'Exodus: Gods and Kings' Banned in Egypt Over 'Historical Inaccuracies'
Ridley Scott's latest film "Exodus: Gods and Kings" starring Christian Bale has been banned in Egypt after censors deemed the film historically inaccurate.
The blockbuster was set to premiere in both Egypt and Morocco on Friday, according to several reports. The Egyptian censorship board said that "Exodus," which is based on the biblical book of Exodus, was historically inaccurate since it depicts Jews building the Pyramids, according to the BBC. Moreover, the Hollywood film portrays an earthquake, not a miracle, causing the Red Sea to part.
"It contains historical fallacies," Egyptian censorship board head Abdul Sattar Fathy said in a statement, according to Egypt's news portal, Mobtada. Fathy also cited the film's depiction of Moses that was similar to a general in an army as opposed to the biblical prophet who is highly revered in the Abrahamic religions of Islam, Judaism and Christianity.
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In Morocco, officials had given "Exodus" a premiere date, but as of Friday, theater managers told Medias24 that the film was now banned from being screened.
"Exodus: Gods and Kings" stars Bale as Moses who leads Hebrews to freedom after centuries of enslavement in Egypt. The film, which had a budget of $140 million, showcases each of the 10 plagues, plus more, that rain down upon Egypt as a warning from God to release the Hebrews. The film also includes the burning bush and the aforementioned parting of the Red Sea.
The Moroccan and Egyptian bans are the most recent controversy surrounding Scott's film. Before its Dec. 9 premiere worldwide, thousands of petitioners agreed to boycott "Exodus," and the director was accused of racist casting after hiring Bale, Joel Edgerton, Aaron Paul and Sigourney Weaver in each major role. Scott dismissed the "whitewashing" criticism, though.
"I say, 'Get a life,'" the director told The Associated Press in reference to his critics, before adding that he assembled "the best possible cast … on a budget of this scale."
Despite the controversy, "Exodus" earned $24.1 million in its first week.
