Gal Gadot, once the golden girl of Hollywood thanks to her breakout as Wonder Woman, is now facing one of the toughest chapters of her career. After the stunning failure of Disney’s Snow White live-action remake — one of the most expensive box office flops in recent memory — the Israeli actress is scrambling to salvage her A-list standing.
According to a source close to Gadot, the actress is reeling from the harsh fallout. “Even for someone with Gal’s pristine reputation, this kind of flop is devastating,” the insider tells Life & Style. “But for her, this movie was supposed to be the big comeback. Instead, it’s her worst-case scenario.”
The $269.4 million production barely made a dent at the box office, pulling in a disappointing $43 million during its opening weekend. That’s a catastrophic return for a Disney live-action release — especially when compared to Lilo & Stitch, which recently earned $145.5 million domestically in just three days.
In Snow White, Gadot portrayed the Evil Queen opposite West Side Story’s Rachel Zegler. But while the film’s failures have been largely pinned on Zegler’s pre-release comments — including remarks criticizing the original 1937 animated version and dismissing the traditional love story — Gadot hasn’t escaped unscathed.
"This has pushed Gal into a position where she has no choice but to reassess her brand entirely,” the source reveals. “She’s now having to reinvent herself and rethink what kinds of roles she takes on. The competition in Hollywood is fierce, and leading roles aren’t being handed out the way they once were.”
Gadot, 40, isn’t taking the setback lightly. Far from retreating, the Wonder Woman star is reportedly being aggressive in her hunt for a redemption role.
"She’s not just sitting back and waiting for the phone to ring," the insider explains. "She’s actively chasing down the right projects, calling producers, pushing for auditions. But make no mistake — she needs a hit. And it needs to be a theatrical hit, not just a streaming success. That’s the only way to prove to the industry — and audiences — that she’s still a bankable star."
The urgency is understandable. Since her electrifying debut as Diana Prince in 2016’s Batman v Superman, followed by the runaway success of 2017’s Wonder Woman, Gadot’s career seemed unstoppable. But Wonder Woman 1984 in 2020 didn’t capture the same spark, and with the DCEU in disarray and her role essentially retired, Gadot has been searching for a new identity in Hollywood.
For now, her slate looks uncertain. She has a supporting role in the upcoming thriller Hand of Dante, alongside heavyweights like Gerard Butler, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, and Al Pacino. She’s also attached to a Cleopatra biopic — a long-rumored project — and has two other films in development. But none of them, so far, carry the kind of marquee power needed to reignite her stardom.
And while much of the negative press around Snow White revolved around Zegler’s polarizing interviews — where she criticized the original’s portrayal of romance and declared the new Snow White would not be "saved by the prince" — Gadot was a visible part of the project’s marketing and premiere circuit. Her presence, unfortunately, wasn’t enough to buoy the film or shield her from its disastrous outcome.
"Every studio is watching her now with skepticism," the source adds. "She’s not considered a sure thing anymore. And that’s a position she hasn’t been in since before she became Wonder Woman."
Still, if there's one thing Gadot has proven, it's resilience. The actress has weathered challenges before — from breaking into Hollywood as a former beauty queen and soldier from Israel, to leading one of the most successful superhero franchises in history. Now, with the pressure higher than ever, she’s reportedly laser-focused on a comeback.
"She’s got tough decisions ahead,” says the insider. “But there’s a fire under her now. She knows this is a make-or-break moment.”
Whether Gadot can defy the odds once again remains to be seen — but in a town known for comebacks, she may still have one more transformation left in her.
