Oscar-winning screenwriter David Franzoni is making a biopic on Sufi poet Jalaluddin Rumi, and has generated heaps of criticism on social media for wanting to cast Leonardo DiCaprio as Rumi.
The Gladiator writer aims to “challenge the stereotypical portrayal of Muslim characters in Hollywood,” reports The Guardian.
According to The Guardian, David visited Istanbul to meet Rumi experts, so that the team could start shooting the film next year. Franzoni said, “There are a lot of reasons we’re making a product like this right now. I think it’s a world that needs to be spoken to; Rumi is hugely popular in the United States. I think it gives him a face and a story.”
Franzoni and producer Stephen Joel Brown, said they would like Leonardo DiCaprio to play Rumi, and Robert Downey Jr to star as Shams of Tabriz. “This is the level of casting that we’re talking about,” The Guardian reports Stephan as saying.
However, the news of a ‘white-washed Rumi’ didn’t go down too well with people who grew up admiring the poet’s work.
13th century poet, Rumi in a painting. PHOTO: YOUTUBE
Since the Titanic star doesn’t look like he was born in Afghanistan, and Robert Downey Jr looks nothing like the non-white mystic, Shams, Twitter has blown up with anger and criticism of the casting.
Film and media critic, Imran Siddique was extremely vocal about the announcement of the cast.
The makers, however seem quite optimistic that they will have a positive impact on the audience since they are sharing the story of someone exceptional. They believe that “there’s something profoundly ‘gettable’ about Rumi. You get it. And not only do you get it but it involves you.”
Dervesh dance in Turkey. PHOTO: TURKEYTOURGUIDE
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