Gal Gadot, the renowned Israeli actress who is famous for her portrayal of Wonder Woman, has been selected to play Queen Cleopatra Philopator VII in a forthcoming film that is due to hit the theaters in 2025. A new theatrical poster has reignited talk about the movie, which Gadot is hoping will alter the way people view the iconic historical figure. Elizabeth Taylor’s legendary portrayal of Cleopatra in the 1963 production has brought some focus to the new movie. Nevertheless, there has been mixed feedback from some commentators regarding Gadot’s casting as Cleopatra. They are upset that an actress with Israeli heritage has been chosen to depict the historic figure.
In a recent interview, Gal Gadot expressed her excitement and respect for the role of Cleopatra in the upcoming movie. She acknowledged that Cleopatra is a household name and a real strong female leader, unlike her character in Wonder Woman which is an imaginary one. Gadot also expressed that there’s more to Cleopatra than just being a seductive woman who had affairs with Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony.
The controversy surrounding the casting of Gadot as Cleopatra has not reached the same level as that of the Netflix series, Queen Cleopatra, but it has attracted criticism from some online commentators. Despite this, Gadot defended her casting in a 2020 interview with the BBC, stating that Cleopatra was of Macedonian descent and they were looking for a Macedonian actress to play the role.
Cleopatra VII Philopator was the last ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt and ruled from 51 BC to 30 BC. Her fate was closely tied to the fortunes of the Ptolemaic dynasty, of which she was the last ruler. Cleopatra was a descendant of Ptolemy I Soter, the founder of the dynasty and a former general of Alexander the Great. She was a skilled diplomat and strategist who sought to maintain Egypt’s independence while navigating the turbulent political landscape of the Roman Republic. Her alliances with powerful Roman leaders such as Julius Caesar and Mark Antony were instrumental in securing her position and the interests of Egypt. However, after the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra’s forces in the Battle of Actium, Egypt fell under Roman rule, marking the end of her reign and the demise of the Ptolemaic dynasty.