Gal Gadot cast as Cleopatra in new film by 'Wonder Woman' director Patty Jenkins
Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot is teaming up again with director Patty Jenkins in a new role as Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile.
Deadline broke the news that Gadot and Jenkins auctioned the new Cleopatra movie off to Paramount Pictures, beating out offers from Universal, Warner Bros, Netflix and Apple.
Gadot confirmed the announcement on Twitter Sunday (October 11, 2020), expressing her excitement to take on the role of the legendary Egyptian Queen.
“I love embarking on new journeys, I love the excitement of new projects, the thrill of bringing new stories to life. Cleopatra is a story I wanted to tell for a very long time. Can’t be more grateful about this A team,” Gadot wrote, linking to the news report by Deadline.
I love embarking on new journeys,I love the excitement of new projects, the thrill of bringing new stories to life.Cleopatra is a story I wanted to tell for a very long time.Can’t be more grateful about this A team!! @PattyJenks @ParamountPics #AtlasEntertainment #LaetaKalogridis https://t.co/qLH7vfCaUo
— Gal Gadot (@GalGadot) October 11, 2020
Paramount Pictures won the auction for the epic that will have Gadot donning the crown of a real historical wonder woman, Cleopatra. Director Patty Jenkins is set to direct the period biographical drama scripted by Laeta Kalogridis. Charles Roven, who served as producer on Wonder Woman, is attached via Atlas Entertainment, according to the Deadline report.
Kalogridis, whose credits include Alexander (2004), Alita: Battle Angel (2019), and the Netflix series Altered Carbon (2018) will begin writing immediately, with Gadot, Jenkins and team members helping to shape the narrative focusing on female empowerment.
The character of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra has had various representations in cinematic history. It’s a role that has been made famous by Hollywood stunner Elizabeth Taylor in the 1963 Oscar-winning classic directed by Joseph Mankiewicz.
The new biopic will be a retelling of the epic tale of the last Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt, who descended from Ptolemy I Soter, a Macedonian Greek general and companion of Alexander the Great.
Gadot tweeted that the film would mark the first time Cleopatra’s story would be told from a female-led perspective.
“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,” Gadot posted on Twitter Monday.
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
“And we are especially thrilled to be announcing this on #InternationalDayoftheGirl," Gadot added. "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."
(Image via Warner Bros. Pictures)