Members of Christchurch’s Muslim community have expressed dismay over plans to make a movie on “Jacinda Ardern’s story” following the March 15th terror attacks.

They Are Us will focus on the week following the deadly terrorist attacks on two mosques in Christchurch by a white supremacist and one of the most challenging periods in Ardern’s political career the Hollywood Reporter announced.

“Billed as an “inspirational story about the young leader’s response to the tragic events,” the story will follow Ardern as she helped rally the government and citizens behind her message of compassion and unity and ban assault rifles in New Zealand. The title itself comes from Ardern’s powerful speech describing victims of the attack.”

Rose Byrne (Bridesmaids, Mrs. America) will play Jacinda Ardern in They Are Us, and the movie will be written and to be directed by Kiwi Andrew Niccol.

Muslim Association of Canterbury spokesman Abdigani Ali said “there are still many sensitivities around the tragic events of March 15th and although recognition of our Prime Minister for her response to attacks is well deserved, we question the timing and whether a movie is appropriate right now.”

“The terrorist attack is still raw for our community and if we are talking about the response to the attacks then I want to ask if Andrew Niccol and Rose Byrne have read the response of the Royal Commission Inquiry into the attacks? Do they know resources of our intelligence agencies had an exclusive focus on a terrorist threat from the Muslim Community?”

Abdigani Ali said “we do recognise that the March 15th story will need to be told, but we would want to ensure that it’s done in appropriate, authentic, and sensitive matter.”

“There needs to be a lot of work done in New Zealand in terms of hate speech laws, recognising islamophobia does exist in our society and the institutional prejudice within our government apparatus before a blockbuster film comes out stating that we’ve done a great job here in New Zealand.”

The Prime Minister’s office said Jacinda Ardern and the Government had no involvement in the film.