Cynthia Erivo as Jesus Christ: Controversy Ignites Over Hollywood Bowl Casting

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As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but marvel at Idina Menzel’s unstoppable success, which peaked with the blockbuster release of “Wicked” last December. Yet, her upcoming roles have stirred quite a bit of debate. Despite reprising her role as Elphaba in the second installment of Jon M. Chu’s musical adaptation, the real buzz surrounds her return to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Jesus Christ Superstar.” This summer, she’ll be gracing the stage at the Hollywood Bowl for a series of unique performances. What makes this even more intriguing is that I’ll be portraying not Mary Magdalene, but Jesus Christ Himself in this rendition.

Let’s dive right into the responses on social media about this news. The reactions can be seen as varied, but in such cases, one group tends to make more noise than the other. Predictably, those most upset by the announcement have been filling up the comment sections of X/Twitter.

The Hollywood Bowl shared the news on their Instagram page, and Cynthia Erivo re-shared it on her own social media platforms. The initial post stated:

Exciting news! Cynthia Erivo has been added to the lineup for the Hollywood Bowl’s production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” this summer. This acclaimed actress, who has won Emmy, Grammy, and Tony awards, as well as received three Oscar nominations, will be portraying Jesus in the musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

In her remarks, Enviro expressed that she would have a particularly busy schedule this coming summer. The performance is set to take place at the renowned venue from August 1st through August 3rd, meaning ticket availability will be scarce. However, the anticipation surrounding the production could prove exceptionally high, even before a single sound is played on stage.

What Social Media Has Said About Cynthia Erivo’s Jesus Casting

While Erivo and her supporters are thrilled about the news that she’ll be singing beloved musical numbers at the Hollywood Bowl, others have reacted negatively to the announcement. The casting of a queer, black woman as the Son of God in a rock opera has been criticized as “blasphemous” and a “direct insult to Christianity.” It seems that this departure from tradition is difficult for some people to accept.

A strongly critical response was voiced by Senator Babet from Australia, who criticized the casting choice – going as far as sharing an article title from the UK’s Daily Mail – and asserted:

Cynthia Erivo, who identifies as queer, has been cast as Jesus Christ in an upcoming production. Critics argue this isn’t about artistic freedom but a deliberate provocation against Christianity, disrespecting our religious values and traditions. They seem to think they can get away with such sacrilege. These persistent assaults on our beliefs won’t cease unless we take action. Christianity is under threat, and we cannot compromise – we must eliminate this hostile behavior. Choose to respect or face extinction.

Others opted for a more straightforward approach, like @DeschWins who questioned, “How on earth is Cynthia Erivo cast as Jesus?!” Similar remarks flooded media outlet posts, with one suggesting that Erivo should be considered for the role of Voldemort in the Harry Potter TV series if historical accuracy isn’t important.

As a movie critic, I’ve seen my fair share of debates sparked by comments about various productions. Some of these discussions, particularly regarding the upcoming revival of this controversial musical, have been so heated that they’d make even the bluest sailor blush, only fitting in certain corners of the internet. However, there’s a strong contingent of supporters who believe Cynthia Erivo is the perfect choice to take on this role, even though the original production was infamously labeled as blasphemous upon its release. In the end, all this controversy is bound to generate even more buzz for this brief run of the musical, making it a topic of conversation for film enthusiasts everywhere.

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2025-02-19 03:05