While many of you were reading comic books in your youth, I was reading The Babysitter’s Club books, I think (sidenote: why isn’t The Babysitter’s Club a major Disney franchise?!?). My point is that I really don’t know what I’m talking about most of the time when I’m covering the often-insidery stories about this comic book franchise or that comic book character. Obviously, I know about the big ones – Spiderman, Batman, etc – but I just don’t have the historic knowledge of villains and character development and which version of which superhero is doing which storyline. All of that to say… this story means nothing to me because I don’t have any context. So without context, all I can say is that this sounds like a terrible idea. Apparently, Kristen Wiig is in talks to play the villain in Wonder Woman 2. The villain? Cheetah.
Kristen Wiig is in talks for the villain role in Wonder Woman 2, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Patty Jenkins is returning to direct the sequel that will star Gal Gadot as the Amazonian princess. Very few plot details are known about the superhero film, but the follow-up will be set in the 1980s against the backdrop of the Cold War.
Wiig will play DC comics villain Cheetah, a moniker that has been adopted by multiple characters over the years and who generally are known for having superhuman strength and agility. Wonder Woman creator William Moulton Marston introduced the villain in 1943’s Wonder Woman No. 6, but perhaps the most famous version of the character, Dr. Barbara Ann Minerva, didn’t make her way into the comics until 1987 under the work of writer Len Wein and artist George Perez. Minerva is a British anthropologist and heiress who gains the powers of the cheetah after an expedition to an African jungle.
Some nice things: I don’t mind Kristen Wiig’s transition into a dramatic/serious-film actress. I also don’t mind the idea of Wonder Woman battling with a female villain. But it just feels like… I don’t know, this particular casting for this particular role is very, very strange. There are so many talented actresses who would love to do a one-and-done villain role in a successful comic-book franchise, and I’m not sure that Kristen Wiig would be my choice? Maybe I’m totally wrong – obviously, I know nothing about the evolution of this character and maybe Wiig is perfect for it. Going off of THR’s description, I would think of someone more like… f–k, I don’t know. Give me some suggestions!
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Eva Green would be PERFECT for the part.
Oh yes I could see that, I could also see Emma Stone as well.
Emma Stone is to me as bad a fit as Kristen Wiig. Cheetah is sexy, sophisticated and womanly. I don’t think of those things when I think of Emma Stone.
Eva would be fantastic!
Oh man. CHEETAH? And super villain Wiig? That sounds bad.
Love Kristen, and love WW, so bring it on! (Don’t know anything about the character, or comics, too)
Besides, I think she would be perfect to add some humor to the sequel, since they can’t repeat the same from the original (Diana being clueless about men, society, etc). I can already imagine Kristen’s Cheetah joking about an island full of women…
I think KW w/b an awesome villain… she brings all kinds of spooky fun weirdness…
I do think Angie would make a wonderful villain
I think she would be a solid choice too!
My first choice would be Sarah Paulson, but I read somewhere that they wanted to go with a BIG name. I’m not completely opposed to Kristen Wiig in the role. Diana and Barbara were friends before they were enemies, so maybe they’re looking for someone who has really great chemistry with Gal Gadot the way that Chris Pine did. Cheetah/Barbara Ann Minerva’s story is kind of tragic — she gets possessed by this evil tribal god and becomes his vicious avatar, consumed by a hunger for flesh and a thirst for blood. Maybe they wanted an actress with more comedic inclinations to really emphasize the character’s loss of humanity, and so the movie isn’t so humdrum.
Emma Stone reportedly already turned down the role so maybe there’s more humor to the part?
My only exposure to Cheetah is the Super Friends incarnation and that’s definitely not Kristin Wiig. She seems too self-conscious to be in a comic book movie, like she won’t take it seriously enough.
Definitely Angelina! She has real onscreen presence. Gardot & Jolie, Two badass women.
Sarah Paulson wants to play Cheetah and should! That would be amazing 😍😍😍
Babysitters Club!!!!!!!
Kristy, Abby, Mary-Ann were my faves!
I loved the BSC too! And really, how did that not end up a Disney property?!
I don’t know the comics either and STILL haven’t seen WW … but I think Kristen could pull it off?
Whoever it is, I hope she’s an actual foe for Wonder Woman and not just an afterthought, like Dr. Poison. That was so disappointing. I wanted to know her backstory!!
Cheetah definitely is a worthy adversary. She’s probably in the top three of Wonder Woman’s rogue’s gallery, alongside Veronica Cale and Circe.
Such a strange choice. DC always hires the most random actors for roles they’re really not suited for. Meh.
Eva Green would be so much better.
Oh man, I also loved the Babysitters Club when I was little!
Yes, I’d love to see her do that.