Adrianne Palicki to Lead NBC's 'Wonder Woman'

Adrianne Palicki, best known for her role in the former NBC series“Friday Night Lights,” has been cast in the network’s“Wonder Woman” pilot as the DC Comics superheroine.

The pilot, written by David E. Kelley (”Ally McBeal”,“Boston Legal”), picks up in an alternate reality where the international public is aware of Wonder Woman and her affiliation with Themyscira Industries (think Iron Man and Stark Industries).

Flashbacks hint of her Amazonian origins on Paradise Island and a love affair with Steve Trevor, a government employee who accidentally crashed on the hidden island years ago.

But Diana/Wonder Woman is unable to return to either and is left cleaning up the streets with her magical golden lasso, arguing her case at a Congressional hearing (ahem,Iron Man 2) and lamenting her lost life/love with her best friend and publicist, Myndi. Wonder Woman’s nemesis is Veronica Cale, a high-powered pharmaceutical executive with a case of super envy (one head of hair away from being Lex Luthor) and a plot to create super soldiers to thwart her superhuman enemy.

Deadlinereports 27-year-old Palicki was the only actress invited to test for the part, originally played by Lynda Carter in the 1970s series.

This isn’t Palicki’s first superhero pilot, though. She played the evil Siren in a pilot episode of“Aquaman” for the CW Network, but the show was never picked up for a series. Palicki was a series regular on three seasons of“FNL” before starring in Fox’s“Lone Star,” which was cancelled after just two low-rated episodes last year. Her film roles have been limited to playing a dim-witted prostitute inWomen in Troubleand its dim-witted sequelElektra Luxx, and gun-toting ladies inLegionand the long-delayedRed Dawnremake.

McG was in negotiations to direct the pilot, but backed out due to a scheduling conflict. Instead, Jeffrey Reiner, who directed Palicki in“Friday Night Lights” and the pilot episode of NBC’s“The Event,” is closing a deal to direct.

We will have a review of the“Wonder Woman” pilot shortly as part of our ongoing pre-season series, but for now check outour review of NBC’s“Playboy.”

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