Gal Gadot will strive to “celebrate” her version of the famous Egyptian Queen in Cleopatra.
- Gal Gadot aims to bring a fresh perspective to the iconic role of Cleopatra, highlighting the brilliance and lesser-known aspects of the Egyptian queen’s life and empire.
- The development of the Cleopatra film has faced challenges, including a change in directors and setbacks due to the writers’ and actors’ strikes.
- Gadot expresses support for the writers during the strikes and hopes for a fair resolution that benefits everyone involved, highlighting the importance of change in the industry.
Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot doesn’t shy away from an acting challenge. It’s true, the Heart of Stone lead will forever be synonymous with the role of DC icon Wonder Woman, but she also plans to tackle one of the most famous historical figures of all time: Cleopatra. And Gadot has lofty expectations for her film’s version of the Queen of Egypt.
Gadot said in an interview with Flaunt:
“Cleopatra has been done a few times before in a brilliant way, but I know that our generation and youngsters know very little about Cleopatra. They know she was a seductive person who had an affair with Mark Antony and Julius Caesar, but really when you read about Cleopatra and her life and legacy, and the empire she ruled, she was brilliant. There’s so much that we’ve never heard about her, and I just want to celebrate that.”
Arguably, the most celebrated and well-known film version of the Egyptian queen’s story came in 1963’s Cleopatra starring Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor in the titular role. Richard Burton played the part of Mark Antony. However, the oldest known movie about Cleopatra predates even Cecil B. DeMille’s 1934 incarnation starring Claudette Colbert in the lead role.
The now lost two-minute short Robbing Cleopatra’s Tomb (1899) featured Jehanne d’Alcy as the queen, and the Silent Film was directed by Georges Méliès. The pair also worked together on the very first horror film, Le Manoir du Diable three years earlier in 1896.
Gal Gadot Wants to Perfect Her Cleopatra
Gal Gadot is currently promoting her new Netflix spy film, Heart of Stone, but she will eventually play the part of Cleopatra on the Silver Screen. However, it’s just a question of how long it will take for the production to be completed. And Gadot isn’t worried about rushing the process.
Gadot said in the same interview:
“It’s a big task. I don’t want to [rush] making it — it’s something that needs…so much thought and care because it’s Cleopatra. We have incredible writers working on the script — before and after the writer’s strike — like Laeta Kalogridis. It’s a beautiful script. We’re not rushing ourselves because you have to be responsible when you deal with such an incredible, iconic, legendary woman.”
Gadot’s Cleopatra seems to have languished in development hell for the better part of three years. After it was announced that Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins would vacate the director’s chair, Kari Skogland came aboard to take the helm. But with the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strikes, it doesn’t look like audiences should expect to bow in the Egyptian Queen’s presence anytime soon.
Gadot told Flaunt:
“Some of our greatest friends are writers and for me, I understand what they are going through from within. I know their subjective, personal stories and I support them. It’s time [for change]. I just hope they break a deal that would work for everybody and be fair. And the sooner the better.”
Gadot’s new movie Heart of Stone is now streaming on Netflix.
