Bold claim: Gal Gadot’s rise as Wonder Woman is a landmark moment many fans still debate today. And this is the part most people miss: the journey to her casting was painstaking, almost never guaranteed, yet it reshaped a franchise. To honor the 12th anniversary of her casting, Gadot shared a behind-the-scenes screen test for Batman v Superman, filmed with Ben Affleck, giving fans a rare window into the moment that launched a global superhero icon.
Gadot’s Wonder Woman became a foundational pillar of the DC Extended Universe, though reception to her casting was mixed at first. When she first appeared in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, some fans welcomed her with applause while others remained skeptical. Her subsequent stand-alone film, Wonder Woman (directed by Patty Jenkins), propelled her into megafame and underscored her impact on the franchise. The character’s critical acclaim helped anchor the early DCEU’s identity, even as the universe faced evolving fortunes in later years.
Yet, the arc wasn’t without bumps. Gadot reprised Wonder Woman in Justice League (2017), which drew mixed reviews, and Wonder Woman 1984, which also polarized audiences and critics and coincided with a broader struggle within the DCEU. Still, Gadot’s portrayal left an enduring impression on audiences and become a touchstone for superhero storytelling.
Now, to celebrate the anniversary, Gadot posted the camera test from Batman v Superman on Instagram. The clip shows her collaborating with Affleck and captures the early spark of what would become the Amazon warrior’s cinematic journey. Zack Snyder, who directed the film, had previously shared the footage with Gadot, giving her the chance to see the test again for the first time. In her caption, she reflected on the wild, life-changing ride of playing Wonder Woman and expressed gratitude to Snyder for casting her and for sharing the footage.
The road to becoming Wonder Woman was, in Gadot’s words, arduous and long. In a 2016 interview with FilmInk, she recounted how Warner Bros. asked her to audition without disclosing the role, leading to a lengthy wait and multiple rounds of testing. She learned of her involvement in Wonder Woman only after a late-night call from Zack Snyder, followed by a camera test with Ben Affleck and seven weeks of uncertainty before the official confirmation.
Snyder has publicly praised Gadot’s blend of strength, beauty, and kindness—a combination he described as essential to the character. He noted that Gadot held her own against a seasoned actor like Affleck during the screen test, which affirmed his confidence in her for the part. Over time, as the process unfolded, the decision to cast Gadot became a defining moment for the franchise.
For fans who want to revisit Gadot’s Wonder Woman on screen, both Wonder Woman and Wonder Woman 1984 remain available for streaming on HBO Max.
About the author: Daniel Klissman is an entertainment journalist with credits at Movie Pilot, CBR.com, Cinemark, and AMC Theatres. He’s a superhero enthusiast who dreams of a future meetup with Moon Knight.
