Wonder Woman Casts Gladiator Actor For Diana’s Mother, Hippolyta

Jill Pantozzi | January 15th, 2016

Ok, Warner Bros. Gladiator’s Connie Nielsen is a pretty great choice for Hippolyta in your Wonder Woman movie.

The Hollywood Reporter says the actor has snagged the role to star opposite Gal Gadot in the highly-anticipated film directed by Patty Jenkins. The film also stars Chris Pine as Captain Steve Trevor, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Ewen Bremner, Saïd Taghmaoui, and Elena Anaya.

Pine recently spoke to the Toronto Sun about his work on the film:

“Steve Trevor is a rogue-ish, cynical realist who’s seen the awful brutish nature of modern civilization,” Pine said. “He’s a worldly guy, a charming guy and it’s going to be a great, fun film. There are some incredibly deep, interesting and morally relevant themes.

“Patty is just directing the daylights out of it. It’s shot beautifully feels so wonderfully period, but also has this wonderful pop sensibility.”

As for the Great War setting, he said, “it’s a period we don’t see often; it’s usually World War II. Our costume design is incredible. We have scenes with, like, 500 extras all in period dress. I’d never been on a film with extras casting as beautifully done as it is here.

“It highlights a really important point. When background casting is done well, it can make or break a scene. I’ve got people in deep background that have entire lives. It’s awesome, it’s actual make-believe land.”

You may recall Nicole Kidman had been in talks for the film. Many assumed she would take the role of Hippolyta but that was never made clear. Besides Gladiator, Nielsen has had television roles on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Good Wife, and The Following. Wonder Woman is filming now and set for a June 23, 2017 release.