The fans of Wonder Woman franchise are excited with the news of a new film, however, there are some who are not thrilled about the reunion. Paramount Pictures recently announced that Patty Jenkins, the director of Wonder Woman, and Gal Gadot, the superhero star, will collaborate on a new movie titled Cleopatra.
The internet had mixed reactions to the selection of Gal Gadot to play Cleopatra. Although Cleopatra was born in Egypt, her ancestry can be traced back to Macedonian Greece. People were debating whether an African, Middle Eastern or European actor would be more suitable for the role, considering that Gadot identifies as Israeli.
Twitter users expressed their dissatisfaction with Hollywood’s casting choices, accusing them of whitewashing. One user questioned the lack of Egyptian actresses to play an Egyptian queen, while another criticized the industry for not casting someone darker than a brown paper bag for historical accuracy. Morgan Jerkins shared the sentiment, hoping that the chosen actress would have a darker complexion.
A different commenter by the name of Sameera Khan expressed her opinion on the matter, stating that it was a foolish decision for Hollywood to choose an Israeli actress to play Cleopatra, especially one who doesn’t even resemble the historical figure. She suggests that an Arab actress like Nadine Njeim would have been a better fit for the role.
The 2020 Oscars saw Gal Gadot grace the red carpet in a stunning ensemble. However, there has been some debate regarding her upcoming role as Cleopatra, specifically concerning the Egyptian queen’s ethnicity. While many believe Cleopatra to be of Greco-Macedonian descent, the identity of her mother remains unknown, leaving one issue unresolved. Despite this, some have criticized Gadot’s casting, though others have pointed out that Cleopatra was indeed Greek. Actor Nazanin Boniadi has spoken out against such backlash, urging people to focus on more pressing world issues instead.
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Gadot’s fans argued that her lineage should not be a factor in her portrayal of Cleopatra, citing previous portrayals by non-Egyptian actors like Vivien Leigh and Elizabeth Taylor. Some supporters even went so far as to describe the backlash against Gadot’s casting as “anti-Semitic” due to her Jewish heritage. However, Egyptologist Sofia Aziz expressed concern over the accuracy of the film’s content, particularly with regards to the depiction of Cleopatra herself. Aziz hopes that the film will accurately portray the historical figure and not simply focus on the men in her life.
E! News has made an attempt to contact the representatives of Gal Gadot and Patty Jenkins for a statement but have not received a response yet. Gadot, who was recently named the third highest-paid actress of 2020, can be seen in the trailer for Wonder Woman 1984, which is now slated to release on December 25, 2020. In an interview with Parade in May, Gadot expressed her excitement for her role as Wonder Woman and how it has been an incredible experience for her. However, the actress also admitted feeling nervous about taking on the lead role, as she had never been a title character before. For Gadot, it was important to bring a character that matters and contribute something good to the world. This has been a fulfilling journey for her so far. Source: yahoo.com
