elena-anaya-in-wonder-woman-2017

‘Wonder Woman’ is ready to charge into her first solo film after debuting in last year’s ‘Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice’. Early reviews are glowing, with many declaring it the best DCEU film so far.  Gal Gadot stars as Princess Diana/Diana Prince/Wonder Woman and Chris Pine plays hero/love interest Steve Trevor.  They will face off against the combined might of Danny Huston‘s German General Erich Ludendorff and Elena Anaya as Doctor Maru, also referred to as Doctor Poison.  Their actions are fueled by the machinations of Ares the God of War.  (Huston’s character may or may not be a disguise for Ares.)

While Batman is constantly plagued by the likes of The Joker, Catwoman and Harley Quinn and Superman matches wits with Lex Luthor, Wonder Woman’s Rogues Gallery isn’t as well known among the general populace.

At a recent Q&A to promote the movie, director Patty Jenkins took time to discuss the film’s antagonists and their motivations:

“The challenge was to see both the good and the bad of mankind.  And, you know, Steve [Trevor, played by Chris Pine] really ends up, like, representing the good and the complexity of mankind. But Doctor Poison and General Ludendorff are great examples of the bad of mankind. And they’re also great examples of how that is not conscientious choice to be a villain. Every villain has their belief system that makes perfect sense to them.”

Danny-Huston-in-Wonder-Woman‘Wonder Woman’ is a period piece, set during World War I, which– in the film– is the result of Ares attempting to wipe out humanity in a revenge plot against Zeus the King of the Gods.  General Luddendorff employs Doctor Maru to create a gas even more powerful than the real-life scourge of Mustard Gas which the Germans used against the Allied forces.  Mustard Gas would actually dissolve the skin and mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and respiratory tract.  Soldiers would also develop huge puss-filled sores.  Even worse, usually they didn’t develop any symptoms for 12-24 hours.

Whatever Doctor Poison cooks up is even worse!

But much like classic characters like Luthor, these foes don’t see themselves as evil.  We’ll have to wait to see how they justify their motivations.

‘Wonder Woman’ is directed by Patty Jenkins. The film stars Gal Gadot as well as Chris Pine as Steve Trevor, Robin Wright as General Antiope, Connie Nielsen as Queen Hippolyta, Danny Huston as General Erich Ludendorff, David Thewlis as Sir Patrick, Elena Anaya as Doctor Maru/Poison, Lucy Davis as Etta Candy, Ewen Bremner as Charlie, Samantha Jo as Euobea, Florence Kasumba as Senator Acantha, Saïd Taghmaoui as Sameer, Eugene Brave Rock as Chief, Eleanor Matsuura as Epione, Lisa Loven Kongsli as Menalippe and Emily Carey as Young Diana.  It opens on June 2, 2017.

Source: Collider