Netflix is facing a lawsuit from a lawyer in Egypt who is accusing the streaming giant of attempting to erase the Egyptian identity.
The case has been filed by Mahmoud Al Semary, who is demanding that the state block access to Netflix over the casting of biracial British actor Adele James in an upcoming docudrama about the life of Queen Cleopatra VII.
The casting of James in African Queens: Queen Cleopatra has sparked outrage and debate about representation in film, not just in Egypt but also online. The controversy has caused a wider discussion about the casting of actors in roles that don’t match their ethnicity or nationality.
Al Semary claimed that the series breaches Egypt’s media laws and aims to promote thinking that includes slogans and writings aimed at distorting and erasing the Egyptian identity. He has filed the case with the public prosecutor.
Zahi Hawass, a leading Egyptologist and former minister of state for antiquities, called James’s depiction of Cleopatra “completely fake,” saying that Cleopatra was Greek and light-skinned, not black.
While Cleopatra was from a Greek-speaking dynasty linked to Alexander the Great’s Macedonian general Ptolemy and ruled between 51 and 30 BC, there is debate about her heritage as her mother is not known.
Netflix’s companion site Tudum wrote that the show aims to help audiences “learn about the fearless, captivating lives of queens who were likely not part of their western academic curriculum.”
Tudum also defended the decision to cast a biracial actor in the leading role as “a nod to the centuries-long conversation about the ruler’s race.” According to the site, during Cleopatra’s reign, Egypt’s population was multicultural and multiracial, and her race was unlikely to be documented. The identities of her mother and paternal grandparents are also unknown.
Despite the backlash, James hit back at her critics, saying they didn’t need to watch the show if they didn’t like the casting. Jada Pinkett Smith, who produced the show, also defended the decision to cast a woman of color as Cleopatra, saying it was important to represent black women.
This is not the first time that the casting of an actor playing Cleopatra has caused controversy. In 2020, many Egyptians expressed anger at the news that Israeli actor Gal Gadot had been cast in a Hollywood adaptation of the life of the queen, calling it an act of cultural piracy.
| Controversy | Details |
|---|---|
| Lawsuit | Mahmoud Al Semary has filed a lawsuit against Netflix, demanding that the state block access to the streaming platform. |
| Backlash | The casting of Adele James in the leading role has sparked debate about representation in film, not just in Egypt but also online. |
| Cleopatra’s Race | There is debate about Cleopatra’s heritage as her mother is not known. Netflix’s companion site Tudum defends the decision to cast a biracial actor in the leading role as a nod to the conversation about the ruler’s race. |
| Reaction | James hit back at her critics, saying they didn’t need to watch the show if they didn’t like the casting. Jada Pinkett Smith, who produced the show, defended the decision to cast a woman of color as Cleopatra. |
| Previous Controversy | In 2020, the casting of Israeli actor Gal Gadot in a Hollywood adaptation of the life of the queen caused anger in Egypt, with many calling it an act of cultural piracy. |
