The actress is reuniting with 'Wonder Woman' director Patty Jenkins on the project
Gal Gadot has landed the titular role of the new 'Cleopatra' movie from Paramount. She'll be reuniting with Patty Jenkins, the director of 'Wonder Woman' and its sequel 'Wonder Woman 1984' on the project.
Laeta Kalogridis is penning the script for the historical drama. Gal Gadot herself announced the news on Twitter yesterday.
She wrote: "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."
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. pic.twitter.com/k5eyTIfzjB
— Gal Gadot (@GalGadot) October 12, 2020
Kalogridis also tweeted that she was looking forward to writing the story of Cleopatra, "arguably the most famous Macedonian Greek woman in history."
Previously, Cleopatra was brought to the big screen in the 1963 epic starring Elizabeth Taylor.
Some have criticised the casting of Gal Gadot in the role.
Journalist Sameera Khan blasted the decision. She asked who in Hollywood "thought it would be a good idea to cast an Israeli actress as Cleopatra (a very bland looking one) instead of a stunning Arab actress like Nadine Njeim?
"And shame on you, Gal Gadot. Your country steals Arab land & you’re stealing their movie roles... smh."
Which Hollywood dumbass thought it would be a good idea to cast an Israeli actress as Cleopatra (a very bland looking one) instead of a stunning Arab actress like Nadine Njeim?
And shame on you, Gal Gadot. Your country steals Arab land & you’re stealing their movie roles... smh. https://t.co/GY5tYEcl4K pic.twitter.com/JcrnM1RUQq— Samirah (@SameeraKhan) October 11, 2020
White libs flipped TF out when white actors played MYTHICAL Egyptian gods in “Gods of Egypt,” but all is well when a WHITE Israeli actress of European descent is cast as Cleopatra. https://t.co/8eVtxiPL4V
— Samirah (@SameeraKhan) October 11, 2020
She wasn't the only one unhappy with the news.
Paramount pictures casting Gal gadot as cleopatra has the same energy as this pic.twitter.com/ax2PikP9yY
— izzy (@glamorousbb) October 11, 2020
At the same time, many have stood up for Gadot and the casting decision. A number of Twitter users pointed out that Cleopatra was a Macedonian Greek and neither Arab nor Black.
I'm going to say this once and I'm not going to say it again, Cleopatra was Greek.
Yes, she was in Egyptian ruler but she was Greek with Persian and Syrian ancestry. The people who are reacting negatively that to this are uneducated and uninformed.
Gal Gadot deserves this role. pic.twitter.com/7h1oYu9ClX— The Moonlight Warrior 🌙 (@BlackMajikMan90) October 11, 2020
Cleopatra was born in Egypt, but her parents were from Greece. Its like an American playing an Italian.
— Keiley Kaiser (@keileykaiser) October 11, 2020
Gadot next stars in 'Wonder Woman 1984', which hits cinemas Christmas Day.