Biel.

With overseas production cheaper and films often being shot in Australia, New Zealand, Eastern Europe and Africa, Whedon said there had been increased pressure to bring films back to Hollywood.

"That is a political question in America right now because people are fleeing Hollywood," he said.

"They are trying to keep people in (Los Angeles) but the fact of the matter is that whatever is right for the movie has to be done and there are a lot of beautiful places that are good to work with in this city."

Whedon also hinted at plans to cast original Wonder Woman Lynda Carter in the film.

"If it works for the movie, absolutely, but only if it works for the movie," he said.

"This is not going to be a campy film. If there is a legitimate role that she could fill, it would be delightful."

For the time being, Whedon is focused on promoting his first feature film, Serenity.

The film adaptation of Whedon’s failed TV series Firefly features a group of relatively unknown actors.

The story, set 500 years in the future, follows the crew of transport spaceship Serenity, who embark on a battle against the mighty empire.

"The series didn’t fail so much as it was axe murdered," Whedon said of Firefly.

"I knew the story was too important and the characters too vital not to continue, but then I had to make a movie that was not dependent on the series."

Serenity opens nationally on September 29.