7 Actresses Who Were Almost Wonder Woman
4. Kate Beckinsale
Producer Joel Silver had spent over a decade trying to get a Wonder Woman project up and running, going through over half a dozen writers and numerous story ideas and script drafts to get there.
At least one of these versions was produced with Kate Beckinsale in mind, as she was offered the lead role.
Around this time, Beckinsale was probably best known for playing vampire Selene in Underworld, vampire hunter Anna Valerious in Van Helsing, or starring opposite rumoured vampire John Cusack in the romantic comedy Serendipity. Despite being Silver's number one choice, Beckinsale passed on the opportunity.
Why? It was quite simple really; the script she read wasn’t very good.
Like Diana herself deflecting enemy fire with her bracelets, Kate probably dodged a bullet. In fact, there is a high chance it may have been one of Whedon's creepy little drafts that soured things.
Beckinsale also took into account that she is a mother, and she wouldn’t have wanted to embarrass her daughter. To paraphrase Beckinsale herself, if your mother is Wonder Woman, you’re going to have issues.