May Calamawy’s Brief Role in ‘Gladiator II’ Sparks Debate Over Hollywood’s Treatment of Palestinian Advocates

Actress May Calamawy’s appearance in «Gladiator II» has been met with surprise and disappointment as her role turned out to be a brief, non-speaking part. This has raised questions about the treatment of Palestinian advocates in Hollywood, particularly amidst reports that her initial casting was supposed to be significant.

Calamawy, a Palestinian-Egyptian actress known for her role in Marvel Studios‘ «Moon Knight» as the Scarlet Scarab, was expected to have a major female lead in the much-anticipated sequel to Ridley Scott’s original Oscar-winning epic «Gladiator.» Early reports suggested that the director conducted a «thorough search» with «multiple auditions» to find the right role for her.

Numerous fans from Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) backgrounds were excited by her casting, anticipating a significant presence in a film exploring the Roman Empire’s history, which encompassed regions such as North Africa and Palestine. However, promotional materials leading up to the film’s release notably lacked her presence, inciting speculation among fans about her role’s extent.

Upon «Gladiator II»‘s debut, reports confirmed Calamawy as having a minor background role alongside Denzel Washington‘s character, Macrinus. This revelation has fueled concerns about a broader pattern of marginalization of Palestinian voices in Hollywood. This concern comes after the controversial firing of actress Melissa Barrera by Spyglass for her pro-Palestinian stance.

The uncertainty remains whether Calamawy’s reduced screen time was due to her advocacy or simply a matter of initial role misinterpretation. Hanna Flint, who reviewed the film, stated, «I would have liked to see May in a bigger role given the Maghrebi/Mediterranean setting, but it may have been as simple as her getting booked for a small role prior to her blowing up in ‘Moon Knight.'»

Gladiator II faced filming interruptions due to the SAG-AFTRA strike from July 2023 to December 2023, coinciding with heightened tensions in Gaza and a crackdown on pro-Palestinian voices. These events have led to speculation that Calamawy’s role might have been edited down in post-production due to her activism.

Paramount Pictures, the film’s distributor, has faced its share of controversies concerning anti-Palestinian bias, adding another layer to the debate. As of now, neither Calamawy nor her team have responded to requests for comments on her reduced role in the film.