Ever since it was announced that Gal Gadot would play Cleopatra in an upcoming film, the move has been criticised by many, saying Hollywood was ‘whitewashing’ the character and a woman of colour should have ideally bagged the role.
The movie is announced to be released by Paramount Pictures and will be directed by Patty Jenkins, who directed Wonder Woman and the upcoming Wonder Woman 1984.
Gadot is credited to be behind the film, to be written by Laeta Kalogridis.
Comments to her social media post read,
As an egyptian I can assure you we don’t want you representing any part of our history.
Cleopatra was neither African nor Egyptian. She was Greek. And she’s been portrayed on-screen by Elizabeth Taylor, Claudette Colbert, Geneviève Bujold, among others. Charleston Heston and Richard burton portrayed Roman Marc Anthony and no one made a peep. But that was before
To anyone saying that cleopatra should be played by a darker actress, that’s not correct as cleopatra was Greek and not dark! Please read history before you speak and complain
the level of disrespect is unbelievable. you are ISRAELI. portraying an ARAB figure. this is not going to end well. (sic)