It’s official! Kristen Wiig is playing The Cheetah in the sequel to ‘Wonder Woman’! The news came via director Patty Jenkins via Twitter, who posted an image of Wiig with the hashtag “Cheetah.”
So excited to confirm the most thrilling news. Yes! It’s true! So incredibly lucky to welcome the sensationally talented Kristen Wiig to our Wonder Woman family. Can’t wait to finally work with one of my favorites. And SO excited by what we have planned.
#Cheetah!!!
So excited to confirm the most thrilling news. Yes! It’s true! So incredibly lucky to welcome the sensationally talented Kristen Wiig to our Wonder Woman family. Can’t wait to finally work with one of my favorites. And SO excited by what we have planned. #Cheetah!!! @GalGadot pic.twitter.com/Gn0jICiIAH
— Patty Jenkins (@PattyJenks) March 9, 2018
No further information has been given, so it’s not clear which version of The Cheetah Wiig will play. There have been three major Cheetahs, the longest running being Priscilla Rich, a kind socialite who befriended Wonder Woman, before her evil split personality surfaced, turning her into one of the Amazing Amazon’s more recurring foes. That version debuted in ‘Wonder Woman’ #6 in 1943 and remained in the role until 1980. She was created by Wonder Woman’s original creators William Moulton Marston and H.G. Peter. Priscilla Rich was extremely acrobatic and nimble and wore claws as weapons, but was otherwise an ordinary human. She is recognizable to many because she was featured as a member of the Legion of Doom on the ‘Challenge of the Superfriends’ cartoon.
Priscilla Rich was replaced for a few years by her daughter Deborah Domaine, who, like Rich, was an ordinary human with great acrobatic skills with razor-sharp claws as weapons. She was introduced in 1980 but by 1987, a new Cheetah was introduced.
To most modern fans, the most recognizable Cheetah is probably Barbara Ann Minerva and archaeologist who thanks to an ancient ritual becomes a half-woman/half-cheetah. This version was introduced in 1987’s ‘Wonder Woman’ #7 and was created Len Wein and George Pérez. It’s this version that has been seen ever since, not just in comics but on cartoon series like ‘Justice League’, ‘DC Super Hero Girls’ and most recently ‘Justice League Action’ as well as in various animated movies. Unlike previous Cheetahs, Minerva possesses actual super powers, including super agility, strength and speed. She also has a cat-like enhanced sense of smell and the ability to see in the dark. Her claws are real and she also has super sharp teeth. In a nod to continuity, the names Priscilla Rich and Deborah Domaine are listed as previous aliases of hers, since those characters don’t exist in modern continuity.
It’s most likely that Wiig’s character will more closely align with Minerva, as she would pose the biggest physical threat to Gal Gadot‘s powerful Wonder Woman.
Wiig is of course best known for her seven season on ‘Saturday Night Live’ and movies such as ‘Bridesmaids’ and ‘Ghostbusters’. Though she is best known for comedy, she has done some impressive dramatic work, but ‘Ghostbusters’ is the closest she has some to action. Hopefully, she can pull off the physicality of the role of The Cheetah.
What do you think? Will Wiig make a good Cheetah?
‘Wonder Woman 2’ will be released on November 1, 2019.