Hollywood has faced a great deal of criticism for its long history of casting white actors to portray minority characters.
“Exodus: Gods and Kings” is the most recent film to face backlash regarding the portrayal of characters from the Bible and the entertainment industry. Director Ridley Scott’s film has so far been met with a furious Twitter storm armed with the its very own hashtag: #BoycottExodusMovie.
The “Exodus” cast’s leading lineup of kings, queens and prophets are all played by white actors such as Christian Bale and Sigourney Weaver, but the the slaves, servants and low-class civilians are played by actors of color.
The irony. Coincidence or not. Black actors cast to play slaves #BoycottExodusMovie pic.twitter.com/ImA6jpMVRG
— Qayb Libaax (@HodanLioness) July 29, 2014
The cast isn’t the movie’s only whitewashed criticism -- even the set design is under fire for offensive transformation.
Straight from the tomb of King Tutankhamun Wow, look at all the white people! ..said no one ever #BoycottExodusMovie pic.twitter.com/rhxK9k6tl0
— Groom Dagne (@GroomDagne) July 30, 2014
This isn’t the first time whitewashed, ancient Egypt-themed productions have stirred up controversy. Elizabeth Taylor played Cleopatra in 1963, and even documentary filmmaker Tariq Nasheed told The Huffington Post that whitewashed History Channel re-enactments inspired his latest film “Hidden Colors 3: The Rules of Racism.”
Time will tell if the hashtag boycott carries itself all the way to the box office, “Exodus: Gods and Kings” is set to premiere in December.
Watch the “Exodus: Gods and Kings” trailer below.