Nearly 7,000 people have signed a petition demanding producers cast a Middle Eastern actor to play Persian poet Rumi in a new film about his life.
DiCaprio has not commented on rumours that he will play Rumi and a release date is yet to be announced.
Others voiced their anger at how “easily” Hollywood finds Muslim actors to play terrorists yet wants a white man to play a Sufi scholar.
“Casting Leonardo DiCaprio as Rumi rewrites history, takes possession of Muslim accomplishments and gives the credit to a white man,” reads the petition, set up by Valerie Janovic.