Leonardo DiCaprio likely to be cast as Rumi
Hollywood is set to make a film about the life of the Persian-speaking poet Rumi. The role of Rumi is likely to be played by Leonardo DiCaprio. The casting of a white actor for the role has drawn criticism.
Oscar-winning screenwriter David Franzoni announced in an interview with The Guardian newspaper that he is writing a screenplay about the life of Rumi, the famous Persian-speaking poet of the 7th century AH.
Franzoni told The Guardian that in the script he is trying to challenge “stereotypical images and prejudices” about Islam and Muslims and portray the life of this “great Sufi” for a Western audience.
Praising Rumi's character, Franzoni said, "He is as important as Shakespeare. He was one of the most talented people of all times and was a very valuable person in the society of his time and among his people. Such pure and rare characters always have the ability to be portrayed on the screen."
The screenwriter told The Guardian that he is considering casting Leonardo DiCaprio, the Hollywood star who won the Oscar for Best Actor this year, as Rumi.
This French decision, however, was immediately met with significant criticism on social media and in the media.
Most of the criticism centers around why a Frenchman who claims to want to challenge "prejudices" about Muslims is casting a white actor.
Social media users immediately created a hashtag titled "Rumi was not white" and expressed their anger at the choice of Frantzoni to play the role of Rumi.
Hollywood and the most important American film awards, including the Academy Awards, have faced criticism for several years that they are given too much to white artists. For this reason, the "Oscars Too White" protest campaign was able to attract the support of some prominent figures in American cinema.
Maulana Jalaluddin Muhammad Rumi is known in Western and English-speaking countries as “Rumi” and is one of the most popular poets. Translations of the poems of this great Persian-speaking poet have repeatedly appeared on the best-seller lists in the United States and some other Western countries.
Source: DW
