Netflix’s Cleopatra prompts Egyptian broadcaster to make its own Cleopatra documentary
Topics: Netflix, Film and TV
Amelia Jones
Featured Image Credit: Netflix
Topics: Netflix, Film and TV
An Egyptian broadcaster has vowed to make its own Cleopatra documentary following Netflix's new series.
Al-Wathaeqya is a state-affiliated United Media Services' documentary channel and insist their version will use the 'upmost levels' of research into the female pharaoh.
Egypt slammed the streaming service for 'falsifying Egyptian history' by presenting Cleopatra as black in its new docudrama, African Queens: Queen Cleopatra.
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The show dropped yesterday (10 May) and stars Adele James as the ancient queen.
Netflix cast the 37-year-old English actress, who is black, but Egyptian authorities insist she had 'Hellenistic' features.
The producer of the Netflix version, Jada Pinkett Smith, said she wanted to tell the story because 'we don't often get to see or hear stories about black queens'.
The Egyptian channel first aired in February this year with Sherif Saeed is in charge and Ahmed Al-Deriny in charge of the documentary production division.
The company claims to be using 'a number of specialists in history, archeology, and anthropology,' in a bid to research what they claim is the 'correct' look of the queen.
The 'upmost levels' of research and accuracy will go into the documentary', it said.
In a a statement to Egypt Independent the channel stated: "Preparations have begun to produce a documentary about Queen Cleopatra VII, daughter of Ptolemy XII, known as Cleopatra, the last king of the Ptolemaic family, that ruled Egypt in the wake of the death of Alexander the Great.
"Based on what is always usual in all the work of the Documentary Production Sector and Wathaeqya Channel, there are work sessions currently being held with a number of specialists in history, archeology, and anthropology, in order to subject research related to the subject of the film and its image to the utmost levels of research and study."
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in Egypt hit back in a lengthy statement with evidence it claims proves Cleopatra had a 'light complexion' and 'Hellenistic characteristics' due to her due to her Macedonian origins.
The trailer for Netflix's show, released last month, claims that Cleopatra was black with 'curly hair', attaching artefacts including coins to prove their point.
Dr Mustafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Archeology, said the appearance of Cleopatra in the upcoming series was 'a falsification of Egyptian history and a blatant historical misconception'.
He continued: "The film is classified as a documentary and not a drama, the order that the owners of its industry have to investigate accuracy and refer to historical and scientific facts in order to ensure that the history and civilisations of peoples is not falsified."