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More information on the production of Zack Snyder’s Batman vs. Superman may be just days away, but a brand new rumor is already looking to set fan discussion ablaze like only word of a Wonder Woman casting could.
To this point all involved with the film have kept their lips sealed at just how far the sequel to Man of Steel would go in laying the groundwork for a Justice League team-up. The latest report claims that not only will Wonder Woman most definitely be appearing in the anticipated sequel, but that Ukrainian-born actress Olga Kurylenko is already screen-testing for the part.
The rumor comes courtesy of SchmoesKnow, so given the website’s recent streak of insider leaks, this one is bound to gather serious attention. According to the site, the word comes from a “very reliable source,” but it’s important to emphasize that even if Kurylenko is being tested by Snyder and executive producer Christopher Nolan, that can simply mean she is being strongly considered.
Kurylenko may be familiar to movie fans due to her appearances in some ill-received films – Max Payne, Hitman and Quantum of Solace among them – but has drawn more positive buzz in recent years thanks to the likes of Joseph Kosinski’s Oblivion and Terrence Malick’s To The Wonder (in which she played love interest to Ben Affleck).
Of course, whether or not Kurylenko is atop the studio’s shortlist, this rumor confirms that Wonder Woman will likely be appearing (in either large or small part) alongside the titular heroes of Batman vs. Superman. To this point WB executives have dodged questions about the Amazonian Princess altogether, beyond simply claiming they hoped to see her on either TV or the big screen soon. Sooner than they may have thought, it seems.
The timing of this report, and Kurylenko’s apparent lead in the casting process comes as particularly interesting given that it comes just days after Thor: The Dark World‘s Jaimie Alexander confirmed she was in talks with Warner Bros. concerning Batman vs. Superman. That admission led many to believe that she was discussing a future role as Wonder Woman, given that she has gone on record about her passion for the character, and is a frontrunner in many lists of actresses capable of pulling off the role (including ours).
If that is the case (as it seems to be), then this rumor can be taken as yet another sign that Warner Bros. is absolutely on the hunt for a Wonder Woman, with both Alexander and Kurylenko being given special attention. Going by previous performances, Alexander would seem to have the edge; then again, Kurylenko has exhibited some serious range over the course of her career. It will be interesting to see how fans react to her name being tossed into the discussion.
However, we’ve also spoken at length about the many possibilities for other supporting female roles in Batman vs. Superman already – Sasha Bordeaux and Kara Zor-El, for instance. Keeping that in mind, it’s still possible that Kurylenko, or Alexander for that matter, are being considered by Warner Bros. for completely different roles. The previous reports of an open casting call for Wonder Woman were eventually dispelled, but Kurylenko is certainly an actress that would be sought after.
Batman vs. Superman will be in theaters on July 17, 2015.