Gal Gadot is reportedly planning to star in a remake of the Alfred Hitchock romance thriller To Catch A Thief.
Based on a mystery novel by David Dodge, the 1955 Hitchcock movie starred Cary Grant and Grace Kelly in the principal roles.
Apparently in addition to starring in the movie Gal will also be a producer, as will her husband Jaron Varsano, according to The Wrap.
Paramount Pictures has reportedly enlisted Eileen Jones, who wrote on the Lethal Weapon television series, to pen the screenplay of the remake.
Cary Grant stars in the old film as John ‘The Cat’ Robie, a retired jewel thief who has reformed his lifestyle and settled in the Riviera.
Although he once went to prison for his misdeeds, he and his gang been allowed to remain out on parole because of their wartime work for the Resistance.
However when jewel robberies begin again near where he lives in the French Riviera, the police suspect he may be involved.
‘What I can’t understand is how this thief can imitate me so perfectly,’ says Robie. ‘It has to be someone who knew every detail of my technique.’
The only way he can stay out of prison is to catch the current serial burglar, thereby proving that he himself is not the culprit.
As part of his scheme he woos Grace Kelly’s character Frances, the daughter of a rich widow whose huge jewelry stash has made her a target for the new ‘Cat.’
The new version of To Catch A Thief is not Gal’s only current venture into territory previously covered by Old Hollywood.
She is also starring in and producing an upcoming movie about Cleopatra, which has generated blowback on account of her being white.
Gal, an Israeli who served in her country’s military in accordance with its draft, is playing the legendary queen of Egypt.
Though she was ethnically of Greek origin, Cleopatra has attracted ‘whitewashing’ controversies over the white actresses who have played her.
Gal addressed the controversy on BBC Arabic last month saying: ‘First of all if you want to be true to the facts then Cleopatra was Macedonian.’
The international film star, who is also a co-producer on the film, claimed: ‘We were looking for a Macedonian actress that could fit Cleopatra. She wasn’t there, and I was very passionate about Cleopatra.’
She added: ‘People are people, and with me I want to celebrate the legacy of Cleopatra and honor this amazing historic icon that I admire so much.’
Gal threw down the gauntlet for other filmmakers to come up with competing versions of the story: ‘You know, anybody can make this movie and anybody can go ahead and do it. I’m very passionate that I’m going to do my own too.’
Although the project was originally going to reunite her with her Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins, Kari Skogland has since taken the job.
Patty is staying on in a producing capacity and diverting her energies to other directorial ventures including the next Wonder Woman, Variety reported.
During a recent InStyle interview Gal teased the Cleopatra film and assured audiences that ‘we’re going to celebrate the Cleopatra story.’
Gal shared: ‘We’re going to show not just how sexy and appealing she was, but how strategic and smart, and how much impact she had and still has on the world we’re living in today. I’ve watched all the Cleopatra movies throughout history, but I feel like we’re telling the story the world needs to hear now.’
The role was most infamously played by Elizabeth Taylor, whose 1963 film was a titanic flop and kicked off her turbulent affair with her co-star Richard Burton.
Elizabeth was barred from entering Egypt to film because she converted to Judaism for her husband Eddie Fisher – whom she had stolen from his first wife Debbie Reynolds – and because she backed what an Egyptian general called ‘Israeli causes.’
Other white actresses to play Cleopatra over the years include Dame Judi Dench, who herself felt she looked wrong for the role.
Her objection however was not based on ethnicity – ‘Are you sure you want a menopausal dwarf to play this part?’ she said when asked to take the role onstage.
Cleopatra is not the first time Gal’s casting has been controversial – Wonder Woman also wound up in political hot water over her service in the Israel Defense Forces.
Her leading role in the film caused it to be banned in Lebanon, Tunisia and Qatar, and a ban was considered in Jordan but eventually not imposed.
