Model-turned-actor Gal Gadot has been cast as Wonder Woman in the upcoming Man of Steel 2, Warner Bros confirms. The 28-year old former Miss Israel is best known on screen for her role as Gisele Harabo in the Fast & Furious series.
Rumors of the character of Wonder Woman appearing in the upcoming Man of Steel 2, unofficially known as Batman vs. Superman, have been circling for a while now, and several actors have been mentioned for the role. The names most commonly mentioned along with Gadot were Jaimie Alexander (Thor), Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace), and Elodie Yung (G.I. Joe: Retaliation).
The details of Gadot’s deal are unknown, but DC has made no secret of its intention to create a Justice League film at some point, as well as to follow the path set down by Marvel and create individual films in a shared universe. It seems likely that the Man of Steel 2 introduction would be a springboard for the character of Wonder Woman, although neither DC nor the Man of Steel producers have confirmed this.
“Wonder Woman is arguably one of the most powerful female characters of all time and a fan favorite in the DC Universe,” Man of Steel 2 director and producer Zack Snyder said. “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.”
Gadot will appear opposite Henry Cavill, reprising his role as Clark Kent/Superman, and Ben Affleck, who was recently cast as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Man of Steel 2 (or whatever name it eventually decides on), hits theaters on July 17, 2015.