Lionsgate And Director Alex Proyas Apologize For Lack Of Diversity In 'Gods Of Egypt' Cast

Search
Home

Gods Of EgyptThe trailer hadn’t even arrived before the chatter started. When the posters were released for Lionsgate‘s upcoming CGI blitzkrieg "Gods Of Egypt," social media lit up with recrimination regarding the distinctly monochrome cast receiving top billing for the fantasy picture set in ancient times. And that talk only intensified when the trailer finally arrived. Following the controversy surrounding Ridley Scott‘s "Exodus: Gods And Kings," you would think that Lionsgate would be loath to repeat such a enormous gaffe, but at any rate, the big shots involved with this latest film are now recognizing their error in public.

READ MORE: Review: Ridley Scott’s ‘Exodus: Gods And Kings,’ Starring Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton & More  

Both the studio and director Alex Proyas have issued statements regarding the casting in "Gods Of Egypt," in which they essentially admit they could’ve done better. Here’s what they had to say (via Forbes):

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.”
Lionsgate: “We recognize that it is our responsibility to help ensure that casting decisions reflect the diversity and culture of the time periods portrayed. In this instance, we failed to live up to our own standards of sensitivity and diversity, for which we sincerely apologize. Lionsgate is deeply committed to making films that reflect the diversity of our audiences. We have, can and will continue to do better.”

As "Selma" director Ava DuVernay pointed out on Twitter, the statements are "an unusual occurrence worth noting," and certainly it’s a step in the right direction. Yet I can’t help but notice that the statements were released during Thanksgiving, when most audiences are not focusing on the news, but on family and football.

Whether these statements will plug a cork in the controversy or not remains to be seen, but it’s the bottom line that most concerns the studio, and we’ll see how this plays out when the movie opens on February 26, 2016.