Persians Descend From the Aryan Race So...

I find it kind of annoying that many people who don't know shit, or are just talking based on some sort of cultural stereotype continue to complain about the actors in the upcoming Prince of Persia movie not being brown... Pure Persians descend from the Aryan race, meaning those that have not intermixed with other middle eastern countries over time, will have very white skin, as well as having hazel brown hair and eye color. The name Iran actually has its roots in the word Aryan as well. This is what was bugging me in case you were wondering.
 
Now, like I've said before, I wouldn't mind if the actors in the Prince of Persia movie were actual Persians, but honestly, coming from a Persian man, there are not that many actors I would be happy seeing in a big budget Jerry Bruckheimer movie anyways. So if I don't see any problems with it, I don't know why a bunch of other people do. Also at the time these movies take place (even if it is a fantasy movie) Persia was an empire that had many countries within it so yeah. A little rant, sorry.

You understand ultimately the casting choice had nothing to do with this, though. The Prince is white because more people are comfortable with a white protagonist in English speaking countries. Likewise, that's why he's got a vaguely british accent. The reality of Persia is kind of just a coincidence, I'd wager.

I feel like you've given this infinitely more thought than the people in the movie did. That's just my feeling. Ben Kingsley isn't Persian but he got the job by being "ethnic looking", and there are plenty of ethnic looking lesser known male actors that could have filled this role. If they were interested in filling the role with that kind of actor.

We all descended from Africa.  Why aren't we all black?

" We all descended from Africa.  Why aren't we all black? "

Wait, there actually existed an Aryan Race? I thought that was just a fanciful name the Nazi's created to describe themselves. huh...

" We all descended from Africa.  Why aren't we all black? "

" Wait, there actually existed an Aryan Race? I thought that was just a fanciful name the Nazi's created to describe themselves. huh... "

Wikipedia states it's a concept not really a race. Caucasian would more appropriate.

Current Persia and ancient Persia are not quite the same. Time changes and so do ethnicities, long ago there was just one.

The original Greeks were fair-haired and had blue eyes. The Trojans were called the most beautiful race on Earth; actually they were just Greeks who'd moved east. They were all quite fair. With interracial relationships the typical Greek makeup turned into what it is today. The mention of Aryans brought this up. Evidence shows the Greek pagan gods were all imagined as fair, too. Maybe the caucasian archetype arose in Southern Europe before moving north.

" @ryanwho:  No, the casting choice was done because he was an actor who went through the trouble of trying to get the role. Had a Persian actor, with the chops to do it applied, I doubt he would have been turned down, simply because of his race. "

The country is being controlled by corporations and is going to hell and it always amazes me what people choose to worry about. 

Does this mean that the German Nazis were the false Aryans?

 Ben Kingsley isn't Persian but he got the job by being "ethnic looking"

I think it's a great move to have Jake as the prince. There are pretty much no good actors that have darker skin though would suit the role.

This information wasn't relevant

" I find it kind of annoying that many people who don't know shit, or are just talking based on some sort of cultural stereotype continue to complain about the actors in the upcoming Prince of Persia movie not being brown... Pure Persians descend from the Aryan race, meaning those that have not intermixed with other middle eastern countries over time, will have very white skin, as well as having hazel brown hair and eye color. The name Iran actually has its roots in the word Aryan as well. This is what was bugging me in case you were wondering.  Now, like I've said before, I wouldn't mind if the actors in the Prince of Persia movie were actual Persians, but honestly, coming from a Persian man, there are not that many actors I would be happy seeing in a big budget Jerry Bruckheimer movie anyways. So if I don't see any problems with it, I don't know why a bunch of other people do. Also at the time these movies take place (even if it is a fantasy movie) Persia was an empire that had many countries within it so yeah. A little rant, sorry. "

As someone who's taken anthropology classes...I feel like interjecting....but I know people will just shun me...

"  It's the root genus of the Indian and Persian races.  A distinct root of the Spanish too. "

" You understand ultimately the casting choice had nothing to do with this, though. The Prince is white because more people are comfortable with a white protagonist in English speaking countries. Likewise, that's why he's got a vaguely british accent. The reality of Persia is kind of just a coincidence, I'd wager. "

I think you'll find the Persian army descends upon you.

Just to opine on the idea that more people are comfortable with Caucasian lead males, that's not exactly true. Keanu Reeves (crazily Hawaiian name) is clearly half Asian. And that fool puts assess into seats. Denzel Washington is one of the biggest stars of the last decade. Will Smith has replaced at least one white character in a blockbuster (I Am Legend).  Then there's also the plethora of Asian male leads - albiet, they tend to be typecast.
 
I think that in the case of Prince of Persia Gylenhall was a big star that wanted the part and looked "Persian enough" for the part. Since it's kind of inescapable when the person's race is declared in the title (unlike, and callback, to Reeves replacing the blonde-haired British Constantine - since 99% of movie viewers have probably never heard of either Hellblazer or John Constantine).

To the point, my mother recently claimed that Jake Gyllenhaal was of Middle-Eastern descent, even though it's pretty obvious that he's not.
 
Now my mother ain't no racist, she just has poor sight. So I guess he could pass as a persian prince.

" To the point, my mother recently claimed that Jake Gyllenhaal was of Middle-Eastern descent, even though it's pretty obvious that he's not.  Now my mother ain't no racist, she just has poor sight. So I guess he could pass as a persian prince. "

 And you seriously looked at Keanu's very Japanese features (especially the eyes), along with his name, and didn't realize that?

" @SeriouslyNow said:

"  It's the root genus of the Indian and Persian races.  A distinct root of the Spanish too. "

 Did you pull that out of your arse?   Read about y-chromosome haplogroups and mitochondrial DNA.  Most Iberian males have R1b y-chromosomes (typical western european marker).  R1a is more typical of Eastern europeans and northern indians. "

" @teh_pwnzorer said:

" @SeriouslyNow said:

"  It's the root genus of the Indian and Persian races.  A distinct root of the Spanish too. "

 Did you pull that out of your arse?   Read about y-chromosome haplogroups and mitochondrial DNA.  Most Iberian males have R1b y-chromosomes (typical western european marker).  R1a is more typical of Eastern europeans and northern indians. "

Fuck your genetics faux science crap.  I'm talking about the word Aryan and it's historical context you psuedo-intellectual college undergrad.  Go learn some history instead of trying to shit on people with hitherto unproveable scientific theories. I linked to the word and its historical context.  Aryan's are not blond/blue eyed and Indians, Middle Easterners and Europeans share many genetic markers and historical/tribal backgrounds.  "

Who cares, since Jake Gyllehblabdah looks fairly like the Prince from the games anyway.  Even his voice is pretty good from what I remember from the games and the trailers I have seen. Not seen the movie yet though... don't think it is worth the ticket price.

" @SeriouslyNow said:

" @teh_pwnzorer said:

" @SeriouslyNow said:

"  It's the root genus of the Indian and Persian races.  A distinct root of the Spanish too. "

 Did you pull that out of your arse?   Read about y-chromosome haplogroups and mitochondrial DNA.  Most Iberian males have R1b y-chromosomes (typical western european marker).  R1a is more typical of Eastern europeans and northern indians. "

Fuck your genetics faux science crap.  I'm talking about the word Aryan and it's historical context you psuedo-intellectual college undergrad.  Go learn some history instead of trying to shit on people with hitherto unproveable scientific theories. I linked to the word and its historical context.  Aryan's are not blond/blue eyed and Indians, Middle Easterners and Europeans share many genetic markers and historical/tribal backgrounds.  "

Wow, is your aluminum foil hat on too tight?  Take your meds. "

" @teh_pwnzorer said:

" @SeriouslyNow said:

" @teh_pwnzorer said:

" @SeriouslyNow said:

"  It's the root genus of the Indian and Persian races.  A distinct root of the Spanish too. "

 Did you pull that out of your arse?   Read about y-chromosome haplogroups and mitochondrial DNA.  Most Iberian males have R1b y-chromosomes (typical western european marker).  R1a is more typical of Eastern europeans and northern indians. "

Fuck your genetics faux science crap.  I'm talking about the word Aryan and it's historical context you psuedo-intellectual college undergrad.  Go learn some history instead of trying to shit on people with hitherto unproveable scientific theories. I linked to the word and its historical context.  Aryan's are not blond/blue eyed and Indians, Middle Easterners and Europeans share many genetic markers and historical/tribal backgrounds.  "

Wow, is your aluminum foil hat on too tight?  Take your meds. "

I don't doubt the genetics of the process, but when you ignore history, culture and civilisation to come at me with some haughty sense of egotism you can rightly get stuffed.  you totally teh_pwnzorered me. "

Whatever guys, the thing that bothers me is the fake british accent Jake has.  Why the hell does he have a british accent?  Anytime Hollywood wants to make something somewhat exotic but not alienating, they give the cast a british accent.  Also hate it when movies have people who are supposed to be speaking their native language, speak english with said foreign accent.  Why does it make more sense for a German (who is supposed to be speaking German) speak English with a German accent (or even worse, a British accent) than some dude speaking English with an "american" accent.  One of the reasons why I loved Inglorious Basterds was Tarantino's take on language.