Kristen Wiig Might Play Wonder Woman's Next Villain

The SNL alum is reportedly in talks to play Cheetah in the highly-anticipated sequel.

Fashion, Blond, Costume, Performance, Model, Style, Fashion design,
(Image credit: Getty / Warner Bros.)

Kristen Wiig is the "top choice" to play Diana Prince's villain, Cheetah, in Wonder Woman IIVariety reports. The highly-anticipated sequel is slated to release on November 1, 2019, starring Gal Gadot and directed by Patty Jenkins once again.

Details are scarce on the film so far, but reports say Wonder Woman's next chapter will take place in the United States and likely during the 1980s in the context of the Cold War.

"The story will take place in the U.S., which I think is right," Jenkins told Entertainment Weekly last year. "She’s Wonder Woman. She’s got to come to America. It’s time."

Musical, Cg artwork, Mythology, Scene, Performance, Fictional character, Movie,

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

The feline adversary is a recurring figure in the Wonder Woman comics, but one of the most popular iterations is that of Dr. Barbara Ann Minerva, who was introduced in 1987, according to The Hollywood Reporter. She's a British archeologist and heiress who acquires cheetah-like abilities after an expedition in Africa goes awry.

News of Wiig's potential casting arrives shortly after rumors circulated that Emma Stone was being eyed for the role, but she reportedly turned it down.

Filming is slated to begin this summer, but right now the WWII team is still developing the screenplay, according to producer Charles Roven. "We do believe we have a good story to tell," he told ComicBook.com.

Wonder Woman II will also be the first film made under the new Anti-Sexual Harassment Guidelines, which were established to fight and eradicate the culture of sexual abuse in the film industry.

Erica Gonzales

Erica Gonzales is the Senior Culture Editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more. She was previously an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. There is a 75 percent chance she's listening to Lorde right now.