Historical power figure Queen Cleopatra is as much celebrated for her beauty and intelligence as she is controversial for her skin colour and origins. Last month, Netflix released the trailer of the docudrama that focuses on her legacy and life, narrated through reenactments and expert interviews. Starring British black actress Adele James in the lead role, Craig Russel playing Caesar’s supporter, Mark Antony and Jada Pinkett Smith as the narrator — the people of Egypt have raised questions against Netflix’s casting choices.

Via Netflix

The backlash against Netflix’s Cleopatra

Ever since the trailer’s release, there has been an uproar of heated discussions on Egypt’s social media channels with prominent public figures getting involved. The key cause of complaint? The creators have ignored the fact that Queen Cleopatra and other Egyptians during the 51 to 30 BC period were lighter skin-toned and had more European features than what is depicted.

Queen Cleopatra in Netflix docuseries

Via Netflix

In a conversation with Piers Morgan, comedian Bassem Youssef said that “Hollywood is erasing my people” and “not allowing us to tell our story”. He further added, “Everybody in that movie who is supposed to be Egyptian looks like they came from West Africa or the south of the Sahara. We as Egyptians are being called invaders and intruders in our own culture. This has been going on systematically,”. He also asked: “Where are the Egyptian actors? Where are the Arab actors?”

Matters escalated even further when an Egyptian lawyer started a campaign against Netflix and sued the streaming media company to be shuttered in the country for “misrepresenting” Cleopatra’s race and its failure to “conform to Islamic and societal values and principles, especially Egyptian ones”. Furthermore, Mostafa Waziri, the secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities issued a statement last week clarifying that Queen Cleopatra depicted on the coins and statues showcase her true feature that is not black African by any means.

Al Wathaeqya channel’s project to portray a more accurate version of Cleopatra

Amid the controversy, an Egyptian TV channel called Al Wathaeqya has announced that they will be producing a documentary of their own. By putting together a committee of experts on history, archaeology, and anthropology; a historically accurate version will be made to narrate Egypt’s rich history on their own terms.