Gal Gadot says Cleopatra movie is a story the world "needs to hear" now

Gal Gadot in Death on the Nile
(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)

Gal Gadot has spoken out about her upcoming Cleopatra movie, saying it's what the world needs to hear.

"I can’t reveal a lot, but I can tell you that we’re going to celebrate the Cleopatra story," Gadot said in an interview with InStyle magazine. "We’re going to show not just how sexy and appealing she was, but how strategic and smart, and how much impact she had and still has on the world we’re living in today. I’ve watched all the Cleopatra movies throughout history, but I feel like we’re telling the story the world needs to hear now."

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier helmer Kari Skogland will direct the movie, taking over from Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins who has now moved into a producing role to focus on other projects (including Wonder Woman 3). Skogland's other directing credits include episodes of The Handmaid's Tale, The Walking Dead, The Americans, and House of Cards.

The movie received criticism after Gadot was cast as an Israeli actor playing the Ancient Egyptian queen. She addressed the comments back in 2020, saying: "People are people, and with me I want to celebrate the legacy of Cleopatra and honor this amazing historic icon that I admire so much…You know, anybody can make this movie and anybody can go ahead and do it. I’m very passionate that I’m going to do my own too."

While we wait for Cleopatra to arrive on the big screen, fill out your watch list with our picks of the best movies of 2021.

Entertainment Writer

I’m an Entertainment Writer here at 12DOVE, covering everything film and TV-related across the Total Film and SFX sections. I help bring you all the latest news and also the occasional feature too. I’ve previously written for publications like HuffPost and i-D after getting my NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Journalism. 

Read more
Zoe Saldana at the Emilia Perez premiere
Amid Oscar buzz, Zoe Saldana opens up on her new perspective on Hollywood and why she's only really proud of Avatar and Emilia Pérez: "I think I just have to accept who I am as a creative person"
Lois Lane looking over her shoulder
Superman star Rachel Brosnahan reveals how James Gunn's DC movie is "so true to the comics"
Matt Damon in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey
Move over, Ridley Scott: Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is the latest film criticized for poor historical accuracy following first look
christopher nolan
Christopher Nolan says Gladiator II is one of his favorite films of 2024: "Why are there sharks in the Colosseum? Because we demand them"
Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas in Maria
Angelina Jolie's new movie about a world-famous opera singer is a poignant story of life in the public eye
Brady Corbet
The Brutalist director hopes his new movie proves Oppenheimer's commercial success wasn't a fluke: "People are actually interested in all of these things that sales companies frequently tell you are like box office poison"
Latest in Drama Movies
Claire Danes as Juliet and Miriam Margolyes as Nurse in the movie Romeo + Juliet.
The 33 greatest movies based on Shakespeare
Bloodsport
The 32 greatest '80s action movies
Cosmo Jarvis
Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey adds Shogun star to its massively star-studded cast, and I'm getting Oppenheimer vibes all over again
Adrien Brody in The Brutalist
This year's Best Actor Oscars speech broke a record that was over 80 years old
Adrien Brody as László Tóth in The Brutalist
Oscars 2025 live coverage: All the winners, red carpet, and the 97th Academy Awards' biggest moments – as it happens
The Last Showgirl
Beneath the glitz and glam of The Last Showgirl is a heartbreaking story about what mothers give up
Latest in News
Overwatch 2
My hopes for an Overwatch anime or Diablo horror movie are going strong as Blizzard president points out "we are Blizzard Entertainment, and not simply Blizzard Games"
The New Thunderbolts leaping into action
Marvel's New Thunderbolts* comic steals the MCU's asterisk, and the reason why is just as big of a mystery
Pokemon Go players brace for the worst as Niantic is sold off for $3.5 billion: "This game is entering its death knell"
Stamp PSP
A 16-year-old pitch for a newly discovered first-party PSP game has me mourning the death of PlayStation's Japan Studio all over again
Astarion from Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3 Astarion actor Neil Newbon says he "got rid of" agents who deliberately kept him away from video game gigs: "They just didn't want me to do it"
Mass Effect
Jennifer Hale says she didn't see a single line as Mass Effect's Commander Shepard until it was time to record: "It was all cold reading on the spot"