Who is The Cheetah - the foresightful - time Wonder Woman enemy prime to be the chief villain of the upcomingWonder cleaning woman 1984 ? Despite being Wonder Woman ’s most renowned enemy from the comics in democratic culture , the origins of this definitive fictitious character are considerably less well - known than those of many Batman or Superman enemy . This may be due to three women press Diana of Themyscira using the Cheetah name and her backstory and powers being changed several time over the geezerhood .

The first Cheetah was a wealthy socialite appoint Priscilla Rich , who had no superpowers and was urge by her malevolent split personality to commit criminal offense in a cheetah - skin courting . Her niece , Deborah Domaine , became the 2d Cheetah after she was brainwashed into presume her aunt ’s identity by the terrorist system Kobra . Both of these edition of Cheetah ( who were basicallyCatwomanin a different costume ) were retired followingCrisis on Infinite Earthsin party favor of a raw Cheetah who could more equally stand against the divinely - empowered Diana of Themyscira .

Related : Everything We Know About Wonder Woman 1984

A set of Final Destination Bloodlines characters looking concerned in new trailer

WithWonder Woman 1984set to be one of the biggest releases of the summer movie time of year of 2020 and comedianKristin Wiig cast as Cheetah , it ’s clock time to take a deeper looking at at Dr. Barbara Ann Minerva and how can she possibly be a match for Wonder Woman .

Cheetah’s Origin In Wonder Woman Comics

The current avatar of Cheetah in theWonder Womancomics is a woman namedDr . Barbara Ann Minerva . Like Lara Croft fromTomb Raider , Dr. Minerva was a British archaeologist and heir to a vast fortune , with an chemical attraction for seeking out artifact that others said were strictly legendary . Unlike the more famous Ms. Croft , Dr. Minerva did not have a well human relationship with her Fatherhood and she had no honourable limits as to what she would do to acquire the fortune and glory she long for .

This greed tug Dr. Minerva to pass an expedition to Africa in search of a lost tribe , who was order to have a mysterious female shielder who possess the powers of the cheetah spirit . This protector was later revealed to be the Saint Brigid of Urzkartaga , an ancient plant life god . While Dr. Minerva successfully found the folk and confirmed the legends of the shielder ’s existence , her despatch had been followed by bandit try plunder , who began killing both the clan and Dr. Minerva ’s crowd .

despairing to do anything that might save her life , Dr. Minerva agreed to undergo the ritual to become the new guardian after the clan ’s eminent non-Christian priest secern her that she would have immortality as Urzkartaga ’s bride . Unfortunately , Urzkartaga was a jealous god and refused to accept any woman who had known the touching of another man as a bride . This leave Dr. Minerva excommunicate , possess a totemic alliance to the power of the cheetah as well as an incurable rakehell - lust when she was in her bestial form and disabling physical pain when she   appeared human . Her rivalry with Wonder Woman was born after she first encountered Diana of Themyscira and start to covet the magical Lasso of Truth that she possessed .

Sidious, Tyranus, Maul, and Vader.

Related : Wonder Woman 2 : How Chris Pine Can render

This background was changed slenderly in the2016Wonder cleaning lady : Year Onestoryline by longtimeWonder Womanwriter Greg Rucka . Here , Dr. Minerva was presented as a more sympathetic form - a gifted archaeologist determine to turn out the existence of the Amazons , who was hired by the American government activity to act as Diana ’s translating program and tutor   when she first came to Man ’s World . The two women became good friends , with Dr. Minerva teaching Diana about the mod world and modern languages while learning all she could from Diana about her people and their culture .

Unfortunately , their friendship would fall apart after Dr. Minerva began seek out grounds of other demigods like Diana in the hope of finding a cure for the complaint that required her to walk with a cane . Financed by the sinister CEO Veronica Cale , Dr. Minerva was set up up to become the Cheetah as part of one of Cale ’s own evil schemes . When Dr. Minerva learn her mean fate , she tried to signal Diana for aid using a particular signaling gadget she had been given by Wonder Woman , which had been inactivate by Cale ’s allies . This caused Dr. Minerva to detest Diana , whom she blamed for vacate her and bring about her transformation into the cannibalistic Cheetah .

Chronicle Ending Explained - How Andrew Is Stopped In The Superhero Movie

Cheetah’s Powers In Wonder Woman Comics

Dr. Minerva ’s bond to the cheetah spirit through Urzkartaga enhanced her physical structure in several respect . As her name suggests , her chief plus in her beast - form is the proportionate speed , dexterity and agility of the fastest land animate being on Earth . While Dr. Minerva ’s top stop number in the comics has varied wildly , she is easily one of the fastest the great unwashed on Earth who does not own a connection toThe Flash ’s Speed Force . She also possesses a sure degree of super - strength , super - endurance and invulnerability , make her adequate to of conk toe - to - toe with Wonder Woman in a one - on - one fight .

The connecter to the cheetah spirit also   gives Dr. Minerva a number of passive office . She possess the enhanced skunk of a large computed tomography , including perfect Nox vision , discriminating hearing and a sense of feel that lets her chase her prey by scent   as well as supernaturally sharp claws and fang capable of cutting even Superman ’s invulnerable cutis . She also briefly   had the ability to grant a measure of her king to those she bit , transforming them into half - chetah hybrids under her control .

Thomas Nelson Page 2 of 2 : Kristen Wiig Cheetah In Wonder Woman 1984

Diana Prince and Cheetah in Wonder Woman 1984

Kristen Wiig Plays Cheetah In Wonder Woman 1984

Many fans were sceptical when it was announced that Kristen Wiig had been hurl in the role of Dr. Barbara Ann Minerva , beat out rumored actress with more experience in action office like Sarah Paulson and Charlize Theron . sure enough , Wiig , best do it for her study onSaturday Night Liveand the movieBridesmaids , is seen as more of a comic than a serious actress . Yet she has also won critical acclamation and award nominations for her work in more striking works such asThe Skeleton TwinsandWelcome To Me .

Related : Wonder Woman 2 : Why Kristen Wiig is Perfect For Cheetah

maintain the modern version of Dr. Minerva in mind explains exactly whyWiig is a perfect pick for the role . Before becoming the Cheetah , Minerva is far from a physical fireball and indeed requires a cane to walk . Given that bringing Cheetah to lifetime accurately will need some degree of CGI guile , the doer ’s physicality does n’t matter that much . What is authoritative is that the film will in all probability explore the friendship between Diana and Dr. Minerva before her tragic shift , and Wiig sure enough has experience acting role that delve into the strange friendships forged between radically different women .

Wonder Woman Vs. The Cheetah

Cheetah’s Role In Wonder Woman 1984

It is love that Cheetah ’s background inWonder Woman 1984will borrow from the most recent retell inWonder Woman : Year One . However , it seems that something of the more sinister Dr. Minerva from the original post - Crisis comic strip will be in turn as well . One report claims that the movie will begin out withDiana and Barbaraas friends and that while Dr. Minerva tries to emulate Wonder Woman , she eventually plots to usurp the power and situation of her friend by acquire the Cheetah ’s powers .

Next:Wonder Woman 1984 Set Photo Could Hint at Cheetah’s Origin

Cheetah Wonder Woman Villain

Kristen Wiig Cheetah

Wonder Woman 2 Cheetah Kristen Wiig

Movies

Wonder Woman