In an interview with Israeli news channel N12, Gal Gadot revealed that Joss Whedon, the director of the troubled Justice League movie, threatened her career and vowed to make it difficult for her after she tried to make changes to her Wonder Woman character.
According to a detailed report by The Hollywood Reporter, Whedon allegedly clashed with Gadot on set and even went as far as threatening to make her career miserable and make her look foolish while filming Justice League.
Gadot expressed her concerns about her character’s portrayal in the movie, wanting her character to remain consistent with her previous appearance in Wonder Woman. She aimed to ensure a seamless transition for her character from one film to the next.
Scandal: A recent report from The Hollywood Reporter alleges that Joss Whedon (on the right) made threatening remarks towards Gal Gadot (on the left) during the filming of Justice League, suggesting he could damage her career and portray her in a negative light.
Not satisfied: As per a source close to the publication, Gadot expressed several reservations regarding the modified version of the movie, especially concerning her character’s increased aggression compared to her portrayal in Wonder Woman. She aimed for a seamless transition of her character from one film to the next.
Gadot recounted how he once made a threat towards her career, warning her that he would ensure her professional life became unbearable if she took a certain action. In response, she swiftly dealt with the situation.
In June 2017, Wonder Woman was released followed by the release of Justice League in November of the same year. Throughout the past year, Joss Whedon has faced numerous allegations, particularly after Ray Fisher accused him of inappropriate behavior on the set of Justice League. Following Fisher’s comments, Charisma Carpenter also spoke out against Whedon for his behavior on Buffy The Vampire Slayer, where she portrayed Cordelia Chase. Other cast members, including Sarah Michelle Gellar, Michelle Trachtenberg, Elisha Duzku, Amber Benson, and Emma Caulfield, have shown their support for Carpenter and Trachtenberg.
While Avengers star Mark Ruffalo and Firefly’s Alan Tudyk have defended Whedon, Gal Gadot had a difficult experience with him. According to a source who spoke to THR, Whedon pressured Gadot to record lines she was not comfortable with and allegedly made threats about her career and criticized Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins. An insider mentioned in the report claimed that during production, Whedon boasted about arguing with Gadot and asserted his authority as the writer, demanding that she comply with his instructions or risk looking foolish in the film.
Following Fisher’s remarks, Charisma Carpenter publicly criticized Whedon for his actions during their time working together on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where she portrayed the character Cordelia Chase.
Actress Michelle Trachtenberg revealed that she was not allowed to be alone in a room with the show’s creator, Joss Whedon, during filming. The show’s main star, Sarah Michelle Gellar, is also seen in the photo with them.
According to a source, Gal Gadot and director Patty Jenkins had a meeting with then Warner Bros. chairman Kevin Tsujihara to address the situation.
When asked for a comment on the situation, Gadot stated, ‘I had my own issues with [Whedon] and Warner Bros. dealt with it promptly.’
In December, Gadot confirmed that she was interviewed as part of WarnerMedia’s investigation into the allegations against Whedon on the Justice League set. She commended the thoroughness of the investigation based on the time she spent with the investigators.
On December 11, WarnerMedia announced that the investigation into allegations of a toxic work environment on the Justice League set had been completed.
Key role: Wonder Woman was first released in June 2017, followed by Justice League just a few months later in November of the same year.
According to sources, there was tension between Whedon and Gadot as he pushed her to say lines she didn’t like, threatening her career and disrespecting Wonder Woman director Jenkins. The company mentioned that they have taken necessary actions in response to the situation, although Gadot expressed curiosity about the outcome. Gadot revealed in an earlier interview that her experience with Whedon wasn’t positive, but she addressed it by reporting it to higher authorities who handled the issue.
Taking the lead in the investigation was actor Ray Fisher, known for his role as Cyborg, who made serious allegations against director Joss Whedon regarding his behavior on the set of a superhero movie. Fisher’s initial concerns about Whedon were shared on June 29 in a video posted on Twitter, where he expressed regret for his previous positive comments about the director. Whedon had taken over the film after director Zack Snyder had to leave due to a family emergency, with Snyder later releasing his own version of the movie on HBO Max. On July 1, Fisher further criticized Whedon’s behavior on set, also calling out Geoff Johns and Jon Berg for enabling the director. In August, Fisher revealed on Twitter that the studio had launched an independent investigation following weeks of interviews with the cast and crew.
Ray Fisher’s allegations of ‘abusive and unprofessional’ behavior by Joss Whedon on the set of Justice League prompted an investigation into the director’s conduct. Fisher portrays Cyborg in the film.
Fisher recently shared on Twitter that WarnerMedia had concluded their investigation and implemented ‘remedial measures’, although the specifics of these actions remain unclear. In a detailed interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Fisher criticized the studio’s response to the allegations and called into question the leadership abilities of certain executives. WarnerMedia had stated in December that they had taken ‘remedial action’ following their investigation, but Fisher has been vocal in demanding transparency and the public release of the investigation findings.
Fisher expressed his concerns about a possible cover-up by studio executives, stating that he believes some individuals are not suitable for their leadership roles. While he does not advocate for their removal from the industry, Fisher feels strongly that they should not have the power to make decisions on hiring and firing. Despite the challenges he has faced in seeking accountability, Fisher remains committed to raising awareness about the individuals involved and ensuring that others are informed about their actions.
New beginning: Whedon stepped in to helm Justice League following Snyder’s departure from the project due to personal matters within his family.