Gal Gadot ‘threatens’ Wonder Woman exit unless producer axed
Gal Gadot will only continue to be Wonder Woman if producer Brett Ratner is out. Photo: Instagram
Wonder Woman‘s Gal Gadot has reportedly threatened to resign from her starring role in the superhero movie franchise sequel unless producer Brett Ratner is fired amid multiple sexual harassment allegations.
The Israeli actress has made a stand against sexual harassment in Hollywood and last month refused to attend a dinner honouring Ratner in which she was due to present him with an award.
Gadot reportedly does not want her hit Wonder Woman, which raked in more than $400 million globally, to benefit Ratner, a Hollywood source told Page Six.
The movie, co-financed by Ratner’s production company RatPac-Dune Entertainment and Warner Brothers, became the highest-earning film directed by a woman in its first weekend at the US box office.
Wonder Woman has been widely praised as a symbol of female empowerment, both directed by and starring women.
“Brett [Ratner] made a lot of money from the success of Wonder Woman, thanks to his company having helped finance the first movie,” a Warner Brothers insider told Page Six.
“Now Gadot is saying she won’t sign for the sequel unless Warner Bros. buys Brett out [of his financing deal] and gets rid of him.”
The source added that Gadot was “tough and stands by her principles”.
“She also knows the best way to hit people like Brett Ratner is in the wallet. She also knows that Warner Bros. has to side with her on this issue as it develops.
“They can’t have a movie rooted in women’s empowerment being part-financed by a man accused of sexual misconduct against women.”
Warner Brothers last week announced it was distancing itself from Ratner amid allegations of misconduct by actresses including Olivia Munn, Natasha Henstridge and Ellen Page, despite Ratner denying their claims.
Earlier this month, Gadot posted on Instagram: “Bullying and sexual harassment is unacceptable. I stand by all the courageous women confronting their fears and speaking out. Together we stand.
“We are all united in this time of change.”
‘He outed me’
Actress Ellen Page on Friday accused Ratner of outing her as a lesbian when she was 18 years old, during the filming of X Men: The Last Stand.
“You should f–k her to make her realise she’s gay,” he allegedly said to another woman at a cast and crew meet-and-greet before filming began, gesturing at Page.
Ellen Page claims she was a victim of Brett Ratner’s sexual harassment. Photo: Getty
“I felt violated when this happened. I looked down at my feet, didn’t say a word and watched as no one else did either,” she wrote in a lengthy post on her Facebook page.
“He outed me with no regard for my wellbeing, an act we all recognise as homophobic.
“I proceeded to watch him on set say degrading things to women. I remember a woman walking by the monitor as he made a comment about her ‘flappy p—y’.”
Page said Ratner’s words had left her with long-standing feelings of shame.
“Making someone feel ashamed of who they are is a cruel manipulation, designed to oppress and repress,” she said.
“I was robbed of more than autonomy over my ability to define myself. Ratner’s comment replayed in my mind many times over the years as I encountered homophobia and coped with feelings of reluctance and uncertainty about the industry and my future in it.
“I want to see these men have to face what they have done. I want them to not have power anymore. I want them to sit and think about who they are without their lawyers, their millions, their fancy cars, houses upon houses, their playboy status and swagger.”
