Gal Gadot’s casting as Cleopatra in the upcoming movie has raised anticipation and eyebrows among the fans. The Israeli actress has also spoken out about her role in the movie defending the casting choice.
What Is The Gal Gadot’s Cleopatra Controversy?
Paramount is set to make a remake of the 1963 movie which starred Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra. This time, Paramount has chosen the Wonder Woman actress to portray the role of Cleopatra in the upcoming remake.
However, the casting decision has not been met with much appreciation from fans on Twitter. Earlier, Jada Pinkett Smith‘s decision to cast Adele James, a black woman in the Netflix docudrama Queen Cleopatra as the lead had also received a similar backlash.
People on Twitter have expressed their anger for casting a white actress instead of a Caucasian African or Arab actress to play the Egyptian queen.
Many people are forgetting that Gal Gadot isn’t an American white actress, she is in fact from Israel which borders Egypt. Some have also criticised Gadot’s acting skills. Here are some of the reactions from enraged fans.
Y’all asking why they’d cast her to play cleopatra but I’m still tryna figure how she’s still getting casted in general https://t.co/Fggnf44Fjx
— The Taurus Final Boss (@jaxajueny) July 21, 2023
If you were mad about the Black Cleopatra but not this, just know you are a hypocrite. https://t.co/ZucUabhG5j
— ✨🇴🇲🇵🇸سارة✨ (@SaraFangirl_Art) July 20, 2023
Inappropriate, offensive, and a blatant provocation towards the Egyptian and Palestinian world.
Disgusting film and an ugly ass actress. #GalGadot https://t.co/pW4xza95zO
— Robert Carter (@Bob_cart124) July 20, 2023
Gal Gadot Defends The Casting Controversy
The movie has been delayed several times due to different issues. In 2020, Gal Gadot announced that she will be playing the lead role in the movie working alongside director Patty Jenkins.
“As you might have heard I teamed up with @PattyJenks and @LKalogridis to bring the story of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, to the big screen in a way she’s never been seen before. To tell her story for the first time through women’s eyes, both behind and in front of the camera.”
However, in 2021 Variety reported that Jenkins had walked out of the project and Kari Skogland will be taking over the directorial duties. Skogland has previously directed The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Recently, while shooting for Vogue Hong Kong’s June edition, Gal Gadot spoke about playing Cleopatra and how she aims to redefine her identity.
“All I ever saw in regards to Cleopatra from film, was that she was this seductive woman who had an affair with Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony. But the truth is, there’s so much more to her. This woman was so ahead of her time. Egypt and what Egypt was back then, was still futuristic to where we are today. I can’t say much. But to me, I’m so passionate to tell her story and to bring justice to this character, and her legacy and celebrate her and her legacy. We have a beautiful script, and I cannot wait to share this story with the world and change the narrative of Cleopatra simply being a seductor.”
While defending her casting as Cleopatra in the upcoming movie for being accused of “whitewashing” the icon, she said they wanted to cast a Macedonian actress.
“First of all if you want to be true to the facts then Cleopatra was Macedonian. We were looking for a Macedonian actress that could fit Cleopatra. She wasn’t there, and I was very passionate about Cleopatra.”
While talking to BBC, Gal Gadot said that she wants to celebrate and honour the legacy of the Egyptian queen through the movie.
“I have friends from across the globe, whether they’re Muslims or Christian or Catholic or atheist or Buddhist, or Jewish of course… People are people, and with me I want to celebrate the legacy of Cleopatra and honour this amazing historic icon that I admire so much.”
Gal Gadot stated that “anybody can make this movie” and “anybody can go ahead and do it.” She further stated that she is “very passionate” about this project and wants to do this in her own way.
