While Warner Bros.’ highly anticipated Wonder Woman has already been in production for a couple of months now, the film is only just casting a key role. Back in November, we learned that Nicole Kidman was in talks for a “major role” in director Patty Jenkins’ superhero pic, with reports suggesting the Oscar-winning actress was being eyed to play the mother of Gal Gadot’s superhero. That particular piece of casting didn’t come to fruition, but when the full ensemble was announced we learned that Robin Wright had joined the cast. Many assumed Wright had taken the role that was earmarked for Kidman—ie. Wonder Woman’s mother—but now it appears Wright is playing a different character entirely, as another actress has landed the maternal role.
Per THR, Gladiator star Connie Nielsen has signed on to play Hippolyta, the queen of the Amazons and mother of Princes Diana, also known as Wonder Woman. The Danish actress’ recent credits include the Fox series The Following, CBS’ The Good Wife, and Lars von Trier’s Nymphomaniac Vol. 1, but Wonder Woman certainly marks an exciting prospect for Nielsen.
It’s unclear how Hippoyta fits into the storyline of Wonder Woman, which is primarily set during World War I, but it does seem like production is getting ready to tackle the scenes that involved Hippoyta, possibly in an Amazonian setting? I’m curious to see how far back Wonder Woman will delve into the character’s history, but this particular mother-daughter relationship provides the opportunity to capture some fascinating—and contrasting—visuals for the picture.
Filming continues over the next few months in the UK and Italy as the movie barrels towards its June 23, 2017 release date. The cast also includes Chris Pine, Danny Huston, David Thewlis (Harry Potter), Ewen Bremner (Snowpiercer), Saïd Taghmaoui (American Hustle), Elena Anaya (The Skin I Live In), and Lucy Davis (Shaun of the Dead).
