Gal Gadot's Dazzling Portrayal of Cleopatra: A Cinematic Masterpiece That Transcends Time

The upcoming Cleopatra movie with Gal Gadot is reminding people of a controversial film from 60 years ago. In 2020, Gadot was chosen to play Cleopatra in a big-budget movie directed by Patty Jenkins, who was later replaced by Keri Skogland. The project has faced obstacles and criticism, including the decision to cast an Israeli actress as an Egyptian queen, which some consider whitewashing. During a press tour for her Netflix film Heart of Stone, Gadot's comments about her role reignited the controversy. People are now drawing comparisons to the 1963 Cleopatra film, which was a major failure and had a significant impact on the industry. Here are a few reactions:

@PABastien finds it amusing that the film industry is currently experiencing its biggest downfall since the 1960s, yet another Cleopatra movie is being produced.

@Darren_Mooney agrees with this viewpoint and suggests that Gal Gadot's Cleopatra film might be a manifestation of Hollywood's tendency to repeat its own history.

@egyptiannna expresses the need for a larger number of individuals to feel angry about Gal Gadot being selected for the role of the Egyptian queen.

@SaraFangirl_Art calls out individuals who voiced their displeasure regarding the casting of a Black actress, Adele James, as Cleopatra in the Netflix miniseries, suggesting that these individuals are acting hypocritically by not expressing the same level of dissatisfaction towards Gal Gadot's casting.

@flyffyannie argues that the Greek alphabet has been inaccurately used in the poster. However, it is important to note that the poster is not an official release from Universal or Paramount but rather a creation by a fan.

@phatcussy asserts that casting Gal Gadot as Cleopatra would be similar to Ryan Gosling portraying Barack Obama.

@flowersinfilm says "nobody is watching" Gal Gadot's Cleopatra movie.

How The 1963 Cleopatra Movie Changed Hollywood

In addition to the ongoing casting controversy, the recent responses to Gal Gadot's Cleopatra film also draw attention to potential similarities with the 1963 adaptation. Joseph L. Mankiewicz's directorial effort and Elizabeth Taylor's portrayal of Cleopatra made the 1963 movie notorious due to its lavish production, substantial budget, and the behind-the-scenes turmoil that consequently influenced the filmmaking industry.

The production of the 1963 film Cleopatra encountered numerous difficulties right from the start. The original director, Rouben Mamoulian, was fired and replaced by Mankiewicz, leading to several script rewrites and subsequent setbacks. When filming eventually commenced, the cast and crew faced serious health issues caused by the extreme heat in Italy, with Elizabeth Taylor even contracting a near-fatal case of pneumonia. Additionally, the highly publicized on-set affair between Taylor and co-star Richard Burton, who portrayed Mark Antony, became a sensationalized topic in the tabloids, further exacerbating the negative attention surrounding the film.

These challenges, coupled with the film's extravagant sets and costumes, significantly inflated the budget to approximately $44 million (equivalent to $340 million today, accounting for inflation). Presently, the film industry is encountering similar predicaments as numerous modern blockbusters, such as Fast X and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, have seen their budgets skyrocket primarily due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, these films will likely struggle to generate substantial profits. While Gal Gadot's Cleopatra movie may not have a significant impact on Hollywood's filmmaking approach, it does trigger unpleasant memories of the 1963 version.

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