Maggie Q as Wonder Woman on Young Justice

Great Hera, this is some awesome casting news. Nikita star Maggie Q has lassoed the role of Wonder Woman in the Cartoon Network series Young Justice. Though the character has been seen in the background of past episodes of the superhero show, she will have her first speaking part in the March 24 episode ("Agendas").



Taking the role was a no-brainer for Maggie Q. "In my head I am her," she says with a laugh. "No stretch there. When I was a kid, I used to dress up as her. I couldn't afford a costume, so I would make her headband, wristbands and the lasso out of paper and tape it to myself. And [I'd] run around, climb up roofs and try to jump off them." She was inspired by Lynda Carter's iconic performance as the Amazon warrior in the 1970s live-action Wonder Woman series. "As kitsch as it was, it still had that concept of woman power," she says. "To me, as a young girl, that was more interesting than being pretty or being popular. Being strong, to me, was cool."



Young Justice focuses on a group of sidekick heroes (including Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad and Miss Martian) who are mentored by their elders in the Justice League. The roster includes a bounty of iconic DC Comics characters, including "the big three" — Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman — as well as cult favorites like Aquaman, Black Canary and Green Lantern. The first season has focused on a mysterious cabal of villains targeting the League. In next Saturday's episode, the team meets to recruit new members to help bolster their ranks. The episode includes other celebrity castings, including Chad Lowe as Captain Marvel, CSI's George Eads as the Flash and Suburgatory's Alan Tudyk as Green Arrow.



This was Maggie Q's first real voiceover role, and she loved it. "There is nothing cooler than having lines like, 'Batman, the fate of the world is upon us,'" she says. "Who gets to say that? And who gets to say that in a deep, earnest, amazingly sexy way? And to have a bunch of hot men in costumes at a table listening to you. There's really nothing better."



Young Justice airs Saturdays at 10:30am/9:30c as part of Cartoon Network's DC Nation block.



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