Both Jennifer Lawrence and Aziz Ansari have recently helped bring even more attention to issues of diversity and equality, or a lack thereof, in Hollywood. Last month, Lawrence penned a blunt and controversial essay for Lenny about unequal pay for women in Hollywood, while Aziz’s new Netflix series Master of None includes an episode highlighting the issue of whitewashing in Hollywood. So, immediately on the heels of two big stars tackling the aforementioned issues, it’s cringe-worthy to see the newly released posters for Lionsgate’s upcoming movie Gods of Egypt. And equally head-scratching.
Gods of Egypt is an Egyptian mythological/historical epic directed by Alex Proyas (The Crow, Dark City) and stars Gerard Butler, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and Geoffrey Rush…all as Egyptian gods. It’s widely accepted and historically accurate that Egyptians were not white, so one look at the poster leaves many scratching their heads and wagging the finger at Hollywood. Gods of Egypt has already been met with a flurry of criticism and accusations of whitewashing for casting white actors as non-white, Egyptian mythological figures, the same type of criticism last year’s Egyptian historical epic Exodus: Gods and Kings faced.
Directed by Ridley Scott, Exodus starred Christian Bale as Moses and Joel Edgerton as a heavily make-up’d Ramses and was lambasted for, again, whitewashing. Scott defended his casting decisions by chalking it up to a matter of financing, saying “I can’t mount a film of this budget, where I have to rely on tax rebates in Spain, and say that my lead actor is Mohammad so-and-so from such-and-such,” Scott continued, “I’m just not going to get it financed. So the question doesn’t even come up.”
His comments aren’t entirely unfounded. For big films like his and Proyas’ Gods of Egypt, getting financial backing sometimes means making sure casting decisions are safe bets. But many are disappointed to see Lionsgate proceed with their cast for Gods of Egypt knowing full well the criticism Exodus received for nearly the same type of casting. Aside from the casting of white actors as Egyptian gods, Chadwick Boseman is cast as an Egyptian god as well and critics have made sure to point out that an African-American actor does not equal an Egyptian either.
This movie is sure to kick up some more criticism as the weeks go on and a trailer drops at some point. Lionsgate has yet to comment on the posters but wow, this feels like a mirror image of the disaster that Exodus: Gods and Kings was, which again just makes this a facepalm moment. Why make the same mistake twice and perpetuate a controversial trend, Hollywood?
The plot of Gods of Egypt is below. The movie hits theaters February 26, 2016.
Magic, monsters, gods, and madness reign throughout the palaces and pyramids of the lush Nile River Valley in this sweeping action-adventure inspired by the classic mythology of Egypt. With the survival of mankind hanging in the balance, an unexpected hero undertakes a thrilling journey to save the world and rescue his true love. Set (Gerard Butler), the merciless god of darkness, has usurped Egypt’s throne, plunging the once peaceful and prosperous empire into chaos and conflict. With only a handful of heroic rebels opposing Set’s savage rule, Bek (Brenton Thwaites), a bold and defiant mortal, enlists the aid of the powerful god Horus (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) in an unlikely alliance against the evil overlord. As their breathtaking battle against Set and his henchmen takes them into the afterlife and across the heavens, both god and mortal must pass tests of courage and sacrifice if they hope to prevail in the spectacular final confrontation.
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