Chris Pine Set To Play Gal Gadot’s Love Interest In ‘Wonder Woman’

Gal Gadot’s love interest in the upcoming solo Wonder Woman film has been cast, according to The Wrap and E! News. Best known as Captain James T. Kirk in the reboot of the Star Trek films, Chris Pine will reportedly take on the role of Steve Trevor alongside Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman. Pine is said to have inked a multi-picture deal with DC’s Expanded Universe that includes possible sequels.

While plot details are being kept tightly under wraps, Pine is expected to play the love interest of Gal Gadot’s superhero character. In the comics, Trevor was in the United States Army during World War II, and his plane crashed on an island of the Amazons. Nursed back to health by Amazon princess Diana, she fell in love with him, but men aren’t allowed to be on the island. Torn between staying or leaving, she ends up returning with him, becoming his coworker Diana Price.

Gal Gadot will debut as Wonder Woman in Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, which hits theaters March 25, 2016. Batman vs. Superman director Zack Snyder has previously indicated Gadot’s appearance in that film as well as her standalone film will play an important role in the DC Cinematic Universe.

“She plays a super-important part. In a lot of ways, she’s the gateway drug to the rest of the Justice League,” Snyder told Entertainment Weekly last month.

In Scott Mendelson’s article for Forbes, he brings up an interesting concern that is sure to soon be echoed by many: will Chris’s character end up overshadowing Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman? Mendelson points out Michelle MacLaren insisted on turning Steve Trevor into a classic “damsel in distress” and was allegedly forced out of the film because the studio, also allegedly, didn’t want the character to be emasculated.

“It’s telling that Hollywood would rather see the male love interest callously murdered than be subjected to damsel-in-distress tropes that female characters (and female actors) take for granted… I have a tough time believing that Chris Pine would have any issue getting provably tied to a proverbial railroad track, nor do I believe that he’s going to complain too loudly if Gal Gadot gets the majority of the action beats and heroics moments.”

Gal Gadot recently shared with Interview Magazine that when she first came to Hollywood, she told directors and writers she was open to playing any roles. Gadot changed her mind, and not long afterward, she would get a game-changing opportunity.

“Eventually, I told them that I wanted to be able to show the stronger side of women. I didn’t want to do the obvious role that you see in Hollywood most of the time, which is the heartbroken girl who’s waiting to be rescued by the guy, blah, blah, blah. I wanted to do something different. Little did I know that I would land Wonder Woman not long after.”

The casting of Gal Gadot’s love interest in the film is exciting news, but many fans hope Gadot as Wonder Woman will do the majority of the heroic acts rather than needing to be saved.

Currently filming Star Trek Beyond, Chris Pine’s reps didn’t immediately respond for comment regarding his casting as Gal Gadot’s love interest in Wonder Woman. Warner Bros. has not yet confirmed the report.

Wonder Woman is slated to hit theaters June 23, 2017.

Do you think Pine’s character will end up overshadowing Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman?

[Photos by Jacopo Raule and Kevin Winter/Getty Images]