Kirsten Wiig Is In Talks To Play Cheetah In Wonder Woman 2

by Joseph Marcas
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The Emmy-winning actress and SNL alum Kirsten Wiig is reportedly director Patty Jenkins top choice to play the ferocious demi-goddess and Wonder Woman antagonist Cheetah in the upcoming Wonder Woman sequel. Wiig would most likely play the Barbara Minerva version of the character while the movie is set during the Cold War era.

Actress Kirsten Wiig is by all accounts a strong contender to play the role of Cheetah, a character originally created by Wonder Woman creator William Moulton Marston and famously updated by writer Len Wein and artist George Perez. Wiig, not only a famous and fan-favorite Saturday Night Live alum, is also well known as creating and staring in other note worthy projects such as Bridesmaids and the Ghostbusters reboot.

Earlier this week, reports were coming in that stated that actress Emma Stone was considered for the role but ultimately turned it down. The casting rumors eventually ended up focusing on Wiig, who is definitely being called as an out of left field choice by most industry insiders.

Writer Michael Cavna from the Washington Post writes:

“Kristen Wiig — she, the actress of noted timing and range and comedic pathos — is viewed by industry observers as such an out-of-the-box choice. Now, if another actress of similar age and complexion — say, Amy Adams or Jessica Chastain — were in negotiations to play a Wonder Woman villain, Hollywood watchers would barely bat an eye. But something about Wiig’s elite comedic chops seems to make it hard for less flexible minds to see just how brilliant she could be as a DC movie antagonist.” Michael Cavna, Washington Post, 03/01/2018

Many people online are having trouble seeing Wiig in the role mainly because of her strong comedic background. But one need only to remember some of the great performances that have come from comedians when turning to more dramatic roles. Jim Carrey has won several awards for turning in great dramatic performances such as in Man On The Moon and Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind. To add to the litany of great comedians who turned serious in movie roles, who can forget the great comedian Robin Williams’ Oscar-winning performance in Good Will Hunting.

Cavna argues that bringing the element of the dramatic to a villain’s role in a superhero movie is a great thing. He states:

As the antagonizing Cheetah, Wiig would be following in a line of gifted actors who can deliver dark comic pathos in a superhero world, including Alfred Molina[Spiderman 2], Michael Keaton [Spiderman: Homecoming] and the late Heath Ledger [The Dark Knight and I would add Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger in Black Panther to the list now].

For a closer look at the Cheetah character and Wiig’s possible casting in that role, check out this video courtesy of The Nerdist.

https://www.facebook.com/Nerdist/videos/1628749157217508/

Image courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter

 

 

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