Ridley Scott hits back at criticism of all-white casting in 'Exodus'

Ridley Scott has responded to months of criticism over the lack of ethnic diversity in his latest film, 'Exodus

The 76-year-old director said that he can't mount a film of this budget, where he has to rely on tax rebates in Spain and say that his lead actor is Mohammad so-and-so from such-and-such, Contactmusic reported.

Scott added that the movie, in which Christian Bale plays the Middle Eastern character Moses, would never have got off the ground financially, had white actors not filled the major roles in the biblical epic.