Wonder Woman’s lead star Gal Gadot, together with its director Patty Jenkins, are teaming up again, this time with screenwriter Laeta Kalogridis (Alita: Battle Angel and Shutter Island), to bring back the story of Cleopatra on the big screen.
Gadot broke the news to the world when she tweeted a picture of the oil painting of Cleopatra by the 19th-century painter Frederick Arthur Bridgman along with the announcement of her casting as Cleopatra.
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
Acknowledging the #InternationalDayoftheGirl with an inspiring tweet, “We hope women and girls all around the world, who aspire to tell stories will never give up on their dreams and will make their voices heard, by and for other women.”
And we are especially thrilled to be announcing this on #InternationalDayoftheGirl
We hope women and girls all around the world, who aspire to tell stories will never give up on their dreams and will make their voices heard, by and for other women.— Gal Gadot (@GalGadot) October 12, 2020
The news made Gadot’s fans brim with excitement, but others didn’t take the news so well. The Israeli actress was under fire recently for supposedly ‘whitewashing’ the infamous queen.
This backlash sparked an online debate on Gadot’s ethnicity and Cleopatra’s heritage. There are some that think the producers should have casted an African or Arabian actress for the role.
Someone explain to me how Gal Gadot can be stealing an “Arab role” when Cleopatra was Macedonian 🥴
Funny that she wasn’t Arab or Israeli but people are only pressed that a Jewish actress is going to be playing her.
Either you’re antisemitic or just were dead in history class.
— טניה (@silentactiviist) October 12, 2020
Before anyone of you accused Gal of whitewashing know the difference first! Gal is not even white. She will be a perfect Queen Cleopatra. pic.twitter.com/SqkZ7uExad
— Reelando Lorica (@Lan0601) October 12, 2020
through the eyes of white women’s and white hollywood, as always!!!
— sasa (@amberheardn) October 12, 2020
And we are especially thrilled to be announcing this on #InternationalDayoftheGirl
We hope women and girls all around the world, who aspire to tell stories will never give up on their dreams and will make their voices heard, by and for other women.— Gal Gadot (@GalGadot) October 12, 2020
Kalogridis took to Twitter as well to share her own thoughts on the announcement, seemingly hinting at the backlash Gadot received.
For the little Greek girl from central Florida who ran around in a cape pretending to be Diana of Themyscira, there’s only a LITTLE pressure here.
— Laeta Kalogridis (@LKalogridis) October 11, 2020
Incredibly excited to get the chance to tell the story of Cleopatra, my favorite Ptolemaic Pharoah and arguably the most famous Macedonian Greek woman in history.
Never thought I’d have the opportunity to tell a story like this, with women who have inspired me beyond words.
— Laeta Kalogridis (@LKalogridis) October 11, 2020
POP! Creator Community / Nicole Valdez
