Controversy Over New BBC TV Series "Troy: A Fall Of A City" As Achilles Played By African Actor

Controversy Over New BBC TV Series "Troy: A Fall Of A City" As Achilles Is Played By African Actor 

Social media users have expressed their anger over the new BBC TV Series which is set to air in early 2018 - see more details below. 

Controversy continues to loom as social media users have expressed their anger over a new TV series which has been produced in a joint partnership with BBC and Netflix, expected to air in early 2018. 

The TV series in question is called "Troy: The Fall Of A City" and focuses on the war between the Greeks and the Trojans however - the major characters in the show are being played by actors who are of African descent. 

With social media users expressing their actors, it's not cast at the actors themselves but to the show director and producers who aren't portraying the story in the way we all know. 

After all, Achilles, one of the major characters has always been described as blonde with Brad Pitt playing the part in the 2004 film, Troy. 

Here are some users' opinions on social media. 

- Homer in the Iliad repeatedly describes Achilles as “blonde” and “golden-haired"

- Africans had nothing to do with Greek mythology or ancient European history. Who in their right mind could see and enjoy this new TV series.

- This is blatant racism towards Greek people, and I am shocked by the audacity of the BBC to try and rewrite Greek history.

- Question, would anyone be mad if I made movie about US history, and actor playing Obama would be white?

Here's a little look at the 3 major characters in the show. 

Achilles - The character will be played by David Gyasi who's from the UK and of African descent. 

Patroclus - The character is Achilles' cousin and will be played by Lemonga Tsipa. Another actor who's from the UK and of African descent. 

Zeus - Hakeen Kae-Kazim will be playing the character of Zeus who's again of African descent.

Before people say that this is an attack against African actors, think of things in this way... 

Would people agree to a white actor playing Nelson Mandela or Martin Luther King Jr? 

It's not about the colour of someone's skin, it's about a story being portrayed in the correct way. 

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