Everything we know about Cleopatra starring Gal Gadot

From the moment Gal Gadot suited up as Wonder Woman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Gadot has become one of the most recognizable names in Hollywood and also one of the most sought-after stars in the game.

In the years that have followed her debut as the iconic Amazonia warrior princess, Gadot has gone on to star in some of the biggest films and franchises with no signs of slowing down. She also has not strayed away from taking on equally iconic roles.

She’ll return as Wonder Woman in a third standalone film in development from DC, is set to take on the role of the Evil Queen in Disney’s upcoming Snow White live-action project, and has been tapped to tell the story of one of the most iconic leaders in history when she steps into the role of Cleopatra.

In Cleopatra, fans will get the chance to see Gadot embody the powerful Egyptian leader as Gadot and the creative team looks to tell her story in a way that’s not yet been done on the big screen: through women’s eyes.

Why were people mad when Gal Gadot was cast as Cleopatra?

Although Gal Gadot is beloved by the masses and one of the most successful and sought-after stars at the moment, there was some controversy when Gadot was first cast in the role. The controversy surrounding Gadot’s casting came from critics who felt an Arab or African actress should play the ancient Egyptian queen, with concerns that the studio behind the film was whitewashing the role with Gadot’s casting.

The controversy was addressed by Gadot directly in a 2020 interview with BBC Arabic’s Sam Asi, in which Gadot revealed the creative team had sought out to find a Macedonian actress to play the role but ultimately were unable to do so.

"“First of all if you want to be true to the facts then Cleopatra was Macedonian. We were looking for a Macedonian actress that could fit Cleopatra. She wasn’t there, and I was very passionate about Cleopatra.” She added, “I have friends from across the globe, whether they’re Muslims or Christian or Catholic or atheist or Buddhist, or Jewish of course… People are people, and with me I want to celebrate the legacy of Cleopatra and honour this amazing historic icon that I admire so much.”"

Does Cleopatra starring Gal Gadot have a release date?

At this time, no official release date has been set for the Cleopatra film starring Gal Gadot nor has any release date window been set for the film. While the project was first announced back in 2020, there have been few updates on the film since but we do know that a script as been drafted and the project is still very much in development.

Depending on when filming begins, it’s likely we’d be looking at a release date about a year or two out from whenever production wraps unless the film is streamlined for faster release. One thing that we do know is that the film is expected to open in theaters and is not expected to become a streaming release.

Who is in the Cleopatra cast?

Thus far, the only actor connected to the Cleopatra film in development is Gal Gadot, who is attached to play the film’s title role. Once production begins or nears its start, we should start to see additional actors joining the cast in key roles connected to the story of the Egyptian leader.

Is Patty Jenkins still directing Cleopatra?

While Patty Jenkins was originally attached to the film as its director, Jenkins has since had to take a step back from the film to work on other projects. Replacing Jenkins as the film’s new director is Kari Skogland (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier), who joined the film following the success of the Marvel series.

Although Jenkins is no longer directing the film, she remains an active member of the creative team as an executive producer. She’s joined by fellow EP Laeta Kalogridis, who also wrote the screenplay for the film and has been attached to the project from its early days.

Is there a trailer for Cleopatra starring Gal Gadot?

Because production has not yet begun on the film, there is currently no trailer for the Gal Gadot-led Cleopatra film or any promotional materials for that matter. Once production kicks off, it shouldn’t take long for fans to get their first looks at Gadot in the title role be it in first-look photos from the set or teasers for the project.