Netflix’s Controversial Documentary Queen Cleopatra Cast, Reviews and More
The Netflix documentary series “Queen Cleopatra” has caused a huge stir in how history is shown. People are arguing about how accurate the docuseries is regarding race and history because it tells the story of the famous Egyptian queen’s life.
There was a lot of controversy, massive discussions, and many reviews after the documentary came out. This blog wants to go through all of them.
The Controversy
The docuseries caused a stir when it chose Adele James, a Black actor, to play Cleopatra, which led to arguments about how true to history the show was. Some people think this casting is “appropriation,” which caused a backlash that even led to a petition charging Netflix of “falsifying history.
Cast Members
The cast of “Queen Cleopatra” includes both new and experienced players. The mysterious Cleopatra is played by Adele James, who is known for her parts in “Years and Years” (2019) and “The End of the F***ing World” (2017). She gives the role her unique style.
Craig Russell plays Mark Anthony and has done some amazing work, including a significant role in “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” (2009).
John Partridge plays Julius Caesar. He is a seasoned actor who has worked on stage and in movies, and he is best known for his long-running part in “EastEnders” (1985–2015).
The Makers Team
The docuseries is engaging because it has a lot of different people. Kaysha Woolley plays Charmian, and Andira Crichlow plays Arsinoe. The story is told by the experienced Jada Pinkett Smith, whose unique voice leads the audience through the rough times of Cleopatra’s rule.
“Queen Cleopatra” is an exciting attempt to tell a historical story because each cast member’s personal and professional experiences make the story more interesting and complex.
Fans and Critics’ Reviews
Rotten Tomatoes gave it an unbelievably low score of 2% from audiences and 10% from reviewers.
Director of Netflix’s Queen Cleopatra series blames ‘internalized white supremacy’ for the series being the worst rated show in TV history.
Tina Gharavi said in a statement:
“We need to have a conversation with ourselves about our colorism, and the internalized white… pic.twitter.com/3abBghh8iG
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) May 17, 2023
This was mostly because of the casting controversy, which many people saw as misrepresenting history. The cast has done a fantastic job in their respective roles, and that says a lot in itself.
Netflix’ Reply
Netflix replied that the character of Cleopatra’s race wasn’t the main focus. Still, they did admit that she was shown to be of mixed race to reflect ideas about her possible Egyptian ancestry and the multicultural nature of ancient Egypt.
The show has started a new discussion about balancing staying true to history and being creative. This is a fine line that filmmakers and producers often have to walk.
Conclusion
“Queen Cleopatra” shows how important it is to find the right mix between telling stories based on facts and making them up. The controversy it caused shows how people talk about how to show race and be true to history in current stories.
It’s an important addition to Netflix‘s wide range of docuseries because it starts a conversation about how historical people are portrayed in modern media through its cast and story.
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