At $445 million and counting, Wonder Woman continues to exert its dominance on the worldwide box office – a dominance that came at the expense of Universal’s middling reboot of The Mummy, too.
Now gearing up for its third weekend on the market, Patty Jenkins’ suitably wondrous origin story continues to go from strength to strength, and it’s small wonder why Warner Bros. has fast-tracked sequel negotiations with the director. For now, those talks are ongoing, but all signs point to Jenkins signing along the dotted line in the not-so-distant future. Gal Gadot, meanwhile, is already contracted to a second Wonder Woman movie, which will follow her appearance in November’s Justice League. But what about the film’s supporting players? Specifically, Elena Anaya’s Dr. Poison?
The Spanish actress delivered a raw, remarkably intense performance as the mad scientist, who concocted a devastating chemical weapon for the German army during the throes of World War I. Otherwise known as Dr. Maru, Anaya herself addressed the possibility of returning for Wonder Woman 2 during a recent chat with The Verge (via CBM). Mild spoilers to follow!
Multi-picture contracts and shared universe practically go hand-in-hand at this stage, and the mystery surrounding one actor’s contract – whether that contract be for Marvel, DC, or Fox – often sparks a heated debate that rages across the four corners of the Internet. Just look at the ongoing speculation surrounding Chris Evans’ stint in the MCU.
For Elena Anaya, though, those of you who have seen Wonder Woman will know that Gal Gadot’s Immortal Warrior spared Dr. Poison during the climatic battle with Ares, so her return isn’t necessarily off the table…even if Anaya was unable to deliver a concrete answer.
Yes yes yes. But I have no answer for that. As you know, when these movies are made, they ask you basically to marry them for the rest of your life. [Laughs] I’d be so happy to be back, to be able to be evil again. It’s so good, it’s so fantastic.
Assuming the Wonder Woman sequel welcomes Dr. Maru back to the fray, what would Anaya like to see? It seems the mad scientist has some unfinished business to attend to.
I think Dr. Maru has a lot left to do, and show, and tell. She hides her femininity and vulnerability. It’s so easy for her to escape from every situation. She’s like a tiny criminal ant, it’s so difficult for her to be caught. She has many faces. You know, there is a moment in the movie when we see her face without the damage, and she looks like a fairly normal, easygoing chemist, like somebody who’s clever in her work. Who could tell that this person is going to invent the most destructive weapon ever?
So, what’s the status of Wonder Woman 2? Warner Bros. and director Patty Jenkins are “working on it,” but those pining for the return of Gal Gadot’s Amazonian can at least look forward to the release of Justice League on November 17th. In fact, if leaked set photos are any indication, Zack Snyder/Joss Whedon’s DC ensemble movie may well include a flashback to The Great War.