Casting Denzel Washington as Hannibal Is Cringeworthy.

The article focuses on the controversy surrounding the casting of Denzel Washington as Hannibal, the Carthaginian general, in an upcoming Netflix biopic directed by Antoine Fuqua. It highlights historical inaccuracies in casting non-White historical figures in Hollywood, noting that Hannibal was Semitic, not Black African, and that such casting choices have sparked criticism in Tunisia, Hannibal's birthplace. The piece contextualizes this issue within Hollywood's history of casting Western actors in nonwhite roles and contrasts it with more recent efforts toward ethnic authenticity in biopics. It also discusses the pragmatic responses from Tunisian officials and the challenges smaller markets face in influencing Hollywood casting decisions.