With its bright and vibrant color palette, lively atmosphere, big hairdos, and even bigger shoulder pads, Wonder Woman 1984 is a spot-on recreation of the early eighties. The movie is a clear love letter to the decade, a time when superheroes weren't the norm and blockbusters came in all shapes and sizes.
Had the sequel to Wonder Woman actually been done in 1984, the cast would look very different. Because WW 1984 is the second part of a planned trilogy, the first film would've premiered in 1982, considering the original release date for 1984 was December 2019. The film would certainly star some of the biggest stars of the decade, and its distinctive eighties tone would fit right in with some of the year's other big releases, like Beverly Hills Cop and Ghostbusters.
Sigourney Weaver as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman
Fresh off her breakthrough performance as Ellen Ripley in Alien, Sigourney Weaver would've landed the role of Wonder Woman sometime in 1980. With the first film premiering in 1982, Weaver would return for the 1984 sequel with a firmer grasp on the character.
A fierce and compelling actress, Weaver would nail Wonder Woman's athleticism, completely inhabiting it. Diana's kindness and idealism, key elements in her 1984 characterization, would also play to Weaver's strengths as an actress. '80s audiences would immediately love Weaver's take on the role, and 1984 would turn out to be a landmark year for her career, considering she would also play the role of Dana Barrett in Ghostbusters.
Kurt Russell As Steve Trevor
One of the top stars of Disney during the 1970s, Kurt Russell would begin his transition into more adult roles in the '80s. Just as he received acclaim for his performance as Elvis in the 1980 made-for-television film of the same name, he would've been cast as pilot Steve Trevor, opposite Weaver.
Returning for the sequel, Russell would be a consummate action star following the releases of Escape From New York and, to a lesser degree, The Thing. He would effortlessly portray Steve Trevor, successfully mixing the character's boyish charm with the action and fantasy elements of the plot.
Kathleen Turner As Barbara Minerva/Cheetah
Following her star-making turn as femme fatale Matty Tyler in Lawrence Kasdan's neo-noir erotic thriller Body Heat, Kathleen Turner would've immediately been cast as the villain Cheetah. A talented actress with a distinctive voice, Turner would've been perfect for the role.
Versatile and dynamic, like her other films of the decade would go on to prove, Turner would excel at portraying both sides of the character, perfectly embodying Barbara's sympathetic frailty and Cheetah's raw power. She would also provide a nice contrast to Weaver's intense vulnerability. 1984 would then be a huge year for Turner, as her other film, Romancing the Stone, would go on to be a huge box-office success.
Warren Beatty As Maxwell Lord
A movie star since the 1960s, Warren Beatty was one of Hollywood's most important actors, producers, and directors, and an infamous ladies' man. His reputation was at an all-time high in the early eighties, following the successful releases of two of his best films, Heaven Can Wait in 1978, and Reds in 1981.
More than a villain, Maxwell Lord is, arguably, Wonder Woman 1984's deuteragonist, more so than Steve or Barbara. A role of such importance would've certainly been enough to entice Beatty, who would've provided the film with a huge boost of star power and prestige.
Jonathan Ke Quan As Alistair
To portray Maxwell Lord's young son, Warner Bros. would've chosen child star, Jonathan Ke Quan. Although an unknown at the time, 1984 would prove to be a game-changing year for the teen, thanks to his other release, the adventure classic Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
The role of Alistair is short and underdeveloped, but an ultimately vital one. He's directly responsible for Maxwell's redemption, and ultimately yet unknowingly helps Diana save the world. Quan would go on to have yet another success the following year with the release of The Goonies.
Ellen Burstyn As Hippolyta
Ellen Burstyn achieved critical acclaim in the early '70s thanks to her Academy Award-nominated turns in classics like The Last Picture Show and The Exorcist, before finally winning the gold in 1975 for her performance in Martin Scorsese's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. She'd receive further acclaim in 1978, for Same Time, Next Year.
Her films of the early eighties, however, are not as memorable, so she could have conceivably accepted the role of Hippolyta in the first Wonder Woman. And while the character's participation in the sequel is minimal, Burstyn, ever the consummate pro, would've still given it her all.
Raquel Welch As Antiope
After becoming a sex symbol thanks to her minimal albeit impactful participation in the British film One Million Years B.C., Raquel Welch's career took off and continued steadily during much of the late '60s and throughout the '70s. By the 1980s, Welch was acting in Broadway and appearing in a wide range of television projects.
The role of Anti0pe would've benefited from a strong, domineering presence like Welch's. Her real-life persona would've also boosted the role, adding a mix of old Hollywood glamour to an already compelling and alluring character.
Lynda Carter As Asteria
The role of Asteria would not need to be recast. Lynda Carter, who stopped playing Wonder Woman in 1979 and appeared in a wide array of variety specials throughout the '80s, would be the ideal choice to cameo as the legendary Amazoness Golden Warrior. Asteria originally possessed the winged suit of armor and, during an ancient war against humans, remained on Earth to allow the other Amazons to escape, seemingly sacrificing herself.
Just like in WW 1984, the cameo would be a fun way to acknowledge Carter's legacy, while also hinting at a possible larger role for the actress in future projects.