9 Surprising Changes in Ridley Scott's Exodus: Gods and Kings

The Controversial Casting Choices

Exodus: Gods and Kings featured Christian Bale as Moses, Joel Edgerton as Ramses II, and Aaron Paul as Joshua, and an extended cast of mainly white actors. The 1300 BC Egyptian setting of Exodus meant that this casting was neither biblically nor historically accurate and director Ridley Scott received criticism over perceived whitewashing at the time of release. In an interview with Variety, Scott gave a controversial and blunt response to the issue stating the film would not receive financing if the lead actor were 'Mohammad so-and-so from such-and-such' and that the question of casting non-white actors 'never came up.'

Joel Edgerton as Ramses II looking scared in Exodus Gods and Kings

The Biblical Story Was Much More Diverse

Joel Edgerton as Ramses and Christian Bale as Moses in Exodus: Gods and Kings

Ridley Scott’s biblical epic Exodus: Gods and Kings controversially made significant changes from the book of the Bible that it was based on. As a director who has repeatedly dismissed concerns about accuracy, throughout his career Scott has been more concerned with providing an entertaining film than he has been with rigidly adhering to the expected retelling of events. While this makes for a more exciting big-budget spectacle in his 2014 movie Exodus: Gods and Kings, it also led to criticism from Christian groups who felt the agnostic director was veering too far away from the original story.

A New Family Dynamic

Ridley Scott’s version of Exodus positioned the real historical pharaoh Ramses II as the adopted brother of Moses, who was found as a baby and accepted into the Egyptian royal family. However, the biblical story stated that Moses was the son of an unnamed Pharaoh’s daughter, and, had he grown up in the time of Ramses, that would have made him Moses' uncle (via Exodus 2.) The version depicted in Exodus made for a much more compelling narrative and added a sibling rivalry dimension to the film that was absent from the biblical story.

Christian Bale as Moses in the middle of battle in Exodus Gods and Kings

Moses Had No Rival Pharaoh Brother

Joel Edgerton as Ramses II in Exodus Gods and Kings

A Different Portrayal of Moses

In the biblical story of Exodus, Moses was a messenger of God and carried out his wishes without actively pursuing bloodshed. However, when Exodus: Gods and Kings was released there was concern that Moses was being envisioned as less of a messenger and more of a freedom fighter. Actor Christian Bale controversially described Moses as 'a terrorist in terms of the Egyptian empire' and if he were alive today 'drones would be sent after him' (via ABC News.) While scenes showcasing Moses leading guerrilla fighters against Egyptians may not have been biblically accurate, they certainly upped the tension in Exodus.

Christian Bale as Moses wielding an Egyptian sword in Exodus Gods and Kings

Moses Was A Lover Not A Fighter

Christian Bale as Moses in Exodus Gods and Kings

Unconventional Depiction of God

In Exodus: Gods and Kings God was portrayed by an 11-year-old English schoolboy named Isaac Andrews, which was a lot different from the biblical story of God speaking to Moses through a burning bush. While the bush does appear in the film, director Ridley Scott chose to have the young boy, named Malak (Hebrew for angel or messenger) do the talking. 'Sacred texts give no specific depiction of God, so for centuries artists and filmmakers have had to choose their own visual depiction. Malak exudes innocence and purity, and those two qualities are extremely powerful,' Scott said (via The Independent.)

Isaac Andrews as Malak in Exodus Gods and Kings

God Speaks Through The Burning Bush Not The Boy

Christian Bale as Moses with head scarf on in Exodus Gods and Kings

Iconic Imagery Reimagined

The classic depiction of Moses has always had him holding his signature staff. This was more than just an artistic choice and was mentioned in Exodus 4:2 when God asked Moses what he was holding, and he replied, 'a staff.' But in Exodus: God and Kings this iconic staff was nowhere to be seen and instead, Moses wielded an Egyptian sword during the climax of the film at the parting of the Red Sea. Omissions such as these demonstrated how significantly director Ridley Scott strayed from the biblical version of this story.

Christian Bale as Moses gives a speech at the Red Sea in Exodus Gods and Kings

Moses Wielded A Staff And Not A Sword

Divergent Plot Points

In the biblical story of Exodus, Moses murdered an Egyptian man who had been attacking a Hebrew slave. Once his crime became known Moses fled Egypt and the grand exodus of the story was set in motion. In Exodus: Gods and Kings, Moses still murdered an Egyptian, but this was not why he fled Egypt. Instead, Moses was forced to flee when the Pharaoh Ramses II suspected that he was born Hebrew and may be the one prophesied to lead his people out of Egypt.