Netflix is receiving harsh criticism for casting Israeli actors in the lead roles in the biblical film Mary.
The film is set to premiere on Netflix on December 6th, 2024. Israeli actor and yoga instructor Noa Cohen will play the titular character in the movie. The film features the story of Mary, the mother of Prophet Jesus.
The film appears to chronicle Jesus’ birth, Mary’s journey as an unwed mother facing societal rejection, and King Herod’s “murderous hunt” to track them down, fearing a threat to his rule.
According to IMDB, other Israeli actors included in the cast are Ido Tako who is playing Joseph, Ori Pfeffer, Mili Avital, Keren Tzur and Hilla Vidor.
Meanwhile, Academy Award-winning British actor Anthony Hopkins is set to portray King Herod.
“Netflix thought it was a good idea to cast an Israeli to place Mother Mary like Israelis aren’t bombing the homeland of Jesus himself as well as all the churches,” one user wrote.
“Israel is currently bombing the very land Jesus was born in and yet Netflix thinks I’m gonna watch a movie about The Virgin Mary with Israeli leads,” another added.
“There is something profoundly offensive about having an Israeli actor play Mary, the mother of Jesus, while Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians, killing some of the oldest Christian communities in the world and erasing their heritage sites,” another said.
“The audacity to shamelessly cast an “Israeli” actress to play a Palestinian woman… when the IOF is still committing genocide against Palestinians (Palestinian Christians whose bloodlines can be traced to the time of Jesus Christ). Disgraceful,” wrote another X user.