This Marvel Star Nearly Played the DCEU’s Wonder Woman, And Would Have Nailed It

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Despite a lot of criticism aimed at the now-finished DC Extended Universe, many people agree that Gal Gadot was a standout. Her impressive appearance, strong screen presence, and ability to portray the character’s feelings made her the perfect choice, and it’s difficult to picture anyone else in the role.

While Gal Gadot is well-known for playing Wonder Woman, it’s certainly possible someone else could have been cast in the role. It’s interesting to consider other actresses who were considered for the part and imagine how they might have portrayed the iconic Amazonian princess, created by William Moulton Marston and H. G. Peter in 1941. Elodie Yung, in particular, seemed like a strong contender at the time.

Elodie Yung Was On The Shortlist For Wonder Woman

Around the early 2010s, as Zack Snyder started developing Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Warner Bros. held auditions for a mysterious character. They were looking for a tall, athletic, and striking brunette woman. According to a report from Variety, this character was potentially intended to be a love interest for Ben Affleck’s Batman or, alternatively, Wonder Woman – and it turned out they were right about both possibilities.

Numerous talented brunette actors were considered for the role, but the final contenders reportedly narrowed down to three. Along with Gal Gadot, the list included Olga Kurylenko, known for her role in Quantum of Solace, and Elodie Yung, who was gaining recognition at the time for playing Jinx in the 2013 film G.I. Joe: Retaliation.

Despite the film generally receiving poor reviews, the French actor’s performance as the ninja – a skilled swordfighter and secret agent – has been widely praised. Many believe she perfectly embodies the character, succeeding the previous actress (Adrianne Palicki) in the role.

Gal Gadot, who won Miss Israel in 2004, later became known for action roles, including her part as Gisele Yashar. She also got experience with superhero movies by playing Antonia Dreykov, also known as Taskmaster, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Black Widow and Thunderbolts.

Interestingly, Yung also joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe, though her role was initially limited to a TV series. Despite this, she brought a remarkable presence to the character.

Elodie Yung Went On To Play A Marvelous Badass On Daredevil

Jinx’s first appearance as an action figure happened at the same time she was introduced in the comics, marking Elodie Yung’s first comic book character role. However, she’s much more famous for portraying a well-known character from Marvel – many consider her the definitive on-screen version.

Both Gal Gadot’s first appearance as Wonder Woman in the 2016 film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and the second season of Netflix’s Daredevil marked significant moments for superhero fans. Daredevil introduced its version of Elektra Natchios, a deadly assassin with a complicated history and a past relationship with Matt Murdock (played by Charlie Cox), who leads a double life as a lawyer and a masked vigilante.

Elodie Yung is captivating as Elektra, a character who, while unsuccessful in manipulating Daredevil into committing murder, certainly could have influenced someone less strong-willed. Her connection with Matt Murdock echoes the relationship between Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) and Batman (Ben Affleck) – two individuals from very different worlds, with contrasting beliefs, brought together by attraction and a shared desire for justice.

Watching Yung in this role really got me thinking – she’d be absolutely perfect as Wonder Woman. Seriously, every powerful punch, every perfectly-timed kick, even just her intense stares… it’s so easy to picture her rocking the golden tiara, bracelets, and iconic outfit, complete with that glowing lasso. She just has the presence and strength for it.

Ultimately, Elodie Yung delivers the most compelling on-screen version of Elektra Natchios to date. While acknowledging previous attempts didn’t quite succeed, Yung’s powerful acting brings a complex depth to the character. Even with Elektra’s incredible fighting skills and supernatural abilities in The Defenders, Yung makes her feel genuinely human. Though Gal Gadot is believable as Wonder Woman, Yung likely would have brought a similar level of authenticity to that role.

Elodie Yung’s Dramatic Acting In The Cleaning Lady Also Kicks Butt

While Elektra Natchios is a well-known role for Elodie Yung, many consider her work in the TV series The Cleaning Lady to be her most acclaimed performance so far.

Based on the Argentine series La Chica Que Limpia, the American adaptation created by Miranda Kwok debuted on Fox in 2022. Starring as Thony De La Rosa, Yung plays a Cambodian-Filipino woman who was once a surgeon in Manila. Now, she works as a cleaner in Las Vegas and secretly uses her medical expertise to cover up crimes for the mob, all to pay for her son’s expensive medical treatment.

Viewers were completely hooked on the show before it was cancelled by Fox after four seasons in 2025, drawn in by the main character’s increasingly difficult life. While the writing was excellent, the series wouldn’t have been as successful without the incredible performance by Elodie Yung.

Elodie Yung delivers some of her best acting work to date in The Cleaning Lady. Her emotional performance as Thony is captivating throughout the series, especially her ability to portray a deep sense of desperation which makes the show’s most heartfelt and dramatic scenes even more powerful. Though the fourth season had a mixed reception, many viewers were saddened to learn there wouldn’t be any further seasons featuring Yung in the lead role.

Has Elodie Yung’s Chance To Play Wonder Woman Passed?

While it’s disappointing The Cleaning Lady won’t return for another season, it opens up a fantastic opportunity for Elodie Yung. She can now pursue a role she was previously denied: Wonder Woman.

James Gunn and Peter Safran, the leaders of DC Studios, are already choosing new actors for their DC Universe. This comes just a few years after the previous DC Extended Universe (DCEU) introduced popular actors into these same roles – for example, David Corenswet will be taking over as Superman in 2025, replacing Henry Cavill. The future of Batman, who exists in a separate storyline from Robert Pattinson’s version, has been a major discussion point for months. Now, everyone is starting to wonder who will play Wonder Woman next.

It’s definitely possible Gal Gadot could return as Wonder Woman in the new DC Universe, much like Viola Davis appeared in Creature Commandos. But if that doesn’t happen, Yung should be a strong contender for the role.

She’s earned another chance to play Wonder Woman, perhaps even more than other actresses. She’s repeatedly demonstrated she can truly capture the essence of the character.

Despite strong performances in shows like Daredevil and The Cleaning Lady, Yung hasn’t yet become a widely recognized star. Taking on the role of Wonder Woman, however, could instantly change that and bring her the household name recognition she deserves.

I’m really hoping Wonder Woman gets her moment in the MCU, but if not, I’d be thrilled to see She-Hulk return! I’ve heard whispers that she might show up in the second season of Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+, which is planned for 2026. That would be amazing!

It’s unclear when or even if Elodie Yung will reprise her role as Elektra. She might return in a future episode, the already-approved third season, or not at all. Many fans hope she does, as seeing more of her as Elektra would be a welcome consolation after she wasn’t cast as Wonder Woman.

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2025-12-06 00:11