‘Grendel’ Star Abubakr Ali Responds To Netflix Series Cancellation & What It Means For Muslim Representation: “There Is A Space & Need For Stories Like This”

deadline.com:

Abubakr Ali, the titular star of the recently canceled Netflix series Grendel, is speaking out about the show’s cancellation and what it means for Muslim representation on the screen.

In Grendel, Ali became the first Arab Muslim male actor to portray a series lead in a comic book adaptation. Earlier this week, Netflix revealed it would not be moving forward with the series.

The decision was made after Grendel had done the bulk of its filming but the series was not finished, so there is currently a partial eight-episode season in the can.

Producers have the option to shop the series. In a post on Instagram, Ali noted that “Despite making up 24 percent of the world’s population, Muslim actors only make up 1% of speaking characters on TV.” “I was really excited for what this role meant to my community,” he continued. “I never thought this business would allow someone like me to play a role like this, where an Arab person could exist in the grey area between good and evil.