Cleopatra: Queen of War (2026) is an ambitious historical epic that redefines one of the world’s most iconic female rulers. Directed by Kari Skogland and starring Gal Gadot as Cleopatra VII, the film sheds new light on a character long buried under myth, romance, and colonial narratives. Rather than simply a seductress, Cleopatra is portrayed here as a brilliant tactician, multilingual diplomat, and the last pharaoh of Egypt fighting to preserve her nation’s sovereignty in the face of rising Roman domination.
Set during the waning days of the Ptolemaic dynasty, the film follows Cleopatra’s rise to power after a bloody succession crisis. From the bustling palaces of Alexandria to the windswept shores of the Mediterranean, the movie chronicles her shifting alliances with Julius Caesar and later, Mark Antony. These relationships are not just romantic but steeped in strategy and survival. Cleopatra’s aim is clear: to secure her throne, protect Egypt’s independence, and forge a future for her son, Caesarion.
Gal Gadot delivers a layered performance — fierce yet vulnerable, regal yet human. Her Cleopatra commands the screen with intelligence and presence, navigating court politics, military campaigns, and the expectations of two empires. The film resists turning her into a mere object of desire. Instead, it positions her as a woman operating with sharp intellect in a brutal world of male power.
The cinematography is lush and immersive, capturing the grandeur of ancient Egypt and the tension of looming war. Sweeping desert shots, marble palaces, and stormy sea battles lend the film an operatic scope, while intimate moments in Cleopatra’s court reveal the psychological toll of leadership. The score complements this duality, mixing traditional orchestration with ancient motifs.
What sets Queen of War apart is its attempt to reclaim Cleopatra's image from centuries of orientalist and Eurocentric distortion. Instead of focusing solely on scandalous love affairs, the film explores the burden of ruling a collapsing empire. It reflects on what it means to be a woman in power — isolated, underestimated, and often betrayed.
Critically, the film has sparked conversation. Some praise it for restoring Cleopatra’s agency and dignity, while others debate the casting and historical liberties taken. But regardless of interpretation, it is clear that this is not the Cleopatra of old Hollywood. This is a ruler — complex, commanding, and caught in the jaws of history.
If Queen of War succeeds at the box office, a sequel could follow naturally — perhaps titled Cleopatra: Phoenix of Alexandria. This installment would explore Cleopatra’s final years after the Battle of Actium. As Octavian closes in, Cleopatra must make impossible choices to preserve her legacy, protect her child, and decide whether death is more powerful than defeat.
The sequel could delve deeper into the psychological breakdown of empire, the last flickers of resistance in Alexandria, and the enduring myth Cleopatra creates through her final act of defiance. Far from fading into tragedy, she would rise — not just as a queen, but as a symbol that history could never silence.
