Guy Ritchie accused of ‘whitewashing’ Aladdin with Tom Hardy casting
By Tribute on June 13, 2017 | 9 Comments
Fans are sounding off after hearing rumors that Aladdin director Guy Ritchie wants to cast Tom Hardy in the key role of the film’s villain, Jafar.
A source told The Sun that the King Arthur director has “favored” Tom for the role. Even though neither Tom nor Guy have confirmed the casting decision for the live-action adaptation of the Disney classic, fans are still taking to social media to plead with Guy to not risk whitewashing the film.
Fans are asking that, instead, Asian actors be cast in the role, with one fan citing on Twitter that “whitewashing a character is not only wrong it never works out for any movie.” In addition to accusations of whitewashing, another fan even asserts that the Mad Max: Fury Road actor is too short for the role, tweeting: “Tom Hardy as Jafar? Are you outta your mind? He’s short. And you casting him will get so much backlash for whitewashing.”
Whitewashing in Hollywood is a hot-button issue. You’ll remember Scarlett Johansson‘s role as Major in Ghost in the Shell came under scrutiny as evidence of whitewashing after many felt the character should be played by an Asian actress since the character is from Japan.
But if you’re a Tom Hardy fan and were excited about seeing him in the role of a villain, don’t worry! You’ll be happy to hear that Sony Pictures confirmed last month that Tom has been cast to play Eddie Brock a.k.a. Venom in the Spider-Man spin-off film, Venom. The film is to be directed by Zombieland‘s Ruben Fleischer and will swing into cinemas October 5, 2018.
What do you think about the issue of whitewashing in Hollywood? Would you want to see Tom Hardy in the role of Jafar? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below! ~Alexa Caruso
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Yikes, I thought he’d cast him as Aladdin. He’s far more suited to playing a villain. I don’t mind him as Jafar. Hopefully they get someone good looking as Aladdin though, and since it’s a western produced film, they should be able to get someone of any background, some Middle Easterners (where Aladdin is set) are Aryan (white), so it’s all a mixed bag.
Back in 1992 when Disney Alladin first came out there was not as much of this Anti-muslim /
anti-middle eastern sentiment in the world. I don’t know if Disney is choosing Alladin to cash in on their old movie magic like they have with Beauty and the Beast, or are they taking a major risk in trying to have a movie set in the middle east and to lessen the Arabic actors in the movie, they are allowing white actors in it. Please people, the height should have nothing to do with it! Look at the backlash from Hugh Jackman playing 5ft (something) Wolverine and he’s like well over 6ft. And now nobody can picture anyone else in that role. It’s all how it’s made and the actor portraying the character. BUT, I think they should give middle eastern actors a chance to shine. I still wouldn’t consider it ‘whitewashing’.
Jafar is the perfect role for someone like Sir Ben Kingsley, IMO
politically correct does not have any place in art. Tom Hardy is a fabulous actor and remember Tom Cruise is barely 5 ft 8 and this has not held him back from success and from giving powerful performances.
I think it should always be about the talent and not the identity of the actor, except in a historical role or a role based in reality where it would be a major insult to cast outside of the ethnicity of the character. This is a fairy tale so lets take a step back from all the political correctness hmm? Just my opinion.
Well this just became unwatchable…
NO Whitewashing or Blackwashing -Civilization began with the Eastern Civilizations(SO Yes IT IS IMPORTANT) Arabs, Persia, Israel, Egpyt, India. The beginning was Egypt, which had nothing to do with the Europeans,Africans,Orientals. Pharoahs belief system was the “Lotus Flower(The Indian Prince Buddha)The Eastern Civilizations went corrupt and Israel, the Middle East, India were created. Get yourself geographically educated. Jesus(real Jewish name Yeshua/Yeshiva), Muhammad, Buddha are Eastern Civilizations who have colonized this planet. The women that God choice to give birth to these men were not “White or Black” this is about truth and power, “the truth will set you free” So all forms of truth, including art has to be true to the setting of the civilizations and the people that created that culture, with the Eastern Civilizations there destiny is creation of planet Earth. There are great fair skinned Arab, Jewish, Indian, Persian actors but if they portrayed Winston Churchill the so called “White” Europeans would be outraged. American stop your insidious color mind games otherwise you will keep on creating lies leading to hate and a false sense of power and America will suffer(which is what is happening now) Freddie Mercury of the biggest Rock Group Queen is Indian/Iranian, Steve Jobs is biologically Arab/European. America needs to be true to it’s own identity, it’s own truth(remember the Eastern Civilizations are part of America, minorities in America are not just African or Mexican) and then you can be true to the Eastern Civilizations and only then will you have true power because knowledge/truth will humble you.
He’s not a Disney type director. Why would they have hired him? It’s going to be Disney’s first big flop in years.
ITS A MOVIE. ENTERTAINMENT. NOT A DOCUMENTARY.
Why is it whitewashed when they are now choosing anyone for any role.. Maybe Aladin should be a woman, transgender or gay. Maybe cast the princess with a man. There are no rules any more. We should all be treated equally no matter what. If you can cast someone who is not historically accurate, then all gender, and sex rules are abolished. Anyone can do anything. Look at the man, who said he was a woman, and then beat the crap out of a woman when he was allowed to be in the women’s division. I think it was boxing. This world is ridiculous. Trying to make sense of it, is a waste of your time.