Punisher: War Zone‘s Lexi Alexander to Direct Arrow Episode, Is Working on Her Own Comic Book

It is as we foretold! After hinting on Twitter earlier this year that a trip to Starling City could be in her future, director Lexi Alexander confirmed yesterday that she’ll be helming an episode of Arrow next season:

They have not. But I’m excited to direct Arrow in August. ;-) https://t.co/hoMNh6N8B2

— Lexi Alexander (@Lexialex) June 4, 2015

In a statement to The Mary Sue, Alexander said she was surprised by the outpouring of fan excitement after her announcement:

To wake up to hundreds of excited mentions and tweets regarding my directing an Arrow episode is really unexpected and very touching.

I would have revealed it earlier but honestly didn’t think people would care this much. My managers and I had a meeting at the beginning of the year in which we decided to really push for TV directing jobs, as my focus has been shifted from meeting or developing features to pitching and developing TV shows myself.

I’m also pitching my own comic book to publishers in the next few weeks so directing genre TV is a perfect way to all around creative.

Alexander has been a vocal supporter of the ACLU’s newly-launched investigation into Hollywood’s illegal gender biases; and, as the only woman to helm a DC or Marvel feature to date, also understands the unreasonable stakes placed on female directors and lady-led action films. Speaking about Warner Bros.’ Wonder Woman movie last year, Alexander warned about lack of transparency and explained why she wouldn’t want to direct:

How many male superhero movies fail? So now, we finally get Wonder Woman with a female director, imagine if it fails. And you have no control over marketing, over budget. So without any control, you carry the fucking weight of gender equality for both characters and women directors. No way.

Female creators shouldn’t have to just operate on the terms of a system designed to be male-dominated, so it’s exciting to see Alexander forging her own path through the comic book world. Considering her butt-kicking expertise as a former World Karate and Kickboxing Champion, she  seems like a perfect fit for Arrow.

What do you think, friends?

(via Comic Book Resources)

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