Gal Gadot's aims to transform Cleopatra's image beyond being a seductress in upcoming movie

Gal Gadot is determined to transform the public's perception of Cleopatra in her upcoming movie.

During an interview with Vogue Hong Kong for their July issue, Gadot shared her thoughts on her new Netflix film Heart of Stone, as well as her aspirations for the portrayal of Cleopatra. Growing up in Israel, which shares a border with Egypt, Gadot expressed that Cleopatra was already a "household name" to her. 

The 38-year-old actress shared her desire to shed light on Cleopatra's true character. She explained, "You know, if Wonder Woman is the imaginary strong female leader, Cleopatra’s actually the real one. That’s a perfect example of a story that I wanted to tell because I started reading different books about Cleopatra, and I said, wow, that’s fascinating."

Gadot criticized the limited portrayal of Cleopatra in previous films, emphasizing, "All I ever saw in regards to Cleopatra from film was that she was this seductive woman who had an affair with Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony."

According to Gadot, Cleopatra, the final ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt and a descendant of Ptolemy, a Macedonian general who served under Alexander the Great, was "so ahead of her time."

"Egypt and what Egypt was back then, was still futuristic to where we are today. I can’t say much," she hinted about her forthcoming movie, which is yet to commence production. "But to me, I’m so passionate to tell her story and to bring justice to this character and her legacy and celebrate her and her legacy."

She added, "We have a beautiful script, and I cannot wait to share this story with the world and change the narrative of Cleopatra simply being a seductor."

The association between Gadot and the Cleopatra project was first reported in 2020 by Deadline, who revealed that the actress would collaborate with her Wonder Woman director, Patty Jenkins, for this film endeavor.