In Teen Titans Go! & DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem in the Multiverse, Lex Luthor wields an ancient Kryptonian power and unites the world's supervillains to capture the DC Universe's heroes. With only the fan-favourite DC Super Hero Girls left to stop the Legion of Doom, the team must cross dimensions to rescue their fellow superheroes from the Phantom Zone, but a fortuitous wrong turn leads them to Titans Tower...where they find much-needed allies in the iconic Teen Titans!
That's the premise of this awesome blockbuster event, and we can promise you'll have an absolute riot with this hilarious, action-packed crossover. To mark its Digital, Blu-ray, and DVD release today, we're finally sharing our interview with Wonder Woman and Giganta actor Grey DeLisle.
Those two roles couldn't be any more different, but Grey knocks it out of the park with both. In this interview, she talks us through her experience playing the Amazon warrior and shares what it was like taking the DC Super Hero Girls Wonder Woman on this journey. The actor also sheds some light on her approach to Giganta and reveals why she doesn't always feel the need to turn to the comics.
Finally, Grey shares some fascinating insights into playing Invincible's Monster Girl and explains what it's been like to recently lend her voice to Martin Prince, Sherri, and Terri in The Simpsons.
It must be exciting for you to talk more about being part of this awesome DC Super Hero Girls world with this project?
Yes! I love Teen Titans Go!, and I played Mrs. Claus in the Christmas movie that they did, but my kids love it so much. It’s the only show that I don’t have a regular part on that’s their favourite show. Even though I’m in, like, every other show out there, they don’t care. They just love Teen Titans Go! [Laughs] Anytime I can get some screentime next to the Titans, I’m always happy. I was excited about this crossover.
Wonder Woman is one of the most iconic superheroes of all time, so when you first got the call to play her in this DC Super Hero Girls world a few years back, what did that mean to you?
I’d been playing the regular Wonder Woman quite a bit for different video games and specials. I was playing that very earnest Diana Prince in those, though I got to play that version again at the end of this movie when the Super Friends show up. That was me too [Laughs]. This has been my favourite version. I did play her in the original DC Super Hero Girls, but that was aimed at a much younger audience, and wasn’t quite as fun. This has got so much comedy. I love Lauren Faust and the way she created these characters and gave them such funny, distinctive personalities. That’s really fun to play with.
A lot of actors have been lucky enough to play Wonder Woman over the years, but what specifically did you want to bring to this character in order to put your own spin on her?
I love that her earnestness is played for comedy because she is so earnest and forthright and true that it can come off as stilted and un-fun. When she’s surrounded by people who are pushing her boundaries all the time in this world, it’s hilarious. I didn’t realise how much comedy that lent itself to. How I got this version of Wonder Woman wasn’t because I’d played her in the first DC Super Hero Girls, but because I did a series of shorts with Lauren called Super Best Friends Forever. I loved those and kept saying, ‘You have to make a show with this tone because fans love it.’ I still have people still printing that version of Wonder Woman and bringing it up to me at conventions to sign. It wasn’t even a show at that point, but I was so glad to play this Wonder Woman in a larger format.
In this movie, we see Wonder Woman decide to team up with the Justice League and leave her team behind for a while - how did you feel about that development for Diana here?
I loved seeing how she could fit in with the Justice League and that the only way she would ever betray her friends is for the greater good of humanity. It was such a struggle for her because she is such a loyal friend, but someone who puts the greater good over everything. It was so hard for her to decide. It was an exciting character arc and one I enjoyed exploring so I could see how she would deal with that.
I know you’ve done one of these Teen Titans Go! crossovers before, but what, for you, is the most enjoyable part of having the DC Super Hero Girls share the screen with them?
They have such distinct, funny personalities. The thing I love about the property so much is what I miss most about it: working with the other actors! [Laughs] We’re all very similar to our characters. Nicole Sullivan is very similar to Supergirl. She’s brash and hilarious and a badass. I still Zoom with Tara Strong once every while, but I really miss seeing their faces and hate only catching up with them on social media. I miss my own DC Super Hero Girls! I would never leave them.
I know you’d usually all get together in the recording booth for DC Super Hero Girls, so was it strange not to have that camaraderie for this movie due to COVID?
Yeah, it was. I would listen to playback of what the rest of the cast did to get a feel of what the scene was like and would get so sad. I’d say, ‘Oh, I loved that! That’s perfect. Oh my gosh, I miss them!’ Hearing their voices…I love Kimberley Brooks and haven’t seen her in ages. Hearing her lines before mine hurt because we were all so close. We’re in one of those businesses where there’s not a lot of cattiness as we love each other so much and it’s a small world. There’s no room for people who aren’t fun and wonderful and sweet. If you even show one little bit of being a jerk in the booth, you’re just not invited to the party anymore [Laughs]. It’s a fun place because it’s full of angels. I really do miss them very much, though it has its pros too. I see my family and kids so much more than before because I’m not sitting in traffic and can do everything from home. I can run right out and have lunch with them and then go right back to work within two minutes.
On the other hand, of course, you’ve got Giganta. How did you approach finding her voice and how much fun is it to play a villain?
I love playing villains! They’re the best characters to play. I also love small, funny parts [Laughs]. I really love villains because they chew the scenery and feel bigger than life. Giganta is comedic relief and a tension breaker. I love her huge insecurities and it’s so hilarious seeing how sweet her parents are. It’s always funny when people so sweet raise these awful kids. It happens a lot in real life where you have a jerk with really nice parents. My kids hang out with some of them [Laughs]. I love the layers of her character, her insecurities, and the fact she’s so funny.
We all know Wonder Woman, but with someone like Giganta, do the comic books come in handy to get a better understanding of who she is?
Honestly, I’m a single mother with three kids and I’m working every day from 9am to 6pm and I have a music career after starting a kid’s band during lockdown, so I’m usually so exhausted by the end of the day that I probably don’t have 5 minutes to even think about cracking open a comic book [Laughs]. I rely on the creators and my fellow actors to help mould my performance, so I’m always pleased when the fans respond positively to whatever I do. I put a lot of thought into how to portray a character based on the writing and the choices of my fellow actors, but not so much the comic books. A lot of girls pretend to be into comics, and I always go, ‘Really?’ I’ll be on a panel with them and they’ll say they love them while I’m there thinking, ‘Wait, I’ve never heard you talk about them!’ [Laughs] I feel like it’s something people say and I don’t believe it. I’m not going to be one of those! [Laughs] Just be yourself and be honest, it’s fine.
On another note, I loved Invincible, so is there anything you can tease about where Monster Girl’s story goes next and what’s it been like to delve into that ultra-violent comic book world?
The creators of that show are so much fun to work with. I’m a massive fan of The Walking Dead, so working with its creator is unbelievable. J.K. Simmons too. I couldn’t believe I was seeing him there. I’m not a fan of the comics, but I’m a fan of the show. It’s incredible to be part of such an amazing property, and Invincible is just getting better and better. We just did our first episode of the new season and it’s going to be good!
Of course, you’ve also joined The Simpsons as Martin Prince, Sherri, and Terri following in the footsteps of Russi Taylor, but what has the experience of being part of that iconic franchise been like so far?
It’s so bittersweet because I loved Russi so much. I feel like she’s my little guardian angel because she and I were very close friends and she was such a wonderful, dear person. She and her husband, Wayne, were lovely. The only comfort of her going was knowing that they were together again. I do feel her with me. There was a big Martin episode that aired about a month ago where I had this huge arc and we get a lot of backstory on him. It was the biggest Martin episode ever and I was a little intimidated. I anticipated just doing a few funny, cute lines here and there while trying to sound as much like Russi as I can, but this was a tour de force. I felt her there with me every step of the way.
The Multiverse is a hot concept right now, but if you could choose two of the characters you’ve played in the past and have them meet in a future film or TV show, who would it be and why?
I think Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel would make an amazing duo. They’d be a power couple [Laughs].
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Teen Titans Go! & DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem in the Multiverse is available on Digital, Blu-ray & DVD on May 24. The movie event also premieres on Cartoon Network on May 28 and starts streaming on HBO Max beginning June 28!