Gods of Egypt isn’t released until February but it has already been the subject of some major controversy. About a month ago, the film was rightfully blasted for its lack of diversity, and the backlash was met with an open apology from studio Lionsgate and the film’s director Alex Proyas. “The process of casting a movie has many complicated variables, but it is clear that our casting choices should have been more diverse. I sincerely apologize to those who are offended by the decisions we made”, Proyas said in a statement following the backlash.
Now, cast member Chadwick Boseman has addressed the controversy saying that he is glad that people are discussing the issue. “I generally try to tune things like press controversy out, but some people around me told me, ‘Hey… you might wanna look at this'”, Boseman told GQ.
He continued, adding that, “and when I originally was approached with the script, I thought this [critique] might come up, I really did. And I’m thankful that it did, because actually, I agree with it. That’s why I wanted to do it, so you would see someone of African descent playing Thoth, the father of mathematics, astronomy, the god of wisdom… But yeah — people don’t make $140 million movies starring black and brown people”.
While Boseman can be seen next in the upcoming Captain America: Civil War where he will make his superhero debut as Black Panther which will be followed up with a Black Panther standalone film – marking the first black superhero to get his own film. It’ll be hard to list any other major films, other than Creed, with black or brown leads – and that’s Boseman’s point. Hollywood has still got a long long way to go and these conversations are vital.
#Peace.Love.ChadwickBoseman
