Marvel Star Pushes "Toxic" Casting Choice on James Gunn
In a move that has PR crisis teams across Hollywood reaching for the Xanax, Marvel star Simu Liu has officially entered the chat with the most controversial casting take of the decade. The Shang-Chi actor is publicly lobbying for his costar, Melissa Barrera, to take up the mantle of Wonder Woman in James Gunn's rebooted DC Universe. This is not just a friendly endorsement; it is a potential political grenade.
Why? Because the role of Wonder Woman was defined by Gal Gadot, an Israeli actress and former IDF soldier. Barrera, on the other hand, was unceremoniously fired from the Scream franchise in 2023 after being accused of spewing antisemitism and hate speech regarding the Israel-Hamas war. Suggesting Barrera replace Gadot is the kind of chaotic energy that starts Twitter wars and ends careers.
During a sit-down with JoBlo, Liu didn't hold back, gushing over Barrera's performance in their upcoming film The Copenhagen Test. "James Gunn or anybody else out there, I think she really pushes herself," Liu declared, seemingly ignoring the massive elephant in the room. He claimed that watching her do stunts made him think, "That's Wonder Woman-esque." He added, "I don't know who's watching or listening to this interview, but I just think she's a total badass."
The Ultimate Insult to Gal Gadot?
Let's look at the optics here. Gal Gadot is arguably the face of Israel in Hollywood. She played Diana Prince in multiple blockbusters, turning the character into a global icon of peace and power. To suggest replacing her with an actress who was axed for sharing posts accusing Israel of "genocide and ethnic cleansing" feels like a deliberate slap in the face. It is the ultimate casting troll job.
Barrera didn't just criticize a government policy; she went nuclear. In November 2023, she uploaded posts to Instagram describing Israel as a "colonized" land and floated conspiracy theories about the Jewish state controlling the media. For Liu to look at that baggage and think, "Yeah, she should hold the Lasso of Truth," is baffling industry insiders. Is he trying to sabotage the DCU before it even relaunches?
The role of Wonder Woman is currently vacant as James Gunn overhauls the universe. While Gadot's future is murky, the idea of pivoting to Barrera is a PR nightmare that Warner Bros. likely wants no part of. Yet, Liu is "just throwing it out there," putting pressure on the studio to acknowledge an actress they might consider radioactive.
Inside The "Hate Speech" Scandal That Got Her Fired
We need to rewind to late 2023 to understand just how explosive this suggestion is. Spyglass Media Group didn't just let Barrera go; they practically threw her out the door publicly. After Barrera's social media tirade, where she claimed "Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp," the studio issued a scorching statement that left zero room for interpretation.
Spyglass stated their stance was "unequivocally clear," adding, "We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion, or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech." Note the phrase "Holocaust distortion." That is a career-ending label in most circles.
Barrera had shared content suggesting facts about the Holocaust were being manipulated to "boost the Israeli arms industry." This wasn't a vague call for peace; it was specific, charged rhetoric that got her kicked off Scream 7 faster than Ghostface could make a phone call. For Liu to champion her for the biggest female superhero role on the planet suggests he is either unaware of the severity of the allegations or he simply doesn't care.
The "Silence is Not an Option" Defense
Barrera didn't go quietly into the night after her firing. She doubled down with a statement that many viewed as a non-apology. While she claimed to condemn antisemitism and Islamophobia, she framed her outburst as a righteous crusade for human rights. "I will continue to speak out for those that need it most," she wrote on Instagram. "Silence is not an option for me."
This "martyr complex" has won her a specific sect of supporters online, but it has alienated the power brokers in Hollywood. A Wonder Woman actress needs to sell toys, Happy Meals, and global tickets—including in markets that might not appreciate the lead actress accusing a nation of running concentration camps. The commercial viability of a Barrera-led Wonder Woman is questionable at best, and disastrous at worst.
Liu seems to be aligning himself with her defiance. Both actors signed the Artists4Ceasefire open letter in October 2023. That letter called for an end to the bombing in Gaza but notably failed to mention the Hamas terrorist organization by name—the same group that slaughtered 1,200 Israelis and took over 200 hostages. By backing Barrera now, Liu is signaling where his loyalties lie in the Hollywood ideology war.
Fans Are tearing Each Other Apart
As expected, the internet is absolutely losing its mind over Liu's endorsement. The fanbase is fractured, with one side calling for a boycott of anything Liu touches and the other side hailing Barrera as a hero. It is a digital bloodbath.
"Simu Liu suggesting a woman fired for antisemitism to replace an Israeli Jewish woman is actually insane behavior. Read the room, Shang-Chi."
"This would be the biggest upgrade in history. Gal can't act and Melissa is a powerhouse. Make it happen Gunn!"
"Does Simu hate his career? Why would he attach himself to this controversy? He is literally asking for Marvel to bench him."
"Replacing a Zionist with a pro-Palestine queen would be poetic justice. I would watch that movie ten times."
The polarization is exactly what a studio wants to avoid. Blockbuster movies need broad appeal, not a political litmus test at the box office. If James Gunn were to even entertain this meeting, the backlash would eclipse the actual movie.
Barrera Is secretly Campaigning For The Role
It's not just Simu Liu doing the talking. Barrera herself has been dropping hints that she sees herself as a moral beacon suitable for a superhero platform. In an interview with A Shot Magazine in April 2025—yes, she is still talking about this—she addressed the rumors directly.
"I think that whoever gets the role, I just hope that they can embody the essence of the character," she said, sounding suspiciously like someone measuring themselves for the costume. She went on to say that actors with big roles should do "something actually positive with the influence… instead of just using it for self-serving purposes."
Was that a dig at Gadot? It certainly sounds like one. Barrera seems to imply that the previous iteration of Wonder Woman wasn't using her platform correctly. It is a bold stance for an actress who lost her biggest gig due to her social media habits. She is positioning herself as the "ethical" choice, which is a wild spin considering the "Holocaust distortion" accusations on her permanent record.
James Gunn's Impossible Choice
The ball is technically in James Gunn's court, but don't expect him to swing at this pitch. The new DCU is fragile. It needs a win. Casting Melissa Barrera would turn the press tour into a geopolitical debate rather than a celebration of comic book lore. Gunn is currently looking for a new lead to star in the project written by Ana Nogueira, but rumors suggest he is looking for a fresh face with less baggage.
However, Hollywood is a strange place. Controversy sometimes sells. If the studio thinks the "hate watch" crowd is big enough, they might float the idea. But replacing Gal Gadot—who starred in the 2017 smash hit and its 2020 sequel—with her ideological opposite is a risk that could sink the entire franchise.
Simu Liu has thrown down the gauntlet. He has put his own reputation on the line to boost a costar who is currently persona non grata in major boardrooms. Is this true friendship, or is Liu trying to stir the pot to keep his own name in the headlines? Either way, the battle for Themyscira just got ugly, and we are grabbing the popcorn to watch the fallout.
