Hold onto your red, white, and blue lassos, pop culture fans! Prepare for a bombshell piece of historical trivia that few people know: The legendary Lucille Ball, queen of comedy and the undisputed empress of I Love Lucy, was once eyed for a superhero role – none other than Wonder Woman herself!
That’s right. In the 1950s, long before Lynda Carter donned the iconic costume, there was a glimmer of a television project aiming to bring the Amazonian princess to the small screen. And the name reportedly floated for the role of Diana Prince? Our very own, very red-headed, very hilarious Lucy.
“Too Busy Being Lucy”
While details on this early, unproduced Wonder Woman concept are scarce – a testament to how truly embryonic the superhero TV landscape was back then – the most astonishing part of this almost-casting is why Ball reportedly declined the offer.
The reason? She was, in her own words, “too busy being Lucy.”
Think about that for a moment. In the 1950s, I Love Lucy wasn’t just a hit show; it was a cultural phenomenon. Lucille Ball, alongside Desi Arnaz, was revolutionizing television production, pioneering the multi-camera format, and building a comedy empire. She was not only starring in the most popular show on television but also running Desilu Productions, a major Hollywood studio.
For Ball, balancing the demands of playing Lucy Ricardo, perfecting physical comedy, running a massive business, and being a mother was a full-time, round-the-clock job. The idea of adding the rigorous demands of originating a superhero character – with stunts, a different type of performance, and potentially a whole new production – was likely simply not feasible.
The Road Not Taken
Imagine the alternate universe! A comedic, perhaps slightly more charming and less overtly fierce, Wonder Woman brought to life by the unparalleled talent of Lucille Ball. It’s a fascinating “what if” that speaks volumes about her incredible star power and the early, experimental days of television.
Ultimately, of course, the role of Wonder Woman would famously go to Lynda Carter in the 1970s, cementing her place in pop culture history. But the thought that the woman who immortalized the Vitameatavegamin commercial once had a shot at embodying DC’s most iconic female hero is a delightful piece of Hollywood lore.
So, the next time you’re watching a rerun of I Love Lucy, just picture Lucy Ricardo subtly deflecting bullets with her bracelets and flying through the air – because in another reality, it almost happened!
