Lee Majdoub reprises role as Agent Stone in Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Appearing for the third time as “Agent Stone” in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Lee Majdoub is still learning to take it all in. “I don’t think in my wildest dreams I expected to be part of a video game franchise that I loved as a kid,” said the Lebanese actor.
In this third installment of the Sonic the Hedgehog films, Majdoub is excited to show more dimension to his character.
Agent Stone is the loyal servant to Dr. Robotnik, almost to a fault. Majdoub sees Agent Stone’s loyalty reflected in his own desire to feel needed and seen by others as well. “I’m the ‘Please love me!’ guy”. He also relates to his character’s desire to be a part of something bigger than him.
Representation of Middle Eastern or West-Asian characters and stories in entertainment
Despite recent accolades of projects such as Shogun and Beef, we must also acknowledge that Hollywood continues to pigeonhole West Asian actors and characters into one-dimensional or stereotypical roles of the baddie or terrorist.
“I went through a period of my life when I was deeply ashamed and resented being Middle Eastern,” shares Majdoub. “I hated the reflection I saw in the mirror. I didn’t want anybody knowing I came from a Middle Eastern background, especially post-9-11.”
Majdoub cites Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Will Smith and Denzel Washington as actors who inspired him in his youth. “But nobody really looked like me,” shares Majdoub, who is also an award-winning actor.
A 2024 McKinsey report surveyed 1000 Asian and Pacific Islander consumers and media viewers in the U.S. and found that “less than 30 percent of respondents believe their racial and ethnic identity is authentically represented in film and television,” specific to U.S.-produced media.
During the press tour for the second Sonic film in…
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