Lexi Alexander says 'no way' to directing Wonder Woman film citing 'f**king weight of gender equality'
She might be a former fighting champion, but not even the Publisher: War Zone director will risk this DC project
![Lexi Alexander and Elijah Wood doing publicity for Green Street Hooligans](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2014/11/12/12/rexfeatures_548345i.jpg)
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Warner Bros might be on the hunt for a female director to take on Wonder Woman. But one strong candidate in the male-dominated industry has ruled herself out saying she cannot shoulder the weight of potential failure as a woman.
Director Lexi Alexander - who is a retired karate and point fighting champion – said she wouldn’t go near the new live action Wonder Woman which is in the works for fear of carrying “the f**king weight of gender equality for both characters and women directors.”
The director is no stranger to superheroes having successfully tackled Punisher: War Zone, a Marvel character, in 2008. Alexander also directed Elijah Wood, with whom she's pictured above, in Green Street Hooligans.
Speaking to Fast Company, the German-born director explained: "How many male superhero movies fail? So now, we finally get Wonder Woman with a female director - imagine if it fails?”
![Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2014/07/27/11/Wonder-Womanv2.jpg)
"And you have no control over marketing, over budget. So without any control, you carry the f**king weight of gender equality for both characters and women directors. No way."
Gal Gadot is set to play Wonder Woman in 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. It will be the superhero's film appearance since the 1970s. The character’s solo film
![Gal Gabot will play Wonder Woman on the big screen](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2013/12/05/17/gal-gabot.jpg)
Very few women directors have adapted superhero and comic book characters for film. Rachel Talalay directed the poorly-received Tank Girl adaptation in 1995 and Patty Jenkins was attached to Thor: The Dark World before being replaced by Alan Taylor.
“There is huge pressure,” Alexander said. “ If [a female director] does fail, then all of a sudden it's 'all women suck at directing'."
Wonder Woman will be released in June 2017.
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