Alexandria celebrates ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ – Landmark Mall never looked so good

Wonder Woman kicks butt at Landmark Mall.

A special treat for Northern Virginians watching “Wonder Woman 1984” are the scenes filmed at Landmark Mall. The City of Alexandria is celebrating the release of the movie with a display featuring a prop from the mall scene and other WW84 special promotions. 

The seven-foot-tall drum with the “Virginia is for Lovers” slogan will be on display in an outdoor storefront window Jan. 7-Feb. 28 at 101 N. Union Street near King Street and the waterfront. In the movie, Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot, smashes a bad guy into the drum. 

The movie takes place in the 1980s, so the filmmakers chose Landmark Mall, renamed “Southfields Mall,” as the perfect period setting, filling it with neon colors and 80s staples, such as a videogame arcade, sunglasses store, and Casual Corner.

Director Patty Jenkins, star Gal Gadot, other cast members spent several weeks filming scenes at the now-closed mall during the summer of 2018. 

Wonder Woman opened Dec. 25 in movie theaters, including Cinema Arts Theater in Fairfax and Angelika Film Center at Mosaic. It’s also available on the streaming service HBO Max. 

The Virginia is for Lovers slogan is a deliberate product placement by the Virginia Film Office. That slogan, adopted 51 years ago, is now the longest-running state tourism campaign in the United States. 

In addition to the drum display, Alexandria is celebrating the WW84 release with a self-guided stroll of movie and TV sites, a behind-the-scenes featurette with Gadot and Jenkins about their experiences in Northern Virginia, and special promotions offered by local businesses:  

• Port City Brewing Co. will host “Wonder Woman Wednesdays” throughout January, starting Jan. 6. Any two six-packs or a variety 12-pack will be  $19.84 with curbside pickup.
• Elizabeth’s Counter will offer a vanilla-glazed “Truth Teller” doughnut with red, white, and blue sprinkles and gold and silver stars.
• America’s Favorite Gourmet Popcorn has a three-flavor Wonder Woman-theme package with a red, white, and blue edition of K-Street Kettle Corn, Capital Caramel popcorn; and America’s Favorite popcorn. 
• inq Tattoos is offering original permanent and temporary Wonder Woman tattoos.
• “A Deal is a Promise” cocktail, named for a line from the movie, is available at Captain Gregory’s.
• The “Invisible Plane” cocktail at Vola’s Dockside Grill and Hi-Tide Lounge is inspired by the invisible jet that lets Diana and Steve escape the bad guys. 

Other movies and TV shows with scenes filmed in Alexandria include “Jackie” starring Natalie Portman (2016), “J. Edgar” starring Leonardo DiCaprio (2011), “National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets” with Nicholas Cage (2007), “The West Wing” (1999-2006), “Hollow Man” starring Kevin Bacon (2000), “Random Hearts starring Harrison Ford (1998), and “The Pelican Brief” with Denzel Washington and Julia Roberts (1993).