Honestly, it’s hard to imagine anyone else but Gal Gadot sliding into those iconic gold bracers. But back in 2013, when the news broke that a relatively unknown actress from the Fast & Furious franchise would be our Diana Prince, the internet did what it does best: it had a meltdown. People complained she was too thin. They said she didn't have the "superhero look."
Fast forward to the release, and the cast of wonder woman the movie basically saved the entire DC Extended Universe from a total tailspin.
The 2017 film didn't just give us a great superhero story; it gave us a masterclass in chemistry. From the stoic warriors of Themyscira to the ragtag group of spies in the trenches of WWI, the casting was purposeful. It wasn't just about big names. It was about finding people who could ground a story involving literal Greek gods in a way that felt, well, human.
The Casting of Diana: From Near-Retirement to Global Icon
Gal Gadot almost quit acting right before she landed this. Seriously. She was tired of the constant "no" from casting directors and was ready to head back to Israel for good. Then came a "blind" audition for Zack Snyder. She didn't even know she was reading for Wonder Woman. She just knew she was doing a camera test with Ben Affleck.
Snyder later mentioned that it was her "commanding" presence that won him over. She had this specific mix of innocence and lethal grace. While Lilly Aspell and Emily Carey did a fantastic job playing the younger versions of Diana—showing us that wide-eyed curiosity—Gadot had to carry the weight of a woman discovering that the world isn't just "good" or "bad." It's messy.
Physical Transformation
Gadot didn't just show up and put on the suit. She gained roughly 17 pounds of muscle. She worked with trainer Mark Twight, the same guy who bulked up Henry Cavill for Man of Steel. The goal wasn't just aesthetics; she needed to look like someone who had spent 800 years training for a war that hadn't happened yet.
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Chris Pine as Steve Trevor: Not Your Average Damsel
One of the smartest moves Patty Jenkins made was casting Chris Pine. Most "love interest" roles in superhero movies are, frankly, boring. They exist to be rescued. But the cast of wonder woman the movie flipped that script.
Steve Trevor is a pilot, a spy, and a guy who has seen the absolute worst of humanity. Pine played him with a "rogue-ish" charm that felt like a nod to Indiana Jones or Han Solo.
The magic, though, was in the power dynamic.
- Steve knows the world; Diana knows the truth.
- Steve is a "good man" in a world of grey; Diana is a "god" who expects perfection.
- He never feels emasculated by her power.
Pine actually said he wanted to be like "Goose" from Top Gun when he was a kid. He brought that same wingman energy to Diana. He knew he wasn't the hero of this story, and he was okay with that. That lack of ego made their romance one of the most believable in the entire genre.
The Amazons: Bringing Themyscira to Life
The opening act of the movie is basically a fever dream for anyone who loves high-stakes action. To make the Amazonian warriors feel real, the production didn't just hire actors. They hired pro athletes, CrossFit champions, and equestrians.
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Connie Nielsen (Queen Hippolyta)
Nielsen brought a regal, protective weight to the role of Diana’s mother. Interestingly, Patty Jenkins originally looked at Nicole Kidman for this part, but scheduling conflicts opened the door for Nielsen. She leaned into the idea of a leader who is "elected" by her peers every year for a thousand years. She wasn't just a mom; she was a politician and a general.
Robin Wright (General Antiope)
If Hippolyta was the soul of Themyscira, Antiope was the steel. Robin Wright, fresh off her cold-as-ice performance in House of Cards, was a revelation here. She insisted on doing as many of her own stunts as possible. The scene where she leads the charge on the beach on horseback? That wasn't just CGI. That was a group of incredibly fit women actually charging across an Italian beach (standing in for Themyscira).
The Villains and the Big Reveal
Let’s talk about David Thewlis. Most of us knew him as the lovable Professor Lupin from Harry Potter. Seeing him as Sir Patrick Morgan—the soft-spoken advocate for peace who turns out to be Ares, the God of War—was a brilliant bit of misdirection.
Thewlis didn't play Ares as a snarling monster (well, until the CGI took over in the final act). He played him as a cynical intellectual who truly believed humanity didn't deserve to be saved. It made the conflict philosophical, not just physical.
Then you have:
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- Danny Huston as General Ludendorff: The "face" of the enemy. He played the role with a diabolical, old-school villainy.
- Elena Anaya as Doctor Poison: Her performance was haunting. She didn't have many lines, but the way she moved—hiding behind that prosthetic mask—made her feel like a tragic, twisted mirror to Diana.
Why This Specific Cast Mattered
The cast of wonder woman the movie worked because they weren't trying to outshine the character of Wonder Woman herself. Even the supporting "howling commando" types like Ewen Bremner (Charlie), Saïd Taghmaoui (Sameer), and Eugene Brave Rock (Chief) added layers of diversity and trauma that grounded the WWI setting.
Brave Rock, specifically, brought a lot of his own heritage to the role. He actually spoke Blackfoot in the film—lines that weren't even translated in the subtitles—adding a layer of authenticity that you rarely see in big-budget blockbusters.
Real-World Takeaways from the Casting Success
When looking at why this cast resonated so much, we can see a few clear lessons for anyone interested in the industry or just looking for great storytelling:
- Chemistry over Clout: Chris Pine and Gal Gadot had a natural rapport that couldn't be faked. If your lead actors don't click, the movie fails.
- Subverting Expectations: Casting a "nice guy" like David Thewlis as the ultimate evil creates a more memorable villain than a typical "tough guy."
- Authentic Strength: Hiring real athletes for the Amazon roles made the fight scenes look grounded and powerful rather than floaty or fake.
If you're revisiting the film, keep an eye on Lucy Davis as Etta Candy. She’s often the unsung hero of the cast of wonder woman the movie, providing the levity and the perspective of a "normal" woman in 1918. Her Skype audition with Jenkins was what secured the role; Jenkins loved that Davis didn't play Etta as "sure of herself," which fit the time period perfectly.
To really appreciate the depth of this ensemble, watch the "No Man's Land" sequence again. It’s not just about Diana walking into gunfire. It’s about the reactions of the men behind her—the mix of awe, hope, and terror on the faces of the supporting cast that makes the moment legendary.
The best way to see the impact of this cast is to compare it to the sequels. While the later films had their moments, the 2017 ensemble had a specific, lightning-in-a-bottle energy that redefined what a female-led superhero movie could look like. It wasn't just a win for DC; it was a win for anyone who wanted to see a cast that actually felt like a community.
Actionable Next Steps
To dive deeper into the world of Themyscira and the production:
- Watch the "Epilogue: Etta’s Mission" short: Found on the Blu-ray/digital extras, it shows the supporting cast (Sameer, Charlie, Chief) reuniting after the war.
- Check out the "Crafting the Wonder" featurette: This shows the training camps the Amazons went through, which is honestly more impressive than the movie itself.
- Read "The Amazons" by Adrienne Mayor: This is the book Connie Nielsen used to research her role as Hippolyta. It’s a fascinating look at the real-life warrior women who inspired the myths.