It’s hard to remember a time before the gold armor and the Lasso of Truth felt synonymous with one specific face. Honestly, back in 2013, when Zack Snyder first announced he’d found his Diana Prince, the internet did what the internet does best. It panicked. People were skeptical. They worried she was "too thin" or didn't have the "Amazonian bulk" described in the DC comic runs by George Pérez or Greg Rucka.
But then the movie dropped.
So, let's get the obvious answer out of the way first. Gal Gadot is exactly who plays Wonder Woman 2017, and she didn’t just play the role—she effectively saved the early DC Extended Universe (DCEU) from a total tailspin. While Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad were getting dragged by critics for being too gritty or disjointed, Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman arrived like a lightning bolt of sincere, old-school heroism.
The Casting Gamble That Changed Everything
Casting a global icon isn't just about finding a good actor. It’s about finding someone who can carry the weight of a seventy-year legacy without looking like they’re wearing a Halloween costume.
Gal Gadot wasn't exactly a household name in the States before this. Sure, Fast & Furious fans knew her as Gisele, the street racer who met a tragic end. But a lead? That was a different story.
Interestingly, Gadot almost quit acting right before she got the call. She's talked openly about how the constant rejection in Hollywood was wearing her down. She was on the verge of heading back to Israel to finish law school and focus on her family. Then, a secret audition for a "mystery role" changed her life.
Director Patty Jenkins has since admitted she was initially hesitant about the casting because she hadn't been the one to pick Gal; Zack Snyder had cast her for BvS first. However, Jenkins later noted that Gal’s inherent kindness was what made the performance work. You can’t fake that wide-eyed wonder Diana feels when she first tries ice cream or sees a baby in London.
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Why the 2017 Portrayal Was Different
Before 2017, the most famous version of the character was Lynda Carter from the 1970s TV show. Carter was great—iconic, even—but she played Diana with a certain "camp" charm that fit the era.
Gadot brought something else.
She brought a military precision. It makes sense, considering Gadot served two years as a combat fitness instructor in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). That background wasn't just a fun fact for the press tour; it informed how she carried the shield. When you watch the "No Man's Land" sequence—which is arguably the best scene in any modern superhero movie—you see a soldier’s focus. She isn't just posing. She’s moving with intent.
The Physical Transformation and the Training
You can't talk about who plays Wonder Woman 2017 without talking about the sheer physical labor involved. Gadot put on roughly 17 pounds of lean muscle for the role.
The training regimen was a mix of:
- Sword fighting (heavy focus on the "Wushu" style for fluidity)
- Horseback riding (which she famously said was harder than the gym)
- High-intensity interval training (HIIT)
- Capoeira and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
She spent six months training for six hours a day. It was grueling. And here’s the kicker: she actually filmed some of the reshoots for the movie while five months pregnant. They had to cut a triangle out of her costume and replace it with a "green screen" fabric so they could digitally remove her baby bump in post-production. Talk about real-life Amazonian energy.
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The Supporting Cast That Made Diana Shine
While Gal Gadot is the heart of the film, she needed foils. Chris Pine as Steve Trevor was a stroke of genius. Usually, in these movies, the female lead is the "love interest" to the male hero. Here, the roles were flipped, but Pine played it with so much charisma and zero ego. He was the audience's surrogate, explaining the messy, complicated world of 1918 to an immortal warrior who had never seen a watch before.
Then you have the Amazons. Connie Nielsen (Queen Hippolyta) and Robin Wright (General Antiope) provided the backbone of the first act. Robin Wright, in particular, looked like she was having the time of her life doing mid-air archery.
The villains, played by Danny Huston and David Thewlis, were perhaps the weakest part of the film—common for superhero origins—but they served their purpose. They represented the cynical belief that humanity is inherently evil, a belief Gadot’s Diana has to fight against with sheer, unadulterated hope.
Cultural Impact and the "Wonder Woman" Effect
The 2017 film was a massive box office success, raking in over $822 million worldwide. But the numbers don't tell the whole story.
It changed the industry's "common sense."
For years, executives claimed that female-led superhero movies were "risky" because Catwoman (2004) and Elektra (2005) had flopped. They ignored the fact that those movies were just... not very good. Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot proved that if you make a high-quality, emotionally resonant film, the audience will show up in droves.
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It also sparked a massive wave of representation. Seeing young girls dressed up as Wonder Woman at Halloween wasn't new, but seeing them relate to a version of the character who was a fierce, independent warrior without being "cold" or "mean" was a shift. Gadot’s Diana is allowed to be emotional. She cries when she loses friends. She gets angry. She’s human, despite being a demigod.
Common Misconceptions About the Casting
Some people still confuse the 2017 film with the failed 2011 TV pilot. In that version, Adrianne Palicki (from Friday Night Lights) played the character. The costume was shiny spandex, and the plot was a bit of a mess. It never aired beyond the leaked pilot.
There’s also the voice. Some critics initially complained about Gadot’s accent. They wanted her to sound "American" or "British" like previous iterations. But Patty Jenkins fought for the accent. The logic? If the Amazons are from a hidden island in the Mediterranean, why would they sound like they’re from the Midwest? By having Nielsen and Wright match Gadot’s cadence, they created a distinct "Themysciran" identity that felt grounded and real.
Looking Back From 2026
With the benefit of hindsight, we can see how much that 2017 performance defined the decade. Even though the sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, received mixed reviews, and the DC Universe is currently undergoing a massive reboot under James Gunn, Gadot's first outing remains a gold standard.
She managed to be iconic without being a caricature.
If you're looking to dive deeper into the performance or the history, there are a few things you should do. First, watch the "Behind the Scenes" features on the Blu-ray or streaming versions. Seeing the chemistry between Jenkins and Gadot explains why the movie feels so cohesive. Second, if you’re a fan of the aesthetic, look up the concept art by Lindy Hemming, the costume designer. She managed to take the classic red, gold, and blue and turn it into something that looked like actual bronze-age armor.
Real Steps for Fans and Researchers
- Watch the 2017 Film First: It stands alone perfectly. You don't need to see Man of Steel or any other DC movie to understand it.
- Read "Wonder Woman: The Art and Making of the Film": This book goes into insane detail about the casting process and the construction of Themyscira.
- Follow the "Justice League" Snyder Cut: If you want to see a slightly different, more "warrior-centric" take on Gadot's performance, that version of the character is more intense than the Patty Jenkins version.
- Look for the Stunt Team Credits: Research the "Amazon" training camp. Many of the background Amazons were actual professional athletes, cross-fitters, and heptathletes.
Ultimately, Gal Gadot didn't just play Wonder Woman. She became the modern blueprint for the character. Whether we see her in the role again or a new actor takes the mantle in the new DCU, the 2017 film remains a masterclass in how to bring a legend to life. It was a moment where the right actor, the right director, and the right time all aligned. No matter who wears the tiara next, they'll be standing in the shadow of what Gadot achieved during that first trench run in 1918.