DC Screwed Over an Actor Twice (& Marvel Didn’t Do Much Better)

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The 2000s were an exceptional era for television. Not only did critically acclaimed series such as “The Sopranos” and “The Wire” take the spotlight, but television networks experimented with dramatic narratives too. Shows like “One Tree Hill” and “Dawson’s Creek,” popular for their captivating romantic storylines, became cultural sensations. Inspired by this trend, Peter Berg developed a sports drama series from a bestselling book titled “Friday Night Lights.” Running for five seasons, the show launched the careers of many talents such as Minka Kelly, Taylor Kitsch, and Jesse Plemons. Adrianne Palicki, another star of “Friday Night Lights,” also experienced success; however, she faced setbacks along the way too.

Apart from starring in “Friday Night Lights,” Palicki also appeared on two well-known TV series on The WB, specifically “Supernatural” and “Smallville.” This drew attention to her at Warner Bros., which led them to consider her when they decided to take bold steps with DC television shows. Unfortunately, DC didn’t treat her as she deserved, and later, Marvel did not make amends for this oversight.

Adrianne Palicki Starred in Two Failed DC Pilots

During the peak of Smallville’s popularity, The WB network sought to introduce another DC superhero onto television. They approached Al Gough and Miles Millar, the creators of Smallville, who conceived the idea for an Aquaman series. Although the character had previously made appearances in the Superman-focused show, the creative team opted for a fresh approach. They chose Justin Hartley to portray Arthur Curry, a familiar face in the acting world. Lou Diamond Phillips and Ving Rhames were also brought on board for significant roles, while Stana Katic was selected to play the antagonist, Nadia. The WB commissioned a pilot episode, but it ultimately failed to materialize following The WB’s transformation into The CW.

A while after that, Warner Bros. attempted to introduce Wonder Woman on television through a series on NBC. Adrianne Palicki was chosen for the main role in a concept where Diana Prince would lead a dual life as both a superhero and corporate executive. A pilot episode was filmed, with Elizabeth Hurley and Cary Elwes also cast, among others. Pedro Pascal, who later became quite famous, agreed to star as Ed Indelicato, a police department liaison in the project. Unfortunately, the series wasn’t picked up. However, this turned out well for both Pascal and Palicki. If it weren’t for Marvel interfering, Palicki might have had an even more successful career.

Marvel Nearly Handed Adrianne Palicki Her Own TV Series

In an effort to leverage the popularity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel produced a television series centered on the espionage agency S.H.I.E.L.D., called Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. The initial season mirrored events from MCU films like Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Thor: The Dark World. However, it was the second season that truly took off, as the program introduced Bobbi Morse, a well-known character from Marvel Comics who goes by Mockingbird. Adrianne Palicki portrayed Agent Morse, who initially found herself at odds with Phil Coulson’s team. Over time, they managed to resolve their differences, and Morse proved to be an indispensable asset to the group.

Morse faced numerous challenges while collaborating with her ex-spouse, Lance Hunter, but she showed great resilience. She endured being subjected to torture by the rogue S.H.I.E.L.D. operative Grant Ward, who betrayed his comrades during HYDRA’s comeback in Season 1. Despite these hardships, Morse’s character flourished and ABC decided to create a spinoff series for her, allowing her to share the spotlight with Hunter. Both characters were eventually written off Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., receiving a heartfelt farewell episode, “Parting Shot,” which is widely recognized as one of the show’s finest.

Following the conclusion of her role in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Palicki moved on to develop a pilot for Marvel’s Most Wanted. Delroy Lindo, Mckenna Grace, and skilled writers joined the cast, setting things up promisingly. Unfortunately, ABC declined the project and instead focused on Inhumans. While it’s impossible to predict if Marvel’s Most Wanted would have succeeded, it’s clear that providing Palicki an opportunity to spearhead a superhero series might have been a better choice than what ultimately aired on ABC.

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2025-06-26 00:39