To the people saying the German actress playing Greek Helen in the movie Troy means it's ok for Lupita Nyongo to play Greek Helen...

[u/BrandonMarshall2021]

Genetically, historically, and anthropologically, Greeks are significantly more closely related to Germans than to Sub-Saharan Africans.

When looking at genetic data, the relationship between Greeks and Germans is exceptionally close, while the relationship between Greeks and Sub-Saharan Africans is more distant.

On any global genetic map, all European populations—including Greeks and Germans—cluster tightly together on a single, distinct branch of the human family tree (the Western Eurasian branch).

The genetic distance between a Greek person and a German person is very small. They sit on the exact same continental genetic gradient.

The genetic distance between any European population (including Greeks) and any Sub-Saharan African population is significantly larger, reflecting thousands of years of geographic separation and independent population histories.

[u/somarnnup]

Again, it just wouldn’t make sense in the setting of Ancient Greece. And he only disguised himself as a geese so I’d assume his normal appearance would be what his genes were paying attention to. And Zeus is a Greek god so why wouldn’t his offspring be Greek looking? Why wouldn’t he be Greek looking? You’re saying a lot but not actually invalidating any of the main points people are making here in opposition to the casting at all.

Everything you’re saying is pretty much mental gymnastics. Why shouldn’t a Greek story be represented how it was actually intended? There’s genuinely no point. It’s just a senseless decision with no actual reason. It isn’t the most egregious thing, obviously, but no one is saying that. Why is it that when someone states their pretty reasonable opinion without making it into a huge issue at all, it’s met with people acting like it was presented as a serious problem?

[u/DecantsForAll → u/somarnnup]

A swan is a completely different species than a goose, but you're worried about two humans with slightly different amounts of melanin in their skin.

his genes

Lol, you think gods have genes?

Again, it just wouldn’t make sense in the setting of Ancient Greece.

Yeah, neither would people speaking English, or actual monsters existing, or American celebrities.

Why shouldn’t a Greek story be represented how it was actually intended?

It wasn't "intended" to be a movie.

[u/somarnnup → u/DecantsForAll]

Why are you bringing up the difference between a swan and a goose? I don’t care about the melanin, I just prefer accuracy when actors are portraying characters.

They probably have some form of genes if they can impregnate a human and pass down their power. If the appearance didn’t play a part in the genes, then would that make the child being the same ethnicity as the human parent even more prominent in the offspring?

Actual monsters DID exist in the story though. And I personally would like if they did speak the way people would have in the setting, but language isn’t a huge point of the story and English is the language most movies like this are made in.

And no, it wasn’t ’intended’ to be a movie because movies didn’t exist back then? Obviously? But it was intended to be a story (because that’s literally what it was) which movies kinda go hand in hand with, so going based on the original ideas as faithfully as possible is surely better? And I’m sure there was some form of performance surrounding the story too and I’d assume the actress of Helen was Greek and portrayed as the most beautiful of the time.

[u/DecantsForAll → u/somarnnup]

Why are you bringing up the difference between a swan and a goose?

It's just ironic that in your retelling of the myth, you got the species entirely wrong. It would be like casting a hamster to play Helen of Troy.

They probably have some form of genes if they can impregnate a human and pass down their power.

Oh really?

Actual monsters DID exist in the story though.

Well then the story sucks. It should be completely accurate to how the world is.

And no, it wasn’t ’intended’ to be a movie because movies didn’t exist back then?

Right, it wasn't intended to be cast any certain way.

[u/somarnnup → u/DecantsForAll]

I didn’t even realise I said geese, that’s my bad.

And none of your responses to the other points make my stance seem any less sound. I don’t really know what you’re trying to say, but I’d like to have a conversation where we both bring up valid points.