The news out of Hollywood is that Gal Gadot, an Israeli model/actress, will be playing Wonder Woman in a “Man of Steel” sequel due out next year:
[Director Zack] Snyder praised Gadot as an “amazing” actress who possesses “that magical quality that makes her perfect for the role.”
The Jerusalem Post is excited about the news. Abe Novick writes:
miracle of miracles, this new Wonder Woman is no shiksa goddess. Gadot was a 2004 Miss Universe contestant from Israel and was in three of the “Fast & Furious” franchise films, which just recently lost one of its costars Paul Walker. She also served in the Israeli army for two years as a fitness instructor and according to “Fast & Furious” director and producer Justin Lin, when he learned of this he went and altered the character’s back-story to a Mossad agent.
Zack Snyder is like the opposite of BDS, a full-employment program for Israeli actresses. He swapped out a British actress for an Israeli one 2 years ago.
Previously, Russell Crowe and Julia Ormond held the roles of [Superman’s mother and father], but new reports reveal that Ormond has been replaced by Israeli actress Ayelet Zurer….
Deadline broke the news of Zurer’s casting, but was unable to cite a reason for director Zack Snyder’s last-minute substitution.
I don’t know Snyder’s reason either. But I have to wonder. He directed “300,” a medieval historical flick that was seen by folks across the Middle East as promoting war with Iran–though Snyder denied that had entered his mind. John Burke at Nieman Watchdog:
300 seen as a tool to work up anti-Iran sentiment
The movie draws much attention and scorn, its East v. West theme is seen as Hollywood joining the Bush administration in the march to Tehran.
…The big screen blockbuster, 300, has raised concern around the world, not only for its subject matter, the battle between Spartans and Persians at Thermopylae in 480 BC in which the Persians play the “villain”, but for the timing of its release….
Critics everywhere have pointed out the parallels between its plot and the actual diplomatic crisis, have called the depiction of the Persians as blatant propaganda, and have linked neo-conservative ideals to that of the film’s Spartan army.
Someone aught to kick Abe Novick in the nuts for using this disgusting, bigoted, sexist slur.
This just shows that Snyder’s a moron (if this is true.) Galot is a horrible actress who is wrong for the part.
But, but I thought that the suppose target of BDS should be Israeli institutions or officials within?
Or just because she’s Israeli Jewish woman it gets you attention?
Great-looking gal.
I actually worked with Zak Snyder on some of his movies (300, Sucker Punch and Legend of the Guardians) and have to say I never picked up on any felt that he was biased towards Israeli actresses.
None of the actresses in Sucker Punch featured any Israeli actresses. None of the roles in Legend of the Guardian were Israelis either. Not aware of any on 300.
I found him to be pretty nice guy.
Still, the casting of Gal Gadot is a joke. One has to wonder who made the decision – but I suspect it was industry execs not Snyder. The fact that Snyder made a glowing statement about her might have been something he was called upon to do for publicity.
You should read the comments over at Huffington Post in response to this. Out fo the hundreds of comments, only one was positive.
One of my favorites was that they would not be casting Justin Beiber as the Hulk.
Wonder Woman was a Mossad agent? Oh, that’s going to go over with Middle America, bigtime. Not.