Names and faces

Wonder Woman is finally coming to the big screen.Israel-born actress Gal Gadot has been cast as Wonder Woman in Warner Bros.’ superhero team-up film with Batman and Superman, the studio announced Wednesday. Already starring in the currently untitled film are Ben Affleck as Batman and Henry Cavill as Superman. Created in the 1940s and outfitted in patriotic colors, Wonder Woman was most famously played by Lynda Carter in the 1970s Wonder Woman television series. But despite the character’s considerable cultural impact, Wonder Woman hasn’t previously made it into the movies. Wonder Woman’s inclusion in the film brings it closer to a full gathering of DC Comics’ Justice League, which also features the Flash, Aquaman and others. Warner Bros. hasn’t announced any further castings in the film, except that it will return many of the stars of Zac Snyder’s Superman reboot Man of Steel. Gadot is a former model who competed for Israel in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. She has starred in several of the Fast & Furious films, including Fast & Furious 6, released earlier this year.

Fast & Furious star Paul Walker was killed by injuries from both the impact and subsequent fire when the Porsche his friend was driving smashed into a light pole and tree, according to an autopsy released Wednesday. The actor died from the “combined effects of traumatic and thermal injuries,” according to the autopsy released by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office. The 2005 Porsche Carrera GT was driven by Roger Rodas, who was dead from “multiple traumatic injuries” before the car exploded in flames, the autopsy said.Results of toxicology testing will take another six to eight weeks. Walker starred in all but one of the six Fast & Furious blockbuster films that glorified fast cars and dangerous driving. Sheriff’s investigators are still trying to determine what caused Rodas to careen out of control Saturday. They have said speed was a factor in the crash about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

Front Section, Pages 2 on 12/05/2013

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