Director Ridley Scott has responded to criticism that his latest film Exodus: Gods and Kings cast too many white actors.

The criticism started after casting was first announced, but before Scott even started shooting. The backlash is gaining momentum as a social media campaign, #BoycottExodusMovie, with a petition that has 25,000 signatures so far.

AUDIO | Exodus whitewashing is bad for Christianity

In an interview with Variety, Scott said casting his film with white actors in the lead roles was the only way he could get enough financing.

"I can’t mount a film of this budget, where I have to rely on tax rebates in Spain, and say that my lead actor is Mohammad so-and-so from such-and-such," Scott said. "I’m just not going to get it financed. So the question doesn’t even come up."

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The film takes place in ancient Egypt, although it stars an all-white cast, including Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, Signourney Weaver and Aaron Paul.

While blogger David Dennis calls the film "cinematic colonialism," other critics of the casting say that spray-on tans and eye liner on white actors only add insult to injury.

The $140 million Biblical blockbuster is due out Dec. 12.