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 (Rex Features)

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 (Warner Brothers)

"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 (Getty Images)

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.