Did you all happen to be on the interwebs today and see the news about Aaron Paul, Sigourney Weaver and John Turturro are joining the cast of Ridley Scott’s Moses? If you are unfamiliar with this film Christian Bale is going to be playing the titular Moses and Joel Edgerton will be playing Ramses. Weaver and Turturro will be playing the parents of the pharaoh Ramses (Edgerton) and Paul is in negotiations to play Joshua, who leads the people onto the promised land. Now when you see the actors selected, you totally envision ancient Egypt right?
I just can’t for the life of me get behind this casting. I like all of the actors involved in this project but you cannot try and convince me any of these 5 actors are Hebrew slaves, let alone ancient Egyptians. Like John Turturro is the only white person in this cast that is at least tan. The other four are closer to being sheet of paper white than tan white person white and I just…who is thinking this is a good idea? I mean Sig Weavy and Joel Edgerton are playing the mother of Ramses and one of Egypt’s greatest pharaohs? Two actors who look like this
Like…who…how…I am so baffled that I can’t even find the words….
This is not the first time this has happened (and honestly probably won’t be the last) but certainly in the year 2013 we can get a better mix of casting than this. It’s truly disappointing that this cast is so white because it’s like they didn’t even try to act like they wanted a balanced cast. Like we know Hollywood can be lazy but can you at least attempt to act like you’re not?