Ladies and gentlemen, we have our Wonder Woman. After months of speculation, and after
rumour broke out a few weeks ago about actresses auditioning for the role,
Warner Bros. has officially announced that Israeli actress Gal Gadot will be playing the Amazonian superheroine in the upcoming Man of Steel sequel (tentatively titled Batman Vs. Superman). Gadot is perhaps best known for her role as Gisele in the Fast and Furious franchise, and her name was one of those originally rumored for the part, beating out actresses Olga Kurylenko (Oblivion) and Jaimie Alexander (Thor) to play the iconic role. Wonder Woman hasn't been seen in live action since Lynda Carter played her in the 1975 TV series, and fans have been clamoring (read: begging) for the character to get her turn in the limelight for years. Zack Snyder, who will once again be in the director's chair, had this to say about the casting:
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.
The reaction the casting news, as expected, has been mixed. Twitter erupted yesterday with praises and scowls; some giving Gadot a thumbs up while others reacting in very much the same way as with Affleck's casting. Regardless of how fanboys feel about the actress, the important thing to note here is that
finally, Wonder Woman will be in a feature film. This is a monumental step in the right direction for Warner Bros/DC, who have been incredibly hesitant with bringing the character to life. We still know very little about how big the role will be. Up until now the involvement of WW has been merely speculation, and many have assumed it would either be a small cameo or a post-credits teaser. In fact, we know very little about the film itself at this point, including what it's actually going to be called. Production is set to start in early 2014, so expect to hear more news trickling in (albeit slowly, as is DC's modus operandi) until cameras start rolling. What do you think of this casting news? Are you happy to see Gadot in the role? Who would YOU have picked to play Wonder Woman on the big screen? Let us know in the comments below! Batman Vs. Superman will be directed by Zack Snyder, written by David S. Goyer, and arrive in theaters on July 17, 2015. The film stars Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Amy Adams, Diane Lane, and Laurence Fishburne.