Rooney Mara's Tiger Lily Casting Rumor Causes Backlash Over Native American Role In 'Pan'

Rooney Mara is set to enter the magical world of Peter Pan after she was confirmed, according to Entertainment Weekly sources, to play Native American Tiger Lily in Joe Wright’s live-action adaptation “Pan.” But not everyone thinks the “Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” is right for the role.

Some people believe Mara doesn’t have the right skin pigment to play the tribal princess, that Hollywood should have cast a true Native American to play the role. Many made jokes about the decision, some were horrified and others just said they would even pray for her soul.

Joe Wright is considering Rooney Mara for the role of Tiger Lily in his Peter Pan movie. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! STOP DOING THIS! IT IS INSANE!
— Andrew Wheeler (@Wheeler) March 13, 2014

lmao i'm just waiting for people to claim rooney mara is 1% native american so she's allowed to play one like johnny depp
— laura (@strokefest) March 13, 2014

Rooney Mara is an incredibly gifted, insightful artist. But come on. You couldn't find a Native American actress to play Tiger Lily!?!?
— Jessica Jade Andres (@JessicaJAndres) March 12, 2014

Rooney Mara gets cast as the Native American Tiger Lily in a Peter Pan remake. Same old, Hollywood. Same old.
— Andrea Garcia-Vargas (@AndreaGarVar) March 12, 2014

I hope casting Rooney Mara in Tiger Lily in this new Peter Pan flick means they're making Tiger Lily a weirdo euro stereotype instead
— david brothers (@hermanos) Ma rch 12, 2014

Exclusive first look at Rooney Mara as Tiger Lily pic.twitter.com/r4scgMDMEa

— Kendra Lamar (@kendrawcandraw) March 12, 2014

Rooney Mara as Tiger Lily lmao they're sticking so close to book canon that they're also using media representations of the early 1900s
— stannis lestrange (@staennis) March 12, 2014

I'm literally going to light prayer candles for Rooney Mara's soul. @_KateMara please talk to your sister...
— Amelia (@satisfythecrave) March 12, 2014

But people who are upset should keep in mind that the casting hasn’t been confirmed just yet. Various news agencies are citing “sources” for the casting of Mara as Tiger Lily.

According to Entertainment Weekly, “Pan” will be set in World War II and is a new take on the classic tale by J.M. Barrie. The movie will be about a young orphan, Peter, who is kidnapped by pirates and taken to Neverland. There, he is destined to save the land from Blackbeard, who will reportedly be played by Hugh Jackman. Garrett Hedlund will also apparently be in the film as he takes on the role of Hook. The part of Peter Pan reportedly hasn’t been cast yet, but the studio is supposedly looking for an actor who is 10 to 12 years old.

The Internet Movie Database simply describes the live-action epic as “the origin story of the classic character Peter Pan, the boy who could fly and never grew up.” The Warner Bros. movie is slated to hit theaters July 17, 2015.

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