'It's an important story of racial struggle': Joel Edgerton says it
would be 'a shame' if Ridley Scott's Exodus was boycotted over alleged
racist whitewashing of characters
By
Amy Croffey for Daily Mail Australia
Published:
04:52, 28 August 2014
|
Updated:
13:25, 28 August 2014
Ridley
Scott's Exodus: Gods and Kings has been criticised for allegedly
whitewashing history by using four caucasian actors in the lead roles.
Some
people have even threatened to boycott the movie for doing so, but
Australian actor Joel Edgerton, who plays one of those leads, Pharaoh
Ramses II, has urged the public to go and see it.
The 40-year-old Sydney-sider told SBS's The Feed that the story of the biblical blockbuster was so important people shouldn't turn away because of the criticism.
Scroll down for video

+6
New movie: Joel Edgerton told SBS's
The Feed it would be 'a shame' if Ridley Scott's Exodus was boycotted
over what some people believe is racist whitewashing of characters

+6
In costume: The 40-year-old
Sydney-sider said the story of the biblical blockbuster was so important
people shouldn't turn away because of the criticism
'It’s
such an important story of racial struggle. The dominance of one race
over the another and I think it’s such a great story. It would be a
shame for people to not see it or turn away for another reason,' he
said.
For
the movie, based on Moses' hand in leading the Israelite slaves out of
Egypt, he sports fake tan, a bald head, bronzed muscles and a whole lot
of guyliner - but the blonde-haired, blue-eyed Aussie is not the most
obvious choice to play an Egyptian.
The
Star Wars actor, who will appear alongside Christian Bale, Aaron Paul
and Sigourney Weaver in the Egyptian epic directed by the legendary
filmmaker, said he was in a bad place when he found out about the movie.

+6
Feeling down: When he found out he
would star in Exodus he said he was in a bad place. Around that time,
the handsome actor's engagement to fashion designer Alexis Blake ended

+6
All star cast: The Star Wars actor will appear alongside Christian Bale in the biblical blockbuster
Around
that time, the handsome actor's engagement to fashion designer Alexis
Blake ended and he was also going through a grieving period following a
family death.
'I
was in a very bad place in my of life when I got the got the call.
Personal things like breakups and there had been a death in my family
and I was tired of stuff,' he also told The Feed.
In a shift from form, Edgerton plays a villain and a historical one at that: ancient Egyptian ruler Ramses.

+6
Leading roles: Despite the
jaw-dropping special effects directed by Ridley Scott it seems at the
centre of the film are the performances from Bale and Edgerton
The
film - which is said to have a budget of over $150m - is the biggest
blockbuster Edgerton has ever taken part in, with an all-star cast
including Sir Ben Kingsley and John Turturro.
Despite
the jaw-dropping special effects which see everything from tornadoes
and rivers of blood, to tidal waves and lightning storms come to life,
it seems at the centre of the film are the performances from Bale and
Edgerton.
The
characters are described as two boys who grew up together in ancient
Egypt 'like brothers', but who come to blows over their differing
opinions on slavery.
Exodus:
Gods And Kings is set for release in the coveted Christmas time slot in
the lead-up to awards season, with it hitting cinemas on January 1,
2015.

+6
Blast from the past: The characters
are described as two boys who grew up together in ancient Egypt 'like
brothers', but who come to blows over their differing opinions on slaver
Read more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2736346/Joel-Edgerton-says-shame-Ridley-Scott-s-Exodus-boycotted-alleged-racist-whitewashing-characters.html#ixzz3BiZ5QMVj
Follow us:
@MailOnline on Twitter |
DailyMail on Facebook