The makers of upcoming feature film, Gods of Egypt, Lionsgate Studios, and the director Alex Proyas have apologized to movie lovers over the backlash for the lack of racial diversity in the movie’s cast.
“We recognize that it is our responsibility to help ensure that casting decisions reflect the diversity and culture of the time periods portrayed,” a rep for Lionsgate said in a statement,first obtained by Forbes.
“In this instance we failed to live up to our own standards of sensitivity and diversity, for which we sincerely apologize.”
The film due to open Feb. 26, came under controversy because the lead stars, Gerard Butler and “Game of Thrones” actor Nikolaj Coster Waldau, don’t match the racial makeup of the North African country.
“The process of casting a movie has many complicated variables, but it is clear that our casting choices should have been more diverse,” Proyas said his own mea culpa Friday.
“I sincerely apologize to those who are offended by the decisions we made.”
