Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot is staying true to the spirit of her on-screen alter ego by reportedly refusing to sign on for a sequel unless Brett Ratner, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women, is removed from the project.
Ratner’s production company RatPac-Dune worked on Wonder Woman as part of a co-financing deal with Warner Bros., meaning that Ratner will have profited from the movie’s runaway success. His company also co-produced the upcoming Justice League, in which Gal also appears as Wonder Woman, out later this week. With Ratner accused of sexual harassment and misconduct by six women, including actresses Olivia Munn and Natasha Henstridge, Page Six has reported that Gal is unwilling to attach herself to a sequel if Ratner has any involvement, making an important stand for women in the process.
‘Brett made a lot of money from the success of Wonder Woman, thanks to his company having helped finance the first movie,’ a source told the paper. ‘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.’
‘She’s tough and stands by her principles,’ the source added. ‘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 Bros. has denied the report; indeed, the studio has already severed ties with the producer, though it is not yet entirely clear how that will affect projects already in the pipeline (such as Wonder Woman 2).
Last month, Gal backed out of an awards dinner for the Jewish National Fund, where she was set to present the Tree of Life Award to Ratner. Posting on Instagram in the wake of the New York Times’s investigation into Harvey Weinstein last month, she lent a message of solidarity to the women sharing their experiences, writing: ‘Bullying and sexual harassment [are] 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.'
READ MORE: Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman Audition Story Proves You Should Never Give Up
READ MORE: Wonder Woman's Costume Designer On Dressing 2017's Standout Superhero