Mads Mikkelsen hits back at reporter who confronts 'The Promised Land' star and director Nikolaj Arcel with questions about 'lack of diversity'

Mads Mikkelsen and The Promised Land director Nikolaj Arcel were confronted to a reporter about the "lack of diversity" on screen and how it could affect their chances of being nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.

During a question-and-answer session at the Venice Film Festival, a journalist raised the subject films that must meet certain criteria in order to be considered for the first award of the evening at the Oscars.

« This is an entirely Nordic Danish cast and production and therefore lacking a little diversity. , you would say,” asked the journalist. "There are also new unwritten rules in Hollywood..."

Mikkelsen interjected, asking, "What are you doing? Right off the bat?" /p>

The new inclusion standards are expected to take effect starting with the 96th Academy Awards in 2024. The initiative focuses on on-screen representation as well as creative leadership. Two of the four criteria would have to be met for a film to be considered for the Best Picture category.

“Right from the start. There are diversity rules across the Atlantic for competing in the Best Film category, the equivalent of this competition. As I see it, you are not meeting these standards with this casting,” the journalist continued. “I’m just curious: it’s not for artistic reasons, it’s because of a lack of diversity, that this cannot participate in this competition. Are you worried ? »

Mikkelsen replied to the journalist: “And you? I'm serious and honest, because you're embarrassing us, so you answer the question. »

The director chimed in and noted that the film featured a colorful character, adding, "Well, First of all, the film takes place in Denmark in the 1750s. We have a great plot about a girl of color who is subjected to racism, which was very rare, among all the people of color in Denmark... almost none. She was probably the only one in all of Denmark at the time.”

"I think it would be a little weird," he added. "It's just historical: what it was like in the 1750s."

The Promised Land could still qualify for the best film category at the Oscars by meeting two of the other three standards. If the team behind the film included underrepresented people...