For portraying Cleopatra as Black in the forthcoming documentary Queen Cleopatra, an Egyptian attorney is suing Netflix.
The four-part Jada Pinkett Smith series delves into the history of the last pharaoh of Egypt, who ruled for 21 years between 51 and 30 BC before taking her own life.
According to the synopsis, the documentary will focus on Cleopatra’s heritage, which has “been the subject of much academic debate but frequently ignored by Hollywood.”
Craig Russell portrays Mark Anthony, while British actress Adele James, widely known for her role in Casualty, plays the queen.
Attorney Mahmoud al-Semary, however, has launched a lawsuit over the casting and said that Netflix committed a “crime” by depicting Cleopatra as Black.
The complaint stated according to Egypt Independent said: ‘Most of what Netflix platform displays do not conform to Islamic and societal values and principles, especially Egyptian ones.’
According to al-Semary, the trailer promoted Afrocentrism at the expense of Egyptian identity and contradicted Egyptian history.
His complaint continued: ‘In order to preserve the Egyptian national and cultural identity among Egyptians all over the world there must be pride in the makings of such work.’
The documentary’s expert, Sally Ann Ashton, previously discussed Cleopatra’s ancestry on Netflix’s Tudum website.
“Cleopatra ruled in Egypt long before the Arab settlement in North Africa,” she remarked.
‘If the maternal side of her family were indigenous women, they would’ve been African, and this should be reflected in contemporary representations of Cleopatra.’
The streamer also noted they had cast bi-racial Adele in a ‘nod to the centuries-long conversation about the ruler’s race.’
Queen Cleopatra comes to Netflix on May 10.
