14 DAY TRIAL // Well that was unexpected: pretty much like it happened with Ben Affleck’s casting as Batman in the “Man of Steel” sequel, “Batman vs. Superman,” Warner Bros. took fans by complete surprise by casting what seems like the unlikeliest choice for the role of Wonder Woman.
She is Gal Gadot and she’s an Israeli-born actress and model, whom fans of the “Fast and Furious” franchise might recognize from her role as Gisele, but who also counts appearances in “Knight and Day” and “Date Night.”
Her star is just beginning to shine and, without a doubt, having just been cast in one of the most anticipated releases of 2015 will boost her profile by a gazillion times. Whether she will be to the liking of comic book fans is an entirely different matter though.
Deadline confirms the news, explaining that Warners is putting all its eggs in just two baskets as far as starpower for the new film goes, with those baskets being Affleck and Henry Cavill.
“Given that Warner Bros has bolstered its starpower with Affleck and has Cavill returning from the summer hit Man Of Steel, it makes sense to groom new stars in the supporting roles, the way that Marvel has done. All this is clearly gearing toward the long-awaited Justice League film, all based on the DC Comics characters,” the trade publication writes.
Zack Snyder, the director of the first “Man of Steel” movie who will also helm the second, believes Gal is up for the task of playing one of the most beloved – if not actually the most beloved – female superhero in American culture.
“Wonder Woman is arguably one of the most powerful female characters of all time and a fan favorite in the DC Universe. Not only is Gal an amazing actress, but she also has that magical quality that makes her perfect for the role. We look forward to audiences discovering Gal in the first feature film incarnation of this beloved character,” he says in a statement.
As we speak, fans aren’t exactly thrilled with his choice mostly because, physically, Gal isn’t exactly like Wonder Woman, who is of a slightly heavier build, is stronger, and has actual curves, whereas the actress is slender and lean like a model.