I grew up in the 70’s watching actress Lynda Carter in the Wonder Woman hit series on ABC. She was an icon for my generation, and the epitome of intelligence, strength, and beauty. After watching an episode, I often would spin in my living room to transform into Wonder Woman and would reenact one of her battle scenes. I felt invincible and strong. There is a new heroine in town, and she will not disappoint fans…
On June 2nd, the new Wonder Woman Movie will hit theaters with a bang!
Actress Gal Gadot had large shoes to fill when taking on this leading female role. I admit I was a little skeptical before screening this film, but Gadot’s performance blew me away…
My daughter and I were thrilled to get an exclusive interview with Gal Gadot and Director Patty Jenkins earlier this month.
This is a sponsored post. Thank you Warner Bros for inviting my daughter and I to screen Wonder Woman and interview Gal Gadot and Patty Jenkins . All opinions are my own.
This film is long overdue, and I am thrilled that there is a new badass female hero for a new generation!
About The Movie
Power of a goddess. Heart of a hero. Gal Gadot is #WonderWoman
From Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Entertainment comes the epic action adventure starring Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen and Robin Wright, directed by Patty Jenkins.
Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, when an American Pilot crashes on their shores and tells of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home, convinced she can stop the threat. Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers… and her true destiny.
My daughter applauded and cried tears of joy after screening this film. She sat front and center as she waited to meet Gal Gadot.
Question: So, what do you feel is the most important part of being Wonder Woman?
Ms. Gal Gadot: “Well, I think that it’s so important that we show a strong female figure and that we show her story. I think that me growing up, I could go and watch Superman or Batman, but I never had a strong female figure that really inspires me to look up to. And I think that this movie is so important for all of you young girls and also for boys, as well. I’ve seen many boys dressed as Wonder Woman.
And I think that what’s so beautiful about this character is that she’s very universal. Everyone can find something that he likes for himself about the character. And she stands for beautiful things, for love and for acceptance and compassion and truth, and these values are very important, especially nowadays.
And I think that, if we expose our kids to more of a goodness, then they will become greater. We’ll have a better society.”
Question: I was wondering, so I love Robin Wright, and I think you guys were just so amazing together. And the scenes on the island were incredible. How did you do that, and how did everyone train for that? It was unbelievable?
Ms. Patty Jenkins: “Well, I don’t even know where to begin because it was actually so complicated. To try to build all of the things you need to make this island in the history of Wonder Woman which is always an idealized place that happens to be populated by all of these women but is very real.
And so, it was a visual struggle to find all of the elements to put together to say that almost feels real. But, then to find the greatest women you could. What was cool about it was I’ve grown up knowing so many incredible women and so many incredible people. So, when you try to represent that in an island made up of only women, you end up pulling together so many different interesting people. Some are great at horse riding. Some was the greatest boxer in the world. Someone else is an incredible artisan.
And you end up with such a broad variety of people, and then you want to establish a world where they’re all one.
And so, we found these incredible women. They turned out to be such a broad variety of people, but, we needed the one who knew how to ride a horse to also know how to fight and the one who knew how to fight to know how to ride a horse. And so, we had to do this boot camp for months where each of them worked together every day to learn those other things.
And it turned into this incredibly inspiring cool thing because they all became really tight and really great friends, and how they approach things is slightly different than they might have if they were alone or not together. So, it was really awesome. It was great, and Robin was amazing.”
Ms. Gal Gadot: “It was.”
Question: So, what does it mean for both of you guys to be leading this representation for young girls? I grew up not really seeing anybody on screen to be like that’s who I want to be, that’s who I look up to. And now, my daughter has you.
Ms. Gal Gadot: “It’s amazing, it’s amazing, and I’m so touched by it. It’s funny because it’s my first time seeing girls that actually saw the movie.
And it’s just so moving for me. And your reaction means the world because this is why we make these movies. This is why it’s worth, so I’m very, very happy, and I’m so glad that you all love the movie.”
Ms. Patty Jenkins: “Yes. And for me, when I was a kid, I saw Superman, and it made me feel like I could be a hero one day, and it’s lasted with me ever since and is one of the reasons I’m here today. But, it wasn’t until I saw the show of Wonder Woman on TV, which happened around the same time, when I was Wonder Woman on the playground, I was everything I ever wanted to be.
So, sometimes, we”ve had these moments where we’re like, oh, my God, the idea that we could be a part of kids’ lives in that way is so beautiful and overwhelming, and we hope to give what we were given by other people.”
Ms. Gal Gadot: “Exactly.”
Thank you to Patty Jenkins for creating this wonderful film. I am grateful that you are showing our girls that having strength and brains is a winning combination.
This film has been rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, and some suggestive content
Note* The fight scenes my be intense for younger viewers.
The new Wonder Woman Movie empowers and inspires young girls to be leaders in their communities. Girls need to know they can conquer anything that comes their way. They can be the voice for the voiceless, change they wish to see, and most importantly be their own kind of superhero.
Go see Wonder Woman in theaters June 2nd!