Danny Boyle admitted to The Guardian on his press tour for “28 Years Later” that he would not even think about making his Oscar-winning “Slumdog Millionaire” today. Citing “cultural appropriation” concerns, Boyle noted that he’d be “looking for a young Indian filmmaker” to direct “Slumdog Millionaire” if he was developing the project in 2025.
“We wouldn’t be able to make that now,” Boyle said. “And that’s how it should be. It’s time to reflect on all that. We have to look at the cultural baggage we carry and the mark that we’ve left on the world.”
When asked if “Slumdog Millionaire” was a form of colonialism, Boyle responded: “No, no… Well, only in the sense that everything is. At the time it felt radical. We made the decision that only a handful of us would go to Mumbai. We’d work with a big Indian crew and try to make a film within the culture. But you’re still an outsider. It’s still a flawed method.”
“That kind of cultural appropriation might be sanctioned at certain times. But at other times it cannot be,” he concluded. “I mean, I’m proud of the film, but you wouldn’t even contemplate doing something like that today. It wouldn’t even get financed. Even if I was involved, I’d be looking for a young Indian filmmaker to shoot it.”
“Slumdog Millionaire” world premiered to raves at the 2008 Telluride Film Festival before cementing itself as an Oscar season contender by winning the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival. The movie because a box office sensation with $378 million worldwide on a reported $15 million budget. “Slumdog” went on to earn 10 Oscar nominations and won eight prizes, more than any other film at the 2009 Academy Awards. Boyle picked up the best director prize, while the movie was also named best picture.
