A few years ago when I read that the producers of The Last King of Scotland would be adapting of “Half of the yellow sun” for screen I filled with high hopes and expectations as not only would it be a great experience for fans to see the film brought to life on the big screen but also I thought that it’d be a great opportunity to showcase Igbo culture and history to the world. Yesterday after reading that Thandie Newton had been cast in the film my hopes were shattered not because of acting ability but purely based on the fact that In no way shape or form does Thandie Newton resemble any of the two lead female characters in the book.
It is evident to anyone who read Harry Potter or Twilight before both books were made into films that the casting directors went above and beyond to cast actors who resembled the characters they’d be portraying on the big screen, so much so they cast relatively unknown actors In order to authenticate the aesthetics of the characters.
I think it is absolutely disgusting that Biye Bandele and the producers of this film think that they can get away with the treacherous act of casting Thandie Newton to play the role of either Olanna who is described as “full figured” or Kainene who is “tall thin and darkskin”. Thandie Newton is none of the above not to mention she is not even fully black. There are plenty of African American or Black British actresses who could have been cast to the roles.
In 2006 Thandie Newton expressed her “shock” at Angelina Jolie playing the role of a mixed race woman in the film Mighty Heart, 6 years on Thandie Newton is following the shocking footsteps of Angelina Jolie and the industry gang.
Denzel Washington did not play the role of Edward Cullen, Kim Kardashian did not play the role of Bella Swan, Vin Diesel did not play the role of Idi Amin and Thandie Newton certainly should not be playing the role of Olanna or Kainene.
If Biye Bandele and the producers do not reconsider their decision many of their intended audience will be forced into boycotting the film!
