Part 4/9:
At the heart of the controversy is the casting of Adele James, a Black actress, as Cleopatra. This decision sparked intense debate and accusations of historical revisionism—specifically, the race swapping of a figure historically depicted as Mediterranean or Macedonian by many scholars. Critics and audiences alike argued that the casting was a deliberate attempt to rewrite history through a racial lens, a move often associated with woke politics and identity politics.