Even while the DC/Warner Bros promotional machine kicks into full throttle with the imminent release of Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice and Suicide Squad, they aren’t neglecting their other movies either. Wonder Woman has already had a whole raft of names attached to it (although we don’t know who the majority of them are playing), but finally we have another actual name to attach to an actual face, with it being confirmed that Connie Nielsen will play the role of Hippolyta, aka Wonder Woman’s mother.
Despite strong rumours that Nicole Kidman was circling the role, it appears that this will no longer be happening. Regardless, Nielsen is a more than ample replacement, having been excellent in the likes of The Devil’s Advocate, Gladiator and One Hour Photo, and we’re looking forward to seeing her add gravitas to a role that sorely needs some.
In the comics, Hippolyta is the mother of Wonder Woman, although the means of this have changed over the years. In her original origin story, she fashioned her daughter from clay (yep, really), although in the status quo brought in by the New 52 relaunch this has been tweaked, with Diana Prince instead being the product of a union between Hippolyta and the Greek god Zeus. Like her daughter (and the rest of the Amazons) she is ageless and super-strong, and carries a number of magical artifacts, such as the Sandals of Hermes, which give her enhanced speed and allow her to fly. Whether this will be retained for the film is unclear, but it’s nice to know that the nods to the wider comic-book universe are there.
She joins a cast that already includes Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince and Chris Pine as Steve Trevor, as well as the likes of Robin Wright, David Thewlis, Elena Anaya, Lucy Davis, Ewan Bremner, Said Taghmaoui and Danny Huston.
Wonder Woman will be released in cinemas on 23 June 2017. You can find out more about the characters and the comics that inspired them by picking up the latest edition of 100 All-Time Greatest Comics.
