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Why Scarlett Johansson’s new film stirs so much controversy
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The studios, Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures, arguably had predicted such a reaction as they mentioned the main character portrayed by Johansson as only the Major, instead of Major Motoko Kusanagi.
(Paramount Pictures/-)
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he production of Ghost in the Shell starring Scarlett Johansson is underway in Wellington, but fans of the Japanese anime classic are apparently not pleased with what they saw in a first still image of the film released on Thursday.
Specifically, they are taking issue with a western-looking actress in an Asian role.
"The whitewash cycle is complete. First look at Scarlett Johansson in Ghost in the Shell," said @angryasianman on Twitter, Mashable reported.
Even actress Ming-Na Wen, who stars on Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., shared on her social network: "Nothing against Scarlett Johansson. In fact, I'm a big fan. But everything against this Whitewashing of Asian role."
The studios, Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures, arguably had predicted such reaction as they mentioned the main character portrayed by Johansson as only the Major, instead of Major Motoko Kusanagi.
Daily Mail Online pointed out that this is not the first time Hollywood studios have come under fire for casting white actresses in Asian roles, with the most recent cases including Mackenzie Davis as Mindy Park (a Korean-American in the novel) in Ridley Scott’s The Martian and Emma Stone as half Hawaiian/Chinese in Aloha.
Slated to be released on March 31, 2017, with Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman) as director, Ghost in the Shell follows the Major, a special ops, one-of-a-kind human-cyborg hybrid, who leads the elite task force Section 9. Devoted to stopping the most dangerous criminals and extremists, Section 9 is faced with an enemy whose singular goal is to wipe out Hanka Robotic’s advancements in cyber technology.
Among other cast announced are Beat Takeshi Kitano as Daisuke Aramaki, Juliette Binoche as Dr. Ouelet, Michael Pitt as Kuze, Pilou Asbæk as Batou, and Kaori Momoi.
The upcoming film will be the first live action version of the Japanese anime classic.
