Gal Gadot faces backlash for starring as Cleopatra in upcoming film

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By VT

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Wonder Woman actor Gal Gadot has been slammed online after news broke that she landed the role of Cleopatra in an upcoming historical film.

The feature is set to be a period biographical drama penned by Laeta Kalogridis, and will see Gadot once again work with Wonder Woman director, Patty Jenkins, who is due to direct.

Gadot reportedly came up with the idea for the film, per Deadline, who also reports that the deal closed this weekend after Gadot took part in a number of Zoom pitches, where she was accompanied by producers of the upcoming film.

However, the actor quickly faced backlash for the casting choice online.

Taking to social media yesterday (11 October), Gadot expressed her excitement for the project, writing: "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!! [sic]"

Cleopatra was an Egyptian queen, who was the daughter of Ptolemy and an ancestor of the leader of Alexander the Great’s army.

Although she resided in Egypt, scholars have often identified her as someone of Greek ancestry, with debate regarding her ties to Persian and Syrian ancestry too.

Gadot is an Israeli actress, which sparked debate online following the casting news.

"It’s a shame you aren’t advocating for African actresses who would better fit the part. Please do better," wrote one Twitter user, while another corroborated: "Cleopatra was an Egyptian woman with greek ancestry. Gal Gadot is Israeli. Please just try a lil harder [sic]."

"The casting of Gal Gadot is just another stroke in the long history of white-washing and the legacy of colonial Egyptology that strives to sever all connections between Egyptians (widely defined) and the history of their land," added a third.