Casting for projects that become unintended fan favorites is seldom simple. It is the responsibility of casting directors to select a performer who will not only be loved by the audience but also give a fantastic performance.
One casting decision seems to have angered a lot of people online. There is a lot of debate online about Cynthia Enrivo’s choice to play Jesus Christ in Jesus Christ Superstar.
To find out more about what people are saying, keep reading.
Cynthia Enrivo is well-known thanks to her performance as Elphaba in the 2024 Wicked movie adaptation. Eviro will play Jesus Christ in the next Jesus Christ Superstar, it was announced.
The show will take place at the Hollywood Bowl Amphitheater from August 1 to August 3, 2025. Sergio Trujillo will be the film’s director and choreographer, while Stephen Oremus will be its musical director. The idea that Eviro will dress as Jesus Christ seems to offend a lot of internet users, even if the rest of the cast and crew have not yet been made public. She personally announced the news on her Instagram account.
“Well, she ain’t got the part because of any ability to play a Jewish male,” one angry commenter remarked. “Think about getting hired more on your skin than your skills,” another person added. “This brand-new production sees Jesus Christ Superstar return to its rock roots and features music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice,” the Hollywood Bowl website stated.
Eviro has had an amazing year so far, earning her a nomination for Best Actress at the Oscars. Tickets for the popular show, in which she will perform, vary from $400 to $875, with the more costly Garden and Pool Circle seats going up to $1270 and $995, respectively.
Eviro had been in a Jesus Christ Superstar production before, albeit her casting may have outraged many.
She played Mary Magdalene in an all-female run of the performance in 2020. Morgan James was cast as Jesus at the time.
James said, “I feel so honored that all of these incredible women said yes and came to the studio with such grace and teamwork.”
In 2018, the character was played by John Legend in an NBC production of the show. Although Enrivo’s casting choice may have upset some, others were overjoyed to see her selected. After showcasing her vocal skills in Wicked, people are eager to see her in another well-known musical role.
Eviro talked about the challenges a “Black woman faces when nobody wants you there” in her portrayal of Elphaba.
She spoke about how the witch’s green skin makes her feel much more like a “other” than she already does, saying, “It’s a conversation about racism, but it’s also a conversation about anyone who’s been othered.” She said of the character, “It’s a conversation about queerness.”
Her detractors, though, have been outspoken. “On the other hand, it would be gender and cultural appropriation!” one person wrote. Hollywood should be ashamed.
Whoa, Jesus was both feminine and Black? “I thought Jesus was of Middle Eastern ancestry,” said someone else.
“What a disgusting choice,” someone exclaimed, “destroying my favorite musical of all time.” “These people can’t help but use their politics to influence everyone they encounter.”
In an earlier version of this article, Cynthia Erivo’s name was misspelled. It has now been resolved.
