WONDER WOMAN: VIRGINIA MADSEN SPEAKS!
A new DC Universe Direct-To-DVD movie features Virginia Madsen as Queen Hippolyta!
WONDER WOMAN
Released by Warner Bros.
With documentaries featuring Wonder Woman Museum webmaster Andy Mangels!
On Sale: March 3, 2009
Multiple DVD formats
Click here to purchase Wonder Woman (2 Disc Special Edition DVD) on Amazon
Click here to purchase Wonder Woman (1 Disc DVD) on Amazon
Click here to purchase Wonder Woman (Blu-Ray DVD) on Amazon
Click here to purchase the Wonder Woman tie-in novel on Amazon
Click here to purchase the limited edition Wonder Woman animated Maquette on Amazon
Webmaster Andy Mangels is featured in the special documentaries "A Subversive Dream" and "The Daughters of Myth" on the DVD editions!
WATCH FOR EXCLUSIVE WonderWomanMuseum INTERVIEWS WITH CAST AND CREW COMING SOON RIGHT HERE!
First up in the next few days: Michael Jelenic in a 90-minute exclusive!
Here's the official press interview as released by Warner Bros.!
ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEE VIRGINIA MADSEN DISCUSSES VOICING HIPPOLYTA, QUEEN OF THE AMAZONS, IN “WONDER WOMAN,” THE NEXT DC UNIVERSE FILM COMING TO DVD MARCH 3, 2009
Academy Award nominee Virginia Madsen brings an impassioned, stately voice to the role of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, for “Wonder Woman,” the next entry in the popular series of DC Universe animated original PG-13 movies.
Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation are set to release the all-new film on March 3, 2009, distributed by Warner Home Video. The animated original movie will also be available OnDemand and Pay-Per-View as well as available for download day and date, March 3, 2009.
Madsen has moved seamlessly through all genres of performance - from mainstream feature films and independent releases to primetime television and animated films/series. No category is beyond her scope - and the fanboy realm has a prominent place on her IMDB roll call.
Madsen made a splash in one of her first films as Princess Irulan in “Dune,” then forever endeared herself to the horror fandom as Helen Lyle in “Candyman” (for which she won the 1992 Saturn Award in the Best Actress category). She has made guest starring appearances on “Star Trek: Voyager” and “Earth 2,” helped Christopher Lambert return in “Highlander II: The Quickening” and done notable work in super hero animation. Madsen voiced Dr. Sarah Corwin and Roulette in four episodes of “Justice League” and Arella in an episode of “Teen Titans,” as well as a two-episode turn as Silver Sable in “Spider-Man.”
Along the way, she's starred opposite Harrison Ford, Meryl Streep, James Coburn, Jim Carrey, Billy Bob Thornton, Matt Damon, Alec Baldwin, James Woods and Whoopi Goldberg in dramatic feature films like “Ghosts of Mississippi,” “The Rainmaker” and “Firewall.” She's also been recognized with an ongoing string of awards and nominations for her work in independent films like “Gotham” and “Artworks”
And of course, Madsen is best known for earning a 2005 Academy Award nomination as Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for “Sideways.”
At the urging of an acting coach, Madsen actually began performing voiceovers when she was pregnant with her now-14-year-old son. She was able to find time in her single-mother/busy-actress life to discuss subjects ranging from her secret desire to play Batman and the reading lessons inherent to comic books to working as a waitress at the same Evanston, Illinois restaurant as “Wonder Woman” co-star Marg Helgenberger.
All hail the Q&A with the queen ... Virginia Madsen.
QUESTION: Did you prepare for voicing the Queen of the Amazons in any special way?
VIRGINIA MADSEN: Well, I prepared this morning by writing several edicts for my son (laughs). Honestly, I love when I get to play these characters that are bigger than life. There are roles in animation that I never get to do in real life - and it appeals to my ego as an actor to play the Queen of Everything (laughs) Hey, I'm honest. I admit it.
Hippolyta has a really wide range - I use a lot of notes when I play her. She has a larger, more regal voice. I liked the range we use to create her vocally, and the way that she was written. It's not that she's over the top, but she's just a very, very big character. And I don't usually get to do that on onscreen.
QUESTION: Is that part of the allure of voice acting for you - to gain satisfaction in performances that you don't find on camera?
VIRGINIA MADSEN: Voiceover work reminds me of old-time radio. When I was little I used to sneak and stay up at night and listen to Mystery Radio Theater - I loved all those old radio plays. A radio play actually ended up being the first acting job I ever had. A lot of times when I'm on camera, I'm playing characters that are more like myself, and I don't get to do a lot of real character work. But when you're doing animation, you are the very epitome of colorful characters. I think I'm just really into make believe. In animation, there's silly things I get to do with my voice. I get to have a wider range, so my voice gets to dance more than it does on camera. So it's almost like I get to be more theatrical when I work in voiceover.
QUESTION: You're voicing the Queen of the Amazons, but she's also the mother of Diana/Wonder Woman. Did your standing as a single mother of a 14-year-old son influence your taking the role or your performance?
VIRGINIA MADSEN: Well, I am a proud mother - that's another reason I love doing any kind of animation. When my son was growing up, if he was watching something animated and I was in it, that was way cooler to him than seeing me in a movie.
Hippolyta is very protective, and she thinks she knows it all, and I do as a mother in real life know it all (laughs). And if my son would only listen to my advice, he would lead a perfect life (laughs harder). I'll still be saying that to him when I'm 75. I like to imagine that I have the control that Hippolyta does, but he's a teenager, so that never really happens (laughs).
QUESTION: This is a blockbuster voice cast - any thoughts on your co-stars?
VIRGINIA MADSEN: Actually, Marg Helgenberger and I were waitresses in the same restaurant in Evanston, Illinois. I'm happy to say that that restaurant has since been torn down. But Marg made it out first. We both had an audition for ABC soaps - different soaps, but we auditioned at the same time, and she got the part and went off to New York. Three years later, I went to L.A. So she was kind of an inspiration to me. And it makes sense that we will both be in Wonder Woman together, because we ARE Wonder Women (laughs).
I love Keri Russell. I watched every episode of Felicity, and Waitress is my favorite film from last year. She's just an amazing actress. And I like her voice a lot - it didn't surprise me that she would be doing voiceover work.
QUESTION: You've got some notable experience in the sci-fi/fanboy world. Do you seek out these projects?
VIRGINIA MADSEN: I think it seems to find me, and that might be because I'm a fan. I would have been a fan of “Candyman” even if I hadn't been in that movie. I'm a huge fan of “Star Trek,” which is why I was in “Star Trek: Voyager” - because I begged them to be a part of that lore. I was always an actress, even as a little kid, and fantasy, horror, sci-fi stories are really all about playing make believe. I just never grew out of that.
QUESTION: “Dune” was released 25 years ago. Do you have any specific memories?
VIRGINIA MADSEN: That was really my first Hollywood job. It was such a small part, but I opened the movie. I was about 19 years old and I had to make this speech, and I didn't understand most of the words because they were, you know, words from “Dune.” They were made up names that I didn't know how to pronounce, but I knew how I should sound because I was a sci-fi fan myself. I hadn't read the book, but I knew that I was the princess of the universe. I went in and sort of made her up, and David Lynch thought it matched and cast me.
QUESTION: Were/are you a comic book reader?
VIRGINIA MADSEN: I was not a comic book reader, but my son is. My son wasn't really interested in reading books, which was hard for me because I love to read. It just didn't come naturally to my boy. So we kind of found comic books because they were fascinating to him. They were great stories. Of course, I have to read them all first, because now when you get into graphic novels, they are definitely in deep graphic. But the stories and the characters really interest him, so comic books kind of taught him how to read. So we're really into comic books.
QUESTION: Is there a comic book role that your inner geek covets?
VIRGINIA MADSEN: Sadly, I really want to be Batman … and I just never will be (laughs). That's the cross I bear. When I was growing up, the really, really cool super heroes were all male - so I wanted to be them. I really didn't like Batgirl. I was like, “No, if I'm not gonna be Batman, I'm not gonna play.” Maybe they could write an evil female super villain who takes over Batman, and nobody knows. Then I could live my dream (laughs). I think that's a good idea.
Please visit the film's official website at www.wonderwomanmovie.com
CAST AND CREW
Directed by Lauren Montgomery
Screenplay by Michael Jelenic
Story by Michael Jelenic & Gail Simone
Keri Russell (voice of Wonder Woman)
Nathan Fillion (voice of Col. Steve Trevor)
Alfred Molina (voice of Ares)
Rosario Dawson (voice of Artemis)
Virginia Madsen (voice of Hippolyta)
David McCallum (voice of Zeus)
Marg Helgenberger (voice of Hera)
Oliver Platt (voice of Hades)
Vicki Lewis (voice of Persephone)
Rick Overton (voice of The President)
Jason Miller (voice of Gang Leader / Thraxx)
INTERVIEW WITH LAUREN MONTGOMERY (Director) HERE!
WORLD'S FINEST INTERVIEW WITH LAUREN MONTGOMERY (Director) HERE!
EXPERIENCE THE WONDER INTERVIEW WITH LAUREN MONTGOMERY (Director) HERE!
NEWSARAMA INTERVIEW WITH LAUREN MONTGOMERY (DIRECTOR) HERE!
WIZARD INTERVIEW WITH LAUREN MONTGOMERY (Director) HERE!
GAMERVISION YOUTUBE INTERVIEW INTERVIEW WITH LAUREN MONTGOMERY (Director) HERE!
INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL JELENIC (Screenwriter) HERE!
NEWSARAMA INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL JELENIC (Screenwriter) HERE!
EXPERIENCE THE WONDER INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL JELENIC (Screenwriter) HERE!
CBR INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL JELENIC (Screenwriter) HERE!
WIZARD INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL JELENIC (Screenwriter) HERE!
GAMERVISION YOUTUBE INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL JELENIC (Screenwriter) HERE!
INTERVIEW WITH KERI RUSSELL (Wonder Woman) HERE!
SCI FI WIRE INTERVIEW WITH KERI RUSSELL (Wonder Woman) HERE!
INTERVIEW WITH NATHAN FILLION (Steve Trevor) HERE!
INTERVIEW WITH ROSARIO DAWSON (Artemis) HERE!
UGO VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH ROSARIO DAWSON (Artemis) HERE!
INTERVIEW WITH VIRGINIA MADSEN (Hippolyta) HERE!
INTERVIEW WITH ALFRED MOLINA (Ares) HERE!
INTERVIEW WITH MARG HELGENBERGER & DAVID MCCALLUM (Zeus & Hera) HERE!
INTERVIEW WITH VICKI LEWIS (Persephone) HERE!
INTERVIEW WITH ANDREA ROMANO (Casting Director) HERE!
WORLD'S FINEST INTERVIEW WITH ANDREA ROMANO (Casting Director) HERE!
WORLD'S FINEST INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTOPHER DRAKE (Composer) HERE!
INTERVIEW WITH BRUCE TIMM (Producer) HERE!
EXPERIENCE THE WONDER INTERVIEW WITH BRUCE TIMM (Producer) HERE!
WIZARD INTERVIEW WITH BRUCE TIMM (Producer) HERE!
GAMERVISION YOUTUBE INTERVIEW WITH BRUCE TIMM (Producer) HERE!
GEEKSOFDOOM YOUTUBE INTERVIEW WITH BRUCE TIMM (Producer) HERE (Part 1), ) HERE (Part 3), and HERE (Part 4)!
MANIA TRIO INTERVIEW WITH LAUREN MONTGOMERY (DIRECTOR), MICHAEL JELENIC (Screenwriter), and BRUCE TIMM (Producer) HERE!
SCIFI WIRE TRIO INTERVIEW WITH LAUREN MONTGOMERY (DIRECTOR), MICHAEL JELENIC (Screenwriter), and BRUCE TIMM (Producer) HERE!
KIWIBOX YOUTUBE TRIO INTERVIEW WITH LAUREN MONTGOMERY (DIRECTOR), MICHAEL JELENIC (Screenwriter), and BRUCE TIMM (Producer) HERE!
NYCC PANEL REPORT at NEWSARAMA IS HERE!
NYCC REPORT at ExperienceTheWonder IS HERE!
NYCC REPORT at CBR IS HERE!
SHORT CLIP FROM MOVIE IS HERE!
REVIEW OF MOVIE at AICN is HERE!
REVIEW OF MOVIE at NEWSARAMA is HERE!
REVIEW OF MOVIE at CBR is HERE!
REVIEW OF MOVIE at IGN is HERE!
REVIEW OF MOVIE at UGO is HERE!
REVIEW OF MOVIE at TOONZONE is HERE!
REVIEW OF MOVIE at I09 is HERE!
REVIEW OF MOVIE at SCREENRANT is HERE!
REVIEW OF MOVIE at COMIC BOOK MOVIE is HERE!
REVIEW OF MOVIE at B*TCH MAGAZINE is HERE!
REVIEW OF MOVIE at FIREFOX is HERE!
REVIEW OF MOVIE at BLAST MAGAZINE is HERE!
REVIEW OF MOVIE at THE QUARTER BIN is HERE!
REVIEW OF MOVIE at CRAVE ONLINE is HERE!
REVIEW OF *DVD SET* at THE TRADES is HERE!
REVIEW OF *DVD SET* at SCI FI PULSE is HERE!
REVIEW OF *DVD SET* at MOVIEWEB is HERE!
REVIEW OF *DVD SET* at TV SQUAD is HERE!
REVIEW OF *DVD SET* at MOVIE MANS GUIDE is HERE!
REVIEW OF *DVD SET* at THE BEAT is HERE!
REVIEW OF *DVD SET* at COMIC MIX is HERE!
REVIEW OF *DVD SET* at SUITE 101 is HERE!
REVIEW OF *DVD SET* at CINEMA VIEWFINDER is HERE!
REVIEW OF *DVD SET* at MENDELSON'S MEMOS is HERE!
REVIEW OF *DVD SET* at JUST PRESS PLAY is HERE!
REVIEW OF *DVD SET* at COMMON SENSE MEDIA is HERE!
REVIEW OF *DVD SET* at CINEMAFANTASTIQUE is HERE!
REVIEW OF *DVD SET* at HUFFINGTON POST & FILM THREAT (mostly same) are HERE and HERE!
REVIEW OF *DVD SET & BLU-RAY* at IGN are HERE and HERE!
REVIEW OF *DVD SET & BLU-RAY* at WORLD'S FINEST are HERE and HERE!
REVIEW OF *BLU-RAY* at DVD TOWN is HERE!
REVIEW OF *BLU-RAY* at BIG PICTURE BIG SOUND is HERE!
REVIEW OF *BLU-RAY* at DVD FUTURE is HERE!
REVIEW OF *BLU-RAY* at SCI FI MOVIE PAGE is HERE!
REVIEW OF *BLU-RAY* at MANIA is HERE!
REVIEW OF *BLU-RAY* at BLU RAY COM is HERE!
REVIEW OF *BLU-RAY* (and great screencaps) at HIGH DEF DISC NEWS is HERE!
REVIEW OF *BLU-RAY* at BATMAN ON FILM is HERE!
REVIEW OF *BLU-RAY* at DVD VERDICT is HERE!
EARLY REVIEW OF TIE-IN NOVEL BY S.D. PERRY & BRITTA DENNISON IS HERE!
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A Sensational Look at Wonder Wonder.
Wonder Wonder as she first appears in full costume.
Princess Diana practices her combat tactics in preparation for becoming Wonder Woman. Keri Russell supplies the voice of Diana/Wonder Woman.
Wonder Woman and Ares engage in several battles. Keri Russell is the voice of Wonder Woman, while Alfred Molina plays Ares, the God of War.
Wonder Woman pauses for a moment of reflection and concern before
moving into battle.
Wonder Wonder prepares to take on Ares in battle.
Wonder Woman has a moment of sad reflection, and the voice of Keri Russell echoes the animated sentiment.
Wonder Wonder captures the title character's origin story from the events leading up to her birth (pictured) to her initial adventures in modern-day America.
Queen Hippolyta (voiced by Viriginia Madsen) glances back at her Amazonian subjects - including her daughter, princess Diana (far right).
Academy Award nominee Virginia Madsen provides the voice for Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons.
A prior relationship is revealed in an opening battle between Ares (voiced by Alfred Molina) and Hippolyta (voiced by Virginia Madsen).
Hippolyta, voiced by Academy Award-nominated actress Virginia Madsen, holds her sword to the throat of God of War Ares, voiced by Alfred Molina.
Queen Hippolyta, mother of Princess Diana/Wonder Woman, exhibits her Amazonian strength during the film's opening battle sequence.
Queen Hippolyta preares to fend off one of Ares' villainous minion.
Battle-savvy Persephone rescues her scholarly sister Alexa during battle.
Alexa hides from an intimidating opponent during a battle scene.
Ares brings his battle with Wonder Woman to Washington D.C., and President Elect Obama might just need to consider some renovations before he moves in this January.
Steve Trevor gets his first look at the Amazons.
Steve Trevor is interrogated by Queen Hippolyta and Artemis in a funny moment.
Alfred Molina voices Ares, The God of War.
Ares pauses for a moment to see Cerberus, the three-headed dog
guarding the gates to the Underworld – where Hades awaits Ares' visit.
As Hippolyta watches, Ares has his powers restrained by wristbands
melded onto his arms by bolts of lightning courtesy of Zeus.
Oliver Platt provides the voice of Hades.
Zeus issues his commands from the clouds. Zeus is voiced by “Navy NCIS” star David McCallum.
Hera offers a compassionate compromise from her lofty throne. Hera is voiced by “CSI” star Marg Helgenberger.
Queen Hippolyta and Artemis prepare for battle with Ares' villainous forces.
Princess Diana and Steve Trevor don't exactly hit it off in their initial meeting.
Artemis (center, voiced by Rosario Dawson) takes the lead during a gathering of Amazonians. Princess Diana, later to be known as Wonder Woman, stands immediately to the right of Artemis.
Wonder Woman gets the upper hand, er, lasso on Ares' henchman Deimos during a thrilling action sequence.
Steve Trevor reacts angrily to Ares' affront to an American icon.
Ares assumes an even more menacing figure in battle as the primary villain. Ares is voiced by Alfred Molina.
Amazonian warrior Persephone prepares for a fight. Actress Vicki Lewis provides the voice of Persephone.
Persephone is one of the key characters in the Amazon's battle with Ares. Actress Vicki Lewis provides the voice of Persephone.
Queen Hippolyta (left) and Artemis (center) don't appreciate Steve Trevor's unrefined humor. Trevor is voiced by Nathan Fillion, while Hippolyta and Artemis are voiced by Virginia Madsen and Rosario Dawson, respectively.
Steve Trevor, as voiced by Nathan Fillion, crash lands after a heated dogfight .
Steve Trevor's first fight of the film is with Princess Diana, the soon-to-become title character.
Artemis, the Amazons’ lead warrior, prepares for battle. Rosario Dawson supplies the voice of Artemis.
Artemis wields her mighty sword in leading the Amazons against the forces of Ares. Rosario Dawson supplies the voice of Artemis.
Artemis is pinned between two swords in the heat of battle. Rosario Dawson supplies the voice of Artemis.
Early reviews say that Wonder Woman, the newest DC Universe animated original movie, packs an incredible punch with its mix of action and humor.
The Wonder Woman screening at WonderCon on February 27, 2009 will include (from left) director Lauren Montgomery, screenwriter Michael Jelenic, DC Comics Senior Vice President of Creative Affairs Gregory Noveck and producer Bruce Timm, along with Academy Award nominee Virginia Madsen.
Wonder Woman director Lauren Montgomery signs autographs at Comic-Con 2008.
Wonder Woman screenwriter Michael Jelenic takes questions during a panel at Comic-Con 2008. (Photo courtesy of Gary Miereanu)
Three-time Emmy Award winner and animation legend Bruce Timm is the producer of Wonder Woman.
Nathan Fillion (pictured with casting/dialogue director Andrea Romano) was a featured panelist at San Diego Comic-Con in 2008, where he discussed his upcoming role as Steve Trevor.
David McCallum records his lines as Zeus.
Alfred Molina provides the voice of Ares.
Actress Vicki Lewis and comics legend Darwyn Cooke pause for a moment during an autograph session at WonderCon 2008. Lewis, who voiced Iris West in Cooke's “Justice League: The New Frontier,” has now provided the voice for Amazonian warrior Persephone for Wonder Woman.
Wonder Woman casting and dialogue director Andrea Romano during the DC Universe films panel at Comic-Con 2008.
Other images from Wonder Woman are below.
