Gladiator II' cuts Palestinian actor

The release of Gladiator II, Ridley Scott's highly anticipated sequel, has been overshadowed by a heated debate. Egyptian Palestinian actor May Calamawy, initially announced as a pivotal cast member alongside Pedro Pascal, has had her role cut from the film, as per The Independent. This reduction has provoked accusations of erasure, especially at a time when Palestinian voices are being increasingly sidelined globally.

Once prominent,

now not

Calamawy, celebrated for her role as Layla El-Faouly in Marvel's Moon Knight, was cast in Gladiator II after what was reportedly an intensive audition process. Early reports hailed her character as a crucial part of the narrative. Yet, when the film premiered, fans were stunned to see her relegated to an extra without dialogue. As the Middle East Monitor noted, this was a sharp departure from the expectations set during the film's production.

The casting process itself had seemed promising. According to sources, Scott personally oversaw the search for Calamawy's role, further suggesting the importance of her character. However, her absence from trailers, promotional material, and even a character poster had already raised eyebrows among fans prior to the film's release.

Online, fans have expressed outrage, linking Calamawy's reduced presence to her Palestinian heritage and vocal support for Gaza. On X (formerly Twitter), users criticised both Scott and the film's promotional team for failing to acknowledge her role. Pascal, who plays General Acacius, stood out as the sole cast member to highlight her involvement, sharing selfies with Calamawy from the set.

One fan wrote, "I'm glad he posted this because every other actor in the movie has been pretending for the whole press run that there wasn't another cast member who was supposed to have a main role but had all her scenes cut from the movie… like they all pretend she doesn't exist."

Pascal's post, though brief, has been hailed as a subtle act of resistance against what many perceive as a deliberate attempt to erase Calamawy from the film's narrative.

For some, Calamawy's situation echoes the recent controversy surrounding actor Melissa Barrera. Barrera, who starred in Scream 6, was abruptly fired from the upcoming Scream 7 after expressing support for Palestine on social media. Fans have drawn parallels between the two cases, suggesting a troubling pattern in Hollywood.

One user commented, "Paramount has some explaining to do because how did Egyptian Palestinian actor May Calamawy go from a crucial co-lead role (May 2023) to no character poster and no lines in the trailers? This better not be another Melissa Barrera situation."

Creative choice or politics

The reasons behind Calamawy's diminished role remain unclear. Some defenders of the film argue that editing decisions are often driven by creative necessity rather than politics.

"I feel bad for her, but this is a very common occurrence in movies when they're editing the final product for theatrical release. Ideas and scenes that seemed good at the start may not always work by the end," one user suggested.

Another pointed to similar instances in the industry, noting, "Just a few years ago, it happened to Jessica Chastain, and she dodged a bullet because the movie sucked."

Yet, for many, this explanation rings hollow. Critics argue that cutting a role as significant as Calamawy's would have required extensive reshoots, raising questions about the motivations behind the decision.

Pascal's acknowledgment of Calamawy has also highlighted the silence from the rest of the cast. Fans have accused other actors of complicity in her erasure by failing to speak out.

One fan remarked, "The silence was deafening. I'm glad someone finally acknowledged the elephant in the room."

Another added, "The rest of them acting like ghosts are trending or something."

Despite the backlash, there has been no official response from Ridley Scott or Paramount addressing the controversy.

Broader implications

The controversy surrounding Calamawy's role in Gladiator II has reignited conversations about representation and the challenges faced by actors of Palestinian descent in Hollywood. Calamawy's supporters see her treatment as part of a broader trend of marginalisation, particularly in the current geopolitical climate.

A fan summed up the sentiment, writing, "I'm boycotting the movie because of her scenes being cut out. Not because I know her, not because she is Palestinian—only because it's wrong. Being Zionist is wrong, you get that, Hollywood?"

Amid the uproar, Pascal has emerged as a hero for many fans. His Instagram post not only brought attention to Calamawy's involvement but also disrupted the film's PR narrative. Pascal has long been an advocate for marginalised voices. Recently, he shared a video highlighting the devastating news coming out of Gaza, further cementing his reputation as a socially conscious star.