A biopic on Sufi mystic Jalaluddin Rumi is in the works, and Hollywood is behind it.
Gladiator writer David Franzoni and producer Stephen Joel Brown (Se7en, The Fujitive, A Perfect Murder) have signed on to the project. Both insist that the film will challenge Muslim stereotypes in western cinema, reportsThe Guardian.
Not everyone is convinced that the film will live up to its lofty goals. Why?
For starters, Franzoni and producer Stephen Joel Brown have actors like Leonardo Di Caprio and Robert Downing Jr in mind for the roles of Rumi and Shams of Tabriz.
Twitter is having none of this whitewashing.
Some people are just plain outraged:
NONONONONONO twitter.com/BinaShah/statu…
Others are pointing out the obvious: #RumiWasntWhite:
“It gives him a face & a story.” A film that would give Rumi the face of Leo DiCaprio, really? #RumiWasntWhitegu.com/p/4kgfb/stw
Leonardo Di Caprio as Rumi and Robert Downey Jr as Shams - because there aren't any brown actors, right?theguardian.com/world/2016/jun…
Rumi was born in what is now Afghanistan. Leo seems....nottwitter.com/aamer_rahman/s…
Travelled for ten days and ten nights over land and sea. Came to a pool of water that reflected the moon but still#RumiWasntWhite
Open up your casting to diversity, like you'd open up your heart for love. #RumiWasntWhite
Some others believe that the biopic will do more damage than good vis-à-vis the goal of 'challenging Muslim stereotypes':
Don't "challenge Muslim stereotypes" by trying to change fact and history #RumiWasntWhite
A few just think that that Hollywood is overstepping:
HOLLYWOOD YOU'VE GONE TOO FAR #RumiWasntWhite
Hollywood is only comfortable portraying Iran as a place of monsters & terrorists. #rumiwasntwhite
Here's hoping the producer doesn't make it any worse:
Here waiting for David Franzoni to whitesplain how Rumi 'transcended race' in 1, 2, .. #RumiWasntWhite
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