“Wonder Woman” star Gal Gadot, currently appearing in Netflix’s “Heart of Stone” action thriller, has been attached for years to a long in the works biopic about “Cleopatra”.
“The Falcon and the Winter Solider” helmer Kari Skogland directs the film, taking over from the initially attached Patty Jenkins. Laeta Kalogridis penned the script while Charles Roven, Jenkins, Gadot and Jaron Varsano are producing.
The film is said to explore the life of the famed Ancient Egyptian ruler, a strong leader who had a complicated relationship with Rome and, in her time, made major contributions to politics, science and more.
Gadot has previously talked about how the film aims to get away from her image as a seductress, or at least defined only by her relationships to Caesar or Mark Antony, and show how she was truly multi-faceted and ahead of her time.
In an interview with Flaunt magazine, Gadot spoke about why the project is taking so long to develop, with the plan being to get it right than to rush it out:
“It’s a big task. I don’t want to [rush] making it – it’s something that needs…so much thought and care because it’s Cleopatra. We have incredible writers working on the script – before and after the writer’s strike – like Laeta Kalogridis. It’s a beautiful script. We’re not rushing ourselves because you have to be responsible when you deal with such an incredible, iconic, legendary woman.”
The film has stirred some minor controversy over allegations of whitewashing the role of Cleopatra. Cleopatra was of Macedonian heritage, whilst Gadot is an Israeli of Akshenazi (central European) heritage.
No word on when the film might go into production as yet, especially with the strikes continuing.
