Disney has admitted that over 100 white actors have been hired to appear in director Guy Ritchie's live-action remake of the hit animated film Aladdin. The actors have reportedly been tanned and made-up to resemble natives of the fictional Middle Eastern kingdom of Agrabah, where the story is set. The excuse given by the studio is that non-white performers couldn't be located to fill the roles in question -- animal handlers and stunt people. Really? Apparently it's not a whole new world after all. But surely 100 or so blackfaced caucasian stunt performers didn't appear in Black Panther. Actor Kal Penn (star of the Harold & Kumar movie series) criticized Disney's (the studio backing the film) defense of the casting on Twitter...
At least one crew member, Kaushal Odedra, has reported that most of his fellow crew members are white as well. Given the white-washing scandals that preceded other recent box office bombs like Ghost in the Shell, Aloha and Disney's own Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and The Lone Ranger, the studio can't be happy with a potential public relations disaster over diversity issues. Some have cited this latest incident as reinforcement for the argument that movies about people of color should be overseen (directed) by people of color, who at least have the potential to better understand the nuances involved.
Originally Posted 12/23/18
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This is absolutely crazy and I cannot believe the excuse about not being able to find enough actors of color to be in the film. Seriously? Yeah, I hope Disney makes changes and gets away doing things like this. Very disappointing indeed.
ReplyDeleteIt's very difficult to read this article while walking past a buttload of caucasians. Sometimes the politics of those whose decisions impact my life, whether I like it or not, just make my stomach hurt.
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