Nearly two decades after the triumph of Slumdog Millionaire, Danny Boyle reflects on how the film was conceived and what it would represent today. In a context where debates over cultural appropriation have become central to the film industry, the British director admits that such a project would probably not see the light of day again under the same conditions.
A film applauded upon its release but now controversial
Winner of eight Oscars in 2009, including Best Picture and Best Director, Slumdog Millionaire chronicled the rise of a young orphan from the slums of Mumbai, poised to win the TV show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in India. At the time, the film was praised for its energy, inventive storytelling, and message of hope. But it also drew criticism, particularly in India, where some observers denounced a miserabilist view of the slums and a reappropriation of local narratives through a Western lens.
Interviewed by The Guardian in June 2025 on the occasion of the release of his new feature film 28 Years Later, Danny Boyle reflects on this iconic film. He admits to still being proud of it, but acknowledges that the current context would have made its production much more difficult: "We wouldn't make a film like this today. And that's normal," he says. He explains that he tried, at the time, to integrate into the local culture by working with a majority of Indian technicians and actors, and by shooting on location, but concedes: "You remain an outsider. It's always an imperfect method."
A change of era assumed by the filmmaker
For Boyle, times have changed, and that's a good thing. He believes that if Slumdog Millionaire were to be made today, it should be directed by a local filmmaker. "Even if I were involved in such a project today, I would look for a young Indian director to shoot it," he told The Guardian. According to him, a film like Slumdog Millionaire would be seen today as cultural appropriation, even if the notion wasn't as hotly debated at the time of its release.
Without denying his work, Danny Boyle seems to want to learn from what it means to film in a culture other than his own. He points out that "in certain eras, this type of approach may be acceptable, but in others, it is no longer." He adds: "I'm proud of the film, but today, it wouldn't even be financed."
This reassessment comes at a time when the film industry is in the midst of a profound introspection about representations, cultural domination, and the place given to local voices in the production of narratives. For Danny Boyle, lucidity should not erase the story of Slumdog Millionaire, but it does require us to confront the conditions in which certain works take shape—and to reexamine the balances of power they reflect.
