Gal Gadot Defends Playing Cleopatra In Upcoming Biopic Following 'Whitewashing' Controversy KEY POINTS Gal Gadot has responded to the backlash over her casting as Cleopatra She said she is "passionate" about the project and will make her own movie about the Egyptian queen The film is scheduled to be released in 2022 Gal Gadot has defended her casting as Cleopatra in an upcoming biopic after the actress and director Patty Jenkins were accused of "whitewashing." Speaking in an interview with BBC Arabic, the 35-year-old Israeli actress responded to the backlash over her portraying Cleopatra in the upcoming movie about the historic queen of Egypt from Paramount Pictures. Gadot revealed that they tried to find a Macedonian actress to play Cleopatra but were unable to cast one.