World News – US – Why Kristen Wiig’s Cheetah is dubbed « The Best of ‘Wonder Woman 1984′ »

During her career, Alisten Kristen Wiig of Saturday Night Live was known for her comedic skills. From her SNL days to her blockbuster film Bridesmaids to her roles in indie dramas like The Skeleton Twins, Wiig never struggled to make audiences laugh. But with her leading role in the new sequel to Wonder Woman, the actress shows a brand new side of her: an action star. Kristen Wiig’s Wonder Woman 1984 character is a far cry from anything the actor has done before, but she was definitely up to the task.

« I didn’t want her to be the Kristen people saw, » Wiig said of her character in an interview with Gal Gadot for Harper’s Bazaar. « I thought she was not funny, she was sad. One day Patty [Jenkins, director] said to me, « If you just let yourself go and just be that person and see if the uncomfortable, funny, giggling stuff comes out, you’ll feel better. « . Then it clicked. « Wiig also revealed that the physical aspects of the role were the hardest part of filming, and that’s no surprise given the identity of her character. Wiig portrays Cheetah, a DC Comics villain with a long and storied history.

Cheetah is one of Wonder Woman’s oldest nemes. The original version of the character is almost as old as that of the superhero. There have been a total of four different cheetahs in DC Comics history, with the first debut in Wonder Woman # 6 in 1943. The version played by Wiig in Wonder Woman in 1984 is the third Cheetah, Barbara Minerva, and she is by far the most famous. The character made her first appearance in Wonder Woman Vol. 2 # 7 in 1987, the same year that Wonder Woman’s villain Maxwell Wonder made his debut in 1984. Unlike the two previous cheetahs, who weren’t overpowering celebrities in cheetah costumes, Minerva was a metamann who, thanks to her predatory powers, could go head to toe in battle with Wonder Woman.

In the comics, Minerva is a wealthy archaeologist who is always looking for fame. During an expedition to Africa to find a legendary tribe protected by a supernatural cheetah-powered guardian, Minerva becomes a guardian herself, gaining feline abilities and looks. The super powerful Minerva finally targets Wonder Woman and wants to prove her worth by defeating the Amazonian hero. The movie version of Minerva is a little different, but it still comes from a similar location. Wiig’s Minerva is portrayed as a shy employee of Diana Prince who wants to become like her. These desires manifest themselves in a twisted way thanks to a mystical artifact belonging to Lord.

As one of Wonder Woman’s oldest and most vicious villains, it’s no surprise that Cheetah makes her film debut in Wonder Woman in 1984. It’s a little surprising that she is played by comedy superstar Wiig, but once you see the SNL legend as a cat-human hybrid, you’ll regret ever doubting her. Especially since it is already announced, « The best in Wonder Woman 1984. « 

Wonder Woman 1984, cheetah, Kristen Wiig, DC Comics, Saturday Night Live