Gal Gadot Says James Cameron Was Trying To Get Publicity When He Criticized ‘Wonder Woman’

Not everyone fell in love with the universally adored “Wonder Woman,” and one prominent filmmaker who had a few bones to pick with the movie was James Cameron. Over the summer, the director said the movie presented “an objectified icon, and it’s just male Hollywood doing the same old thing!” adding that “I’m not saying I didn’t like the movie but, to me, it’s a step backwards.”  Later, Cameron stuck by his position, saying that the current iteration of Wonder Woman is too sexualized, unlike his own female hero Sarah Connor from “The Terminator” movies.

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Reactions came in swiftly from all quarters, with Patty Jenkins offering a pointed rebuttal to Cameron’s criticisms. However, one voice that was quiet through it all was “Wonder Woman” star Gal Gadot, but she had her reasons for not jumping into the fray.

“… I didn’t want to give him the stage,” she told EW. “First of all, I’m a big fan of his work. His movies are great. He was very innovative in many things that he did, and I’ve got nothing but great things to say about the creative and professional side of his work. When it happened, the timing of when it happened, he was promoting another movie of his. It was like he was looking for publicity and I just didn’t want to give him the stage.”

Indeed, Cameron was doing the rounds at the time for his 3D redo of “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” and certainly, his comments grabbed headlines. That said, the director probably understands how the publicity machine works, and most articles about his “Wonder Woman” comments perhaps mentioned ‘T2’ as an afterthought — it probably didn’t help his promotional cause. Ultimately, Gadot let the movie stand for itself, and the fans certainly had her back.

Time will be the ultimate judge of “Wonder Woman” and of Cameron’s assessment.