The casting controversy surrounding Ridley Scott’s new movie Exodus: Gods and Kings still rages on and rightfully so. Ridley has been accused of “whitewashing” history by choosing an all white leading cast to star in the biblical epic set in ancient Egypt, Africa.
In response to the criticism Ridley said:
“I can’t mount a film of this budget, where I have to rely on tax rebates in Spain, and say my lead actor is Mohammed so-and-so from such-and-such. “I’m just not going to get it financed. So the question doesn’t even come up.”
So basically Ridley couldn’t risk casting lead actors/actresses who would have been visually historically accurate, but there was enough money in the budget to cast “Mohammed so-and-so from such-and-such” as a slave and thief.
This sorry excuse is almost laughable. Hollywood has been getting away with this level of nonsense and racism for years, so it comes as no surprise that it is still happening in 2014. But at least those who were in doubt now know where they stand. Thank you Ridley.
Media monster Rupert Murdoch, head of 21st Century Fox which is distributing the film, jumped to Ridley’s defence and tweeted:
*HUGE SIGH*
This billionaire octogenarian’s ignorance is astounding.
Doesn’t old man Murdoch still have phones to hack and a bunch of lowlife News International employees /associates to lead and protect?
An online petition has now been set up calling for the public to boycott Exodus: Gods and Kings.
CLICK HERE to sign the petition.
Categories: UK News
MAD NEWS UK 
John Boyego is cast in the new Star Wars, Lupita won an oscar this year, Chiwetel was nominated. This man has zero excuse. He’s acting like Black people can’t bring in money for Hollywood if they star in a leading role and couldn’t find any. Let him stay there I won’t be renting or supporting this trash. I HOPE IT BOMBS BIG TIME AT THE BOX OFFICE.
On top of that, has he not heard of Will Smith? One of the biggest names in Hollywood with box office pulling power. You’re telling me he couldn’t be considered to play a king or Idris Elba. Let’s just keep it real, he wanted an all white leading cast.
Did not know you can have online petition to get a hash-tag trending or a subject matter to be heard? but each to their own i guess.
I agree with what you said, i am glad that Ridley Scott said what he said and also Murduch’s tweets could not have come at a better time. The more people see this the more people will understand how big money studio works and how a lot of big money people think. Anyhow, i think people are starting to get tired of films like this, i think that Ark film did not impress people at all. Also watching American actors use English accents to play Greeks or Italians is getting dry.
But even if these directors/producers did show some balls and cast well known black actors i do not believe they would get the funding they are used too, Murdoch represented these people in those tweets clearly. You only have to read what George Lucas had to go though to get the film Red Tails to go on cinema.
The only solution is for major money from companies in Africa or the black big hitters in america all pool together to finance films.
@Cameron You are right. We need to finance and take control of our own projects. It is the only way forward. I keep saying this.
African people need to grow a backbone and not accept any bullshit from white people just for a cheque especially if disrespects your heritage and your people..at the same time they wanna look down upon Caribbean people but yet there suckers for the same white devils
African people need to grow a backbone and not accept any crap from white people just for a cheque especially if disrespects your heritage and your people..at the same time they wanna look down upon Caribbean people but yet there suckers for the same white devils