A new Wonder Woman

Katie Holmes could be transforming herself into a superhero and heading Downunder with new beau Tom Cruise.

The actress is one of Hollywood's top candidates to play Wonder Woman in a film from producer Joel Silver, who has earmarked Australia as the likely shooting location for the big-budget project.

Holmes said that as a child growing up in Toledo, Ohio, she idolised Wonder Woman, the superhero brought to life by actress Lynda Carter in the 1970s television series.

"I was part of the majority of little girls who loved Wonder Woman," she said.

Silver, whose films have made more than US$5 billion ($27.2 billion) worldwide, says Australia is his favourite place to shoot. He made The Matrix trilogy, House of Wax and Ghost Ship there.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon will write the Wonder Woman script.