Gal Gadot was considered for the role of Barbie in Greta Gerwig’s upcoming film, but Gadot had to say no because she wasn’t available.
Gal Gadot was initially tapped to play Barbie before Margot Robbie landed the role. The Wonder Woman star commented on the casting change, which was due to her packed schedule, during Netflix’s Tudum fan event in Sao Paulo, Brazil. “Margot, I love you! I’ll do anything with you; I’ll be in anything with you!” she told Entertainment Tonight.
Her comments come after Robbie previously revealed that Gadot was initially considered. Although she wasn’t available, the Israeli native served as a template for the character. “Gal Gadot is Barbie energy,” Margot Robbie said. “She is so impossibly beautiful, but you don’t hate her for being that beautiful because she’s so genuinely sincere,” The Suicide Squad star added.
“She’s so enthusiastically kind that it’s almost dorky. It’s like right before being a dork,” Margot Robbie continued. Gal Gadot’s inclusion in the already impressive ensemble, which includes Issa Rae, Hari Nef, Emma Mackey, Dua Lipa, Sharon Rooney, Ana Cruz Kayne, Alexandra Shipp, and Kate McKinnon, would have been amazing. There are also several versions of Ken.
Rather than delving into the back story of the renowned brand or adapting one of Barbie’s previous on-screen adventures, director Greta Gerwig chose a different approach for the film. The story revolves around the eponymous doll in a picturesque world called Barbieland. However, her seemingly perfect existence is thrown into doubt when she faces expulsion for not being perfect.
Instead of succumbing to their judgment, Barbie defiantly challenges herself and embarks on an extraordinary journey into the real world. This unexpected adventure leads her on a transformative path. While Gal Gadot won’t be in the movie, it is said to include several Easter Eggs about the franchise’s mythology, like clothing and different types of Barbie and Ken dolls.
Meanwhile, Gal Gadot will next be seen in the upcoming Netflix spy action thriller Heart of Stone. The movie is directed by Tom Harper from a script by Greg Rucka and Allison Schroeder. The story follows Rachel Stone, an international intelligence agent who embarks on a dangerous mission to protect the mysterious MacGuffin also known as The Heart.
Stone (portrayed by Gal Gadot) is tasked with keeping the object from falling into the wrong hands by a peacekeeping operation called Charter. The cast also includes Jamie Dornan as Parker and Alia Bhatt as Keya Dhawan. Sophie Okonedo, Matthias Schweighöfer, Jing Lusi, Paul Ready, Jon Kortajarena, and Archie Madekwe also appear in supporting roles.
Development of Heart of Stone began in December 2020 after Gal Gadot agreed to play the lead role. At the time, the film was tapped to launch a franchise akin to the Mission: Impossible film series. Shortly after, Harper was confirmed as the director and Netflix as the distributor. The remaining cast members were announced in early 2022.
Filming occurred in various locations, including Italy, London, Reykjavík, and Lisbon, from January to July. Netflix has slated the release of the film for August 11. Gal Gadot previously starred in the Netflix action comedy movie Red Notice alongside Ryan Reynolds and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, where Johnson was also a co-producer.
Two sequels are currently being developed, with Gal Gadot, Reynolds, and Johnson set to reprise their roles, along with the return of Red Notice writer and director Rawson Marshall Thurber. However, Gadot’s next project is the 2024 musical fantasy film, Snow White, in which she will appear as the Evil Queen.
