The sexual harassment carousel continues to go around this week, as we’ve had another deluge of accusations against various Hollywood figures. It appears no one is safe from accusations, and at this point, it’s anyone’s guess what’s true anymore.
Needless to say, the bad men in Hollywood are quivering in their boots, hoping not to be outed for their predatory ways. But with the way things are going, it looks like this rollercoaster of a purge is far from over, as another big-time producer has found himself in hot water.
As reported at Page Six, actress Gal Gadot, known for her recent portrayal of Wonder Woman, has warned that she will not be returning for the much-hyped sequel should Brett Ratner be involved.
The first sign of strained relations occurred last month, when Gadot supposedly pulled out of a dinner honoring Ratner, where she was scheduled to present an award to him. That’s because accusations of harassment against Ratner had begun surfacing, and folks are still coming forward with more.
Ratner’s production company RatPac-Dune Entertainment helped produce “Wonder Woman” as part of its co-financing deal with Warner Bros. The movie has grossed more than $400 million internationally, and Ratner’s company will take a significant share of the profits. The guy is also a director himself, a very mediocre one at that.
A Warner Bros. insider explained, “Brett made a lot of money from the success of ‘Wonder Woman,’ thanks to his company having helped finance the first movie. Now, Gadot is saying she won’t sign for the sequel unless Warner Bros. buys Brett out [of his financing deal] and gets rid of him.”
The source added of Israeli-born Gadot, “She’s tough and stands by her principles. She also knows the best way to hit people like Brett Ratner is in the wallet. She also knows that Warner Bros. has to side with her on this issue as it develops. They can’t have a movie rooted in women’s empowerment being part-financed by a man accused of sexual misconduct against women.”
Last week, Warner Bros. announced it was severing ties with Ratner amid the flurry of sexual-harassment allegations leveled against him by actresses including Olivia Munn and Natasha Henstridge. Ratner has denied the allegations.
Earlier this month, Gadot posted on Instagram:“Bullying and sexual harassment is unacceptable! I stand by all the courageous women confronting their fears and speaking out. Together we stand. We are all united in this time of change.”
True or not, Ratner is taking a severe beating in the press, and has already seen many of his bridges burnt as a result. It’s highly unlikely Gadot won’t return to the Wonder Woman franchise, as there’s too much money at stake. But she has taken the near risk-less opportunity to earn some social capital with leftists everywhere by coming out “strong” against all this sexual harassment insanity. It’s a win/win for her, but as for Ratner, his days leeching off hit films may be over.
Source: Page Six