Scarlett Johansson’s casting as the lead role of Major Motoko Kusanagi in the live action movie Ghost in the Shell, based on the comic series, has caused controversy and is being called the “whitewashing” of an “Asian role.”
Derision over Scarlett Johansson’s casting came most notably from Ming-Na Wen, who voiced Fa Mulan in Disney’s Mulan.
Nothing against Scarlett Johansson. In fact, I'm a big fan. But everything against this Whitewashing of Asian role.😒 https://t.co/VS6r6iish9
— Ming-Na Wen (@MingNa) April 14, 2016
@io9 pic.twitter.com/rm56qEGr8O
— Daphne (@Rwenchette) April 14, 2016
https://twitter.com/sarabeaarr/status/720631204555452419
Some employed the vintage Social Justice Warrior hashtag, #StopWhiteWashing.
@io9 @MingNa Love ghost in the shell…. This I love not so much #EndWhiteWashing
— Gregory9 #NeverAgain (@Gregory9) April 14, 2016
@io9 More absurd #whitewashing BS. Pathetic.
— PayYourBlues (@PayYourBlues) April 14, 2016
@io9 #ghostintheshell white washing asian characters = #oscarssowhite. they're cowards for casting ethnically incorrect.
— mia park chicago (@miaparkmiapark) April 15, 2016
Johansson, to be fair, has been cast in the Western adaptation of this iconic anime series.
Scarlett Johansson becomes Major Matoko Kusanagi in #GhostInTheShell first look https://t.co/mslF0Whvhr pic.twitter.com/GiKuZHIkeR
— IndieWire (@IndieWire) April 14, 2016
The Ghost in the Shell franchise has been airing for more than 20 years — and has notably featured characters that resemble white Europeans, as evidenced by the clip below.
Motoko Kusanagi is the head of a counter-terrorist organization, operating in a destopic 21st-century Japan.
In anime, Motoko Kusanagi has been voice-acted through the years by Atsuko Tanaka and Maaya Sakamoto.
Ghost in the Shell is expected to hit theaters worldwide on March 31, 2017.
Follow Jerome Hudson on Twitter @jeromeehudson.
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