Netflix faces boycott calls over casting Israeli actors in Biblical Epic ‘Mary’
California (Quds News Network)- Popular streaming giant Netflix is facing boycott calls from pro-Palestine social media users over casting Israeli actors in lead roles for the upcoming biblical epic Mary.
Netflix has cast two Israeli actors as leads in its upcoming biblical epic, Mary, scheduled for release on December 6.
The film reimagines the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and features Israeli actress Noa Cohen as the titular character. According to IMDB, the cast also includes several other Israeli actors, such as Ori Pfeffer, who depicts Joseph, Mili Avital, Keren Tzur and Hilla Vidor.
Boycott Calls
Since the trailer debuted last week, several social media users have called for a boycott of Netflix, with many accusing the platform of erasing the characters’ Palestinian roots with the decision to cast Israelis.
The casting of the Israeli actors also comes amid Israel’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians, including the targeted destruction of Christian heritage and the killing of Palestinian Christians in Gaza.
The film’s director, DJ Caruso, in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, emphasized the desire for “authenticity” in casting, explaining that the decision to cast Israeli actors stemmed from their ability to “bring a unique blend of grace and presence” to the characters. A statement that has been widely criticized, as Israelis are not native to Palestine, the birthplace of Jesus.
First Netflix taking all Palestinian content down and now they stream a movie about Mary with an all Israeli cast whilst those same people are bombing the birthplace of Christ? Boycott that shit. https://t.co/xh2Vxj6Hbh pic.twitter.com/zZncaDdlK2
— lol no. (@4mp3tyx) November 17, 2024
They call Mary a whore and that Jesus is boiling in hot excrement.
They spit on Christians and blow up Churches.
They openly mock Christianity in film and television.
They cast an israeli to mock Mary’s story.
They bastardize and violate everything they touch.
Don’t watch. https://t.co/xnmyzmSnqz
— Ken O'Keefe (@KenOKeefe1TJP) November 13, 2024
While Israel ethnically exterminates Palestinian Muslims & Christians, bombs & destroys their religious sites including Saint Porphyrius Church, the 3rd oldest church in the world & eradicates Christians from Jesus’ birthplace, @netflix presents Israelis Noa Cohen as Mary & Ido pic.twitter.com/3H3zFSrQ4i
— Priscilla Galstaun (@PrisGalstaun) November 14, 2024
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. https://t.co/Vk6O7659Ak
— John P (@Johnpatrick500) November 13, 2024
Israeli attacks against Christianity
The casting choice comes amid heightened tensions due to Israel’s genocide against Palestinians, particularly the Christian population.
According to reports, Israeli military attacks have led to the deaths of over 50 Palestinian Christians in Gaza since the beginning of the genocide in October, and pressure has been mounting for Christians to flee the region.
Father Abdullah Julio, a Palestinian Catholic priest in Ramallah, highlighted that one of the goals of Israeli aggression in Gaza is the eradication of Christian presence in the region. Julio expressed concerns that, if this continues, Christianity in Gaza could become a distant memory, with churches reduced to mere museums.
Recently, Israel has taken steps to pressure churches in occupied Jerusalem to pay taxes, a move which the ministry views as an attack on the indigenous Christian presence in the Holy Land.
In occupied Palestine, the year 2023 began with the desecration of 30 tombs in a Christian cemetery on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. Two young Israeli settlers were filmed by security cameras smashing crosses, statues and tombs.
Anti-Christian acts, including spitting, graffiti reading “Death to Christians”, vandalism of statues, throwing stones or garbage at monasteries, refusal of care or access to Jewish sites to clothed clerics, continued in the days and months that followed. At least 90 of these acts were officially recorded in 2023 by the Rossing Center.
