Wonder Woman actor Chris Pine thrilled to play secondary character in 'movie with a woman in the lead'

Gal Gadot came under criticism when her casting as the iconic superhero was first announced

Chris Pine will play Gal Gadot's love interest in Wonder Woman (Getty)

Chris Pine has revealed that the main reason he is thrilled to be starring in Wonder Woman, is because he’ll be playing love interest to a “strong woman”.

The Star Trek actor has been cast as Steve Trevor in the upcoming superhero movie and will support Gal Gadot in a secondary role.

“What excites me most is to work in a movie with a superhero woman,” he told French website Premiere. “With a woman in the lead role. I am teamed with this intelligent, beautiful and strong woman to defeat the villains and save humanity.”

Gal Gadot looking fierce in full costume as Wonder Woman

Gadot is also “so excited” to begin work on the Warner Bros project. “I feel like I’ve been given a huge opportunity to inspire people, not only women,” she told Interview magazine.

“And not because of me but because of who Wonder Woman is and what she stands for. There’s a lot of responsibility. But I have the best team and the best people to work with. It’s going to be an amazing ride, knock on wood.”

Gadot was met with criticism when her role was first announced, with some comic book fans even stopping so low as to attack her for having “too small breasts”.

“People will always have something to say because that’s the way people are,” she said. “And it’s okay. But for me, it’s my job. It’s my career, it’s my art. Whatever I do, I take it very seriously and I do my research and I give it my best.

“I just want to be able to shine and inspire people. It’s not just about me. It’s the script and the story and the acting. I hope people are going to love it.”

Wonder Woman arrives in cinemas in June 2017, with a UK release date yet to be confirmed.