Although there are a variety of TV shows and movies now starring female leads, those with comic book origins are still few and far between. Many of the female comic book characters that do make it to the screen are usually part of a larger team, with the spotlight directly focused on their male counterparts, like in Arrow and the X-Men films.
Thankfully, Hollywood is slowly beginning to realize just how many kickass women they could (and should) be putting front and center. Today, we're looking at five upcoming TV series and movie projects that all feature female leads from comic books. If you've been longing for some females saving the day for once, you should definitely be excited for what's in store.
1. Wonder Woman
When Zack Snyder announced that Wonder Woman would be putting in an appearance in the upcoming Batman vs. Superman film, the Internet exploded. Easily one of the most popular female superheroes on the planet, Wonder Woman stands for everything that strong, independent women support. Of course, the announcement came with controversy after Snyder stated that the role would go to Gal Gadot. Because of that, Gadot saw everything from body shaming to insults about her acting ability, but photos of her as the iconic Amazonian princess quickly quelled much of that.
Of course, Snyder doesn't have the best track record with his portrayals of women on film (take Sucker Punch, for example), so when DC announced plans for a standalone Wonder Woman movie, there was a lot of concern. Fortunately, DC decided to go with a female director, Michelle Maxwell MacLaren, with filming beginning this fall for a release date set for July, 2017.
It's very likely, too, that this film will start in the 1920s, showing us an immortal Wonder Woman that doesn't age. Rumors also state that the world's most beloved superheroine will also not get just one movie, but three.
2. Jessica Jones
When Netflix announced that it was working on a Jessica Jones series, female comic book fans cheered. Not only does Netflix have a great reputation with its original series, but the Marvel character is one that hasn't yet seen any action on film or on TV. The series picks up after Jessica's short-lived life as a superhero, as she becomes a detective who investigates cases involving people with superpowers.
The cast of Jessica Jones is also no laughing matter. With Kristen Ritter (Veronica Mars, Breaking Bad) taking on the superhero-turned detective and Carrie-Ann Moss (The Matrix) co-starring, we can expect some serious female asskicking.
3. Supergirl
CBS isn't exactly the first network one thinks of when considering genre television, but the network is taking a giant leap by developing a Supergirl series. CBS entertainment chairman Nina Tassler seems very excited about the series and dedicated to making Supergirl a role model for young women everywhere.
"[She's] a very strong, independent young woman," said Tassler to Entertainment Weekly. "She's coming into her own. She's dealing with family issues. She's dealing with work issues. It's a female empowerment story."
Recently, CBS announced that Michelle Benoist (Glee) would be taking on the role of Superman's cousin, with her mother portrayed by Laura Benanti (Nashville).
4. iZombie
The CW has made a name for itself with both Arrow and The Flash, and now, the network is giving us another comic book-related property in the form of Vertigo Comics' iZombie. The series is more Warm Bodies than The Walking Dead, and features a young female medical resident who becomes part zombie. Don't worry, though, she still needs brains to survive, which she gets from the coroner's office. However, munching on dead brains gives her the ability to see the memories of the dead, which helps her solve the mysteries of their demise.
Not only that, but iZombie's showrunner is Rob Thomas, who gave us the brilliant but short-lived Veronica Mars.
5. Captain Marvel
One of the biggest announcements of 2014 was a double-header: not only is Marvel planning a Captain Marvel movie, but that the film will feature Carol Danvers in the role!.
Marvel hasn't yet released details about the film or announced casting, but Marvel seems excited about it.
"This Captain Marvel's name is Carol Danvers," says Marvel president Kevin Feige. "This film has been in the works almost as long as Doctor Strange or Guardians of the Galaxy before it came out, and one of the key things was figuring out what we wanted to do with it. Her adventures are very earthbound, but her powers are based in the cosmic realm."
