Leonardo DiCaprio as a white Rumi? Twitter isn't having it

A biopic on Sufi mystic Jalaluddin Rumi is in the works, and Hollywood is behind it.

Gladiator writer David Franzoni and producer Stephen Joel Brown (Se7en, The Fujitive, A Perfect Murder) have signed on to the project. Both insist that the film will challenge Muslim stereotypes in western cinema, reports The Guardian.

Not everyone is convinced that the film will live up to its lofty goals. Why?

For starters, Franzoni and producer Stephen Joel Brown have actors like Leonardo Di Caprio and Robert Downing Jr in mind for the roles of Rumi and Shams of Tabriz.

Twitter is having none of this whitewashing.

Some people are just plain outraged:

Others are pointing out the obvious: #RumiWasntWhite:

Some others believe that the biopic will do more damage than good vis-à-vis the goal of 'challenging Muslim stereotypes':

A few just think that that Hollywood is overstepping:

Here's hoping the producer doesn't make it any worse: