The deepfake phenomenon has been shaking the digital world, and it recently found its way into the spotlight when rumors emerged about Gal Gadot’s appearance as Wonder Woman in the DCEU movie, Shazam 2. Many fans suspected that Gadot’s cameo was not real but rather a result of deepfake technology. However, director David F. Sandberg was quick to dispel these rumors.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods, despite a lukewarm response on its opening weekend, managed to keep the buzz alive. Amidst mixed reviews and various debates, one particular point of contention caught everyone’s attention – Gal Gadot’s cameo as Wonder Woman.
During an early dream sequence in the movie, a Wonder Woman cameo was teased in one of Billy’s dreams. However, instead of Gadot, it was Djimon Hounsou, portraying the wizard Shazam, who makes an appearance. Despite this, Gadot does eventually make a surprise appearance as Wonder Woman, resurrecting Billy Batson at his funeral.
Nevertheless, questions arose when footage surfaced online of Gadot’s body double being used to film the Wonder Woman cameo scene. This sparked speculation among fans, some of whom began questioning whether Gadot was ever on the movie set, with others suggesting that her cameo might have been crafted using deepfake technology.
In response to these deepfake allegations, Sandberg took to Twitter and posted a video of himself directing Gadot remotely. The director clarified that due to visa issues, neither of them could travel, thus leading to the use of Gadot’s body double to film scenes that did not include her face. The director emphasized, “When you see Gal, it’s 100% her. There is absolutely no deepfaking going on.”
Wait, I thought WBD was trying to SAVE money 🥴#WonderWoman #DCStudios https://t.co/TvOi4Xw6sf
— Grace Randolph (@GraceRandolph) March 18, 2023
Sandberg further explained that this technique was not new and had been used previously during the filming of Shazam 1. This involved using a body double for planning and filming preliminary shots, which were later completed by the main actor.
However, this clarification did not entirely ease the uncertainty about the future of Gadot’s Wonder Woman and Levi’s Shazam in the DCEU. The lukewarm performance of Shazam! Fury of the Gods and Patty Jenkins’ departure from the Wonder Woman 3 project left the fate of these beloved characters hanging in the balance.
Despite this, fans were delighted to see Gadot in the role of Wonder Woman in Shazam 2, which many considered an improvement over the first movie’s headless Superman cameo. The inclusion of Gadot as a crucial part of the movie’s conclusion, providing Wonder Woman with a pivotal scene rather than a mere gag, was much appreciated by fans of the character.
In conclusion, while the digital realm may be rife with deepfakes, fans can rest assured that Gadot’s portrayal of Wonder Woman in Shazam 2 was authentic. This incident also highlighted the crucial role that transparent communication plays in addressing and dispelling rumors in an increasingly digitally manipulated entertainment industry.