Disney Pixar's new movie Soul has come under fire as some viewers believed that Tina Fey's role should have been given to a Black actress. The new film, that features the studio's first African American lead, centres on the story of a music teacher called Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) who loses his life but manages to find his soul in the process.
Directed by Pete Docter, the groundbreaking film is infused with depictions of Black culture but also touches on the big questions like the afterlife, and features references to meditation, chakras and even shamans. While the film has received largely glowing reviews for its music and animation, the film hasn't come without criticism.
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Since the movie's release on Disney+, some viewers have noticed some questionable creative decisions that they argue fall short of hitting the mark. Alongside the character of Joe Gardner, the other main figure in the story is a lost soul called 22, who is played by Tina Fey.
Together, Joe and 22 embark on a soul-affirming mission in order to try and uncover 22's spark - and as a result, Joe begins to understand a deeper meaning to be alive. Some fans were left baffled as to why Tine Fey was cast alongside Jamie in the central role. One viewer wrote: "The Tina f*y role should have gone to a black woman or a black girl.. didn't feel right."
In particular, Soul viewers were also torn over Fey's role when her voice is transferred to the body of Joe Gardener. "The studio’s first Black Protagonist needed the soul of a middle-aged white woman to get his life on track- Thank you for being mindful of 'racist imagery.' Wheww..." wrote another Twitter user.
Another wrote: "Yea casting Tina Fey as 22 in Soul did not do it for me, 22 should've been voiced by a black boy instead, and the weight of a soul avoiding life itself because of how awful life can be would've carried a lot more girth given the unspoken context of how black people can be treated."
The film has certainly conjured a mixed response as viewers shared their thoughts on the latest Pixar creation. Speaking ahead of the movie's release, the film's creator Pete Docter also said the team tried to be as 'correct' as they could.
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"We wanted it to be as correct as we could, to be as authentic as we could,” Docter told Variety. “Because I think when you are in the audience, and you can tell something’s not quite right, it has an effect on the potency of the film. What we’re always trying to do is just move people, make them care, make them feel something."
