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| Egypt Reported to Ban Latest U.S. ‘Exodus’ Film | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| “Exodus: Gods and Kings,” the $140 million Hollywood film about the biblical escape of the Jews from Egypt, will not be shown there because it asserts historical falsehoods and spreads a “Zionist view,” the Egyptian culture minister was quoted as saying on Friday. | “Exodus: Gods and Kings,” the $140 million Hollywood film about the biblical escape of the Jews from Egypt, will not be shown there because it asserts historical falsehoods and spreads a “Zionist view,” the Egyptian culture minister was quoted as saying on Friday. |
| If confirmed, a ban in Egypt would make it the second Arab country this week to bar “Exodus,” after a reported decision by Morocco to bar its distribution in theaters on Christmas just as it was about to be shown. | |
| Egypt’s culture minister, Gaber Asfour, was quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying that “Exodus” was offensive because of what he called its false portrayal of Moses, and of the Jews as the builders of Egypt’s pyramids. | |
| He was quoted as saying the film “gives a Zionist view of history and contains historical inaccuracies and that’s why we have decided to ban it.” | He was quoted as saying the film “gives a Zionist view of history and contains historical inaccuracies and that’s why we have decided to ban it.” |
| There was no immediate confirmation from the Egyptian government that “Exodus” would not be shown. Mohamed Abu Seada, a senior official in the Culture Ministry, said he had not heard of the decision. The film’s producer, 20th Century Fox, declined to comment. | There was no immediate confirmation from the Egyptian government that “Exodus” would not be shown. Mohamed Abu Seada, a senior official in the Culture Ministry, said he had not heard of the decision. The film’s producer, 20th Century Fox, declined to comment. |
| It would not be the first time a Hollywood film about religious history had been prohibited in Egypt. Several Arab countries, including Egypt, have banned films in which actors portray biblical figures because of a religious prohibition on the depiction of prophets. “Noah,” another biblical adventure, faced a ban for such reasons this year. | It would not be the first time a Hollywood film about religious history had been prohibited in Egypt. Several Arab countries, including Egypt, have banned films in which actors portray biblical figures because of a religious prohibition on the depiction of prophets. “Noah,” another biblical adventure, faced a ban for such reasons this year. |
| In 1998, Egypt banned a DreamWorks animated film, “The Prince of Egypt,” which was also about Moses. | In 1998, Egypt banned a DreamWorks animated film, “The Prince of Egypt,” which was also about Moses. |
| According to the book of Exodus in the Bible, Jewish slaves were forced make bricks, which some historians have said were used in the pyramids. The book of Exodus also describes how Moses led the Jews to freedom. Chased by the Egyptian army, Moses miraculously parts the Red Sea, allowing the Jewish people to escape. | According to the book of Exodus in the Bible, Jewish slaves were forced make bricks, which some historians have said were used in the pyramids. The book of Exodus also describes how Moses led the Jews to freedom. Chased by the Egyptian army, Moses miraculously parts the Red Sea, allowing the Jewish people to escape. |
| “Exodus” is the second American film this month to get entangled in an international dispute that disrupted its theatrical release. | “Exodus” is the second American film this month to get entangled in an international dispute that disrupted its theatrical release. |
| “The Interview,” a satirical comedy that depicts the assassination of Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, was pulled from American distribution following a cyberattack on Sony, the film’s producer. The United States has said that North Korea was behind the attack and President Obama said the administration “will respond proportionally.” Sony then reversed itself this week and released the film in some theaters and through paid Internet streaming. | “The Interview,” a satirical comedy that depicts the assassination of Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, was pulled from American distribution following a cyberattack on Sony, the film’s producer. The United States has said that North Korea was behind the attack and President Obama said the administration “will respond proportionally.” Sony then reversed itself this week and released the film in some theaters and through paid Internet streaming. |
| “Exodus,” which the Hollywood trade press has said cost an estimated $140 million to produce, faced publicity and image problems well before its box office debut in the United States a few weeks ago. | “Exodus,” which the Hollywood trade press has said cost an estimated $140 million to produce, faced publicity and image problems well before its box office debut in the United States a few weeks ago. |
| The biggest was the criticism over the cast’s lack of ethnic diversity. Although the setting was supposed to be ancient Egypt, all the main characters were performed by white actors. Christian Bale played Moses, Joel Edgerton played the pharaoh Ramses, and Sigourney Weaver played Queen Tuya. | The biggest was the criticism over the cast’s lack of ethnic diversity. Although the setting was supposed to be ancient Egypt, all the main characters were performed by white actors. Christian Bale played Moses, Joel Edgerton played the pharaoh Ramses, and Sigourney Weaver played Queen Tuya. |
| Ridley Scott, the film’s director, created a stir in defending the cast choices for financial reasons. “I can’t mount a film of this budget, where I have to rely on tax rebates in Spain, and say that my lead actor is Mohammad so-and-so from such-and-such,” he told Variety in an interview published last month. “I’m just not going to get it financed. So the question doesn’t even come up.” | Ridley Scott, the film’s director, created a stir in defending the cast choices for financial reasons. “I can’t mount a film of this budget, where I have to rely on tax rebates in Spain, and say that my lead actor is Mohammad so-and-so from such-and-such,” he told Variety in an interview published last month. “I’m just not going to get it financed. So the question doesn’t even come up.” |
| Rupert Murdoch, the executive chairman of the News Corporation, which owns 20th Century Fox, created a further stir in his response to criticism of the casting decision. | Rupert Murdoch, the executive chairman of the News Corporation, which owns 20th Century Fox, created a further stir in his response to criticism of the casting decision. |
| “Moses film attacked on Twitter for all white cast,” Mr. Murdoch wrote in a Twitter message. “Since when are Egyptians not white? All I know are.” | “Moses film attacked on Twitter for all white cast,” Mr. Murdoch wrote in a Twitter message. “Since when are Egyptians not white? All I know are.” |