Israeli actress Gal Gadot shared on Thursday the first trailer for her new film “The Runner,” a London-based psychological thriller that had its film set repeatedly disrupted by anti-Israel activists during production last year.
In the film from Amazon MGM Studios, Gadot plays Maia Marten, a high-powered lawyer threatened by an anonymous caller who has kidnapped her son. Maia is ordered to navigate the streets of London on foot and kill a client she represents in order to save her abducted son. “The Runner” is directed by Oscar winner Kevin Macdonald and written by Mark Gibson. The cast includes Damian Lewis, Rory Wilmot and Alfred Enoch.
”Set against the backdrop of London’s hyper-connected streets, ‘The Runner’ is a visceral, high-stakes race where every second counts, every choice carries a price, and a mother’s unstoppable love becomes the most dangerous weapon of all,” according to an official description of the film.
Gadot shared a trailer for “The Runner” in an Instagram post and wrote in the caption about how filming the thriller took a toll on her.
“‘The Runner’ challenged me in ways I never expected. It demanded everything from me – physically, emotionally, and personally,” she wrote. “There were moments I questioned how we’d get to the finish line. But that’s the thing about making films. Behind every frame are people who keep showing up. Choosing courage over fear. Curiosity over noise. The work over everything else. I’m incredibly proud of what we created together, and I can’t wait for you to finally see it.”
While filming “The Runner” last year in central London, local police arrested five anti-Israel protesters who tried to disrupt her film set in various parts of the city, The Algemeiner previously reported. Metropolitan Police said the individuals were arrested for harassment and other offenses related to wrongfully and unlawfully obstructing access to a workplace. The arrested individuals targeted Gadot’s filming locations “solely because an actress involved in the production is Israeli,” police explained.
At one film set in London, Gadot was forced to be escorted away as anti-Israel protesters waved Palestinian flags and yelled “Stop bombing Palestine.”
“The Runner” will be released on Prime Video on Sept. 2. Watch the trailer below.
Rachel Zegler's Tearful Speech: Love for 'Everybody' Amid Snow White Drama
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Rachel Zegler is showing gratitude for her Snow White role.
Ahead of a recent early screening of the live-action Snow White remake, Zegler surprised fans when she appeared and gave an emotional speech about what playing the Disney princess has meant to her.
"This is a movie that is so close to my heart. I auditioned for this movie when I was 19 years old and I am about to turn 24," Zegler said, in video shared by Disney. "So it's a really big chunk of my life, and about five of the seven years of my career, which is crazy. I love everybody in this movie so dearly."
Zegler reflected on her journey playing the titular character, who first appeared in 1937's animated Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, sharing that seeing the movie come to life has been "emotional" for her.
Rachel Zegler Praised by Critics as a 'Shining Supernova' in the Live-Action Remake of Snow White: 'Pure Disney Magic'
"Coming to the end of this road of this release feels really crazy because when you spend so much time with something, it becomes such a big part of you and a big part of your heart. Snow White has really been that way for me and to see this is really emotional for me. So I'm going to try not do that," Zegler said, her voice cracking a little.
"I love her and I am so glad to see that so many of you love her as well," Zegler continued. "Her superpower is her heart. It's nothing supernatural. It's something that all of us have. Deep within us, there is an inherit good and belief in the kindness of humanity."
"I hope that you walk away from this film understanding what the true meaning of fair is. I really hope that for the world as well. Thank you so much for allowing me to be your Snow White. It means the world to me."
Zegler's speech comes amid tensions plaguing Disney’s live-action remake ahead of its March 21 release, which has extended to both the West Side Story actress and her costar Gal Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen.
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A source told PEOPLE that Gadot and Zegler have "nothing in common" due to their age difference and “on top of that, their political views differ, adding to the tension."
Zegler and Gadot have appeared at multiple events in the past to promote their long-delayed film, including at Disney’s D23 Expo in 2022 and at the recent Academy Awards, where they presented the Best Visual Effects category together. They posed together at the film's Los Angeles premiere on Saturday, March 15.
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After her casting announcement in 2021, Zegler faced racist backlash from social media users over her being of Latinx background and playing the Disney princess. (Zegler is of Colombian and Polish descent.) Zegler also made headlines when she said in interviews that the new movie would modernize Snow White and that the original was “dated.”
While speaking with Vogue Mexico, Zegler addressed negative reactions over her casting as well as past statements she's made about the original animation, saying audiences were being protective over the famous princess.
“I interpret people’s feelings about this film as their passion for her and what an honor to be a part of something that people are so passionate about,” Zegler said. “We are not always going to have the same feelings as everyone around us and all that we can do is do our best." (Zegler's interview was conducted in Spanish. Quotes were independently translated from Spanish to English by PEOPLE.)
Snow White is in theaters March 21.
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