The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.
© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Ed Skrein pulls out of 'Hellboy' film after casting backlash
By JAKE COYLE NEW YORK©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
30 Comments
Login to comment
CyburneticTiger
Jeez people, it's entertainment! If you want accuracy go watch documentaries.
For Hollywood this is business and they should be able to put in well known stars that bring fans to the theaters vice a no-name actor in order to appease the diversity crowd.
Maybe it's just me but I don't mind if people like Emma Stone or Matt Damon are given a role that doesn't match their race. In fact, an actor's race never even comes to my mind at all but their talent sure does. They are proven talented actors and actresses that I'd prefer to watch regardless of what race a role is supposed to be.
yildiray
Most of the people making noise probably had no idea who the character even was before this began but just wanted to voice an angry opinion.
The internet is sometimes like when a dog barks, and all the other dogs in the neighborhood bark without really knowing why.
katsu78
A private company made a decision based on what is in the best interest for their business of pleasing their fans, and all the JT commentators seem to be able to do is grouse about it. And for the cherry on top:
In a thread where to that point the only voices were people getting steamed about said private company reacting to their fans' opinions, Bungle fails to see the irony.
Way to give away the game, guys.
MrBum
How are minority actors supposed to become well-known when they keep getting passed up for roles?
Why would people with potential for talent pursue a career in an industry that doesn't give them a chance? It's a catch 22 situation, but it wouldn't kill Hollywood to take more chances, especially with a side-character role like this one.
Probably not. But it's not really about the character, it's about minority actors who already have few opportunities as it is getting passed up for roles that are tailor-made for them.
englisc aspyrgend
No different than any young aspiring actor.
Toasted Heretic
If you're male and caucasian; the odds are stacked in your favour.
Illyas
Aw, those poor Asian-Americans. It's not like they have the highest standard of living or average household income in the United States or anything.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_groups_in_the_United_States_by_household_income
Clearly not appearing in a garbage pop culture movie aimed at children and adults who behave like children is the worst thing that could ever happen to them.
Toasted Heretic
And what films would you have them appear in? Just so they know their place in the grand scheme of things...
Myhumbletake
Rob Peter to pay Paul. I bet many wouldn't appreciate seeing the Christ portrayed in cinema other than "white". Even though mind cautious individuals know that he is middle eastern.
lostrune2
How many people even know anything about the Ben Daimio character to say one way or another?
If one doesn't know anything about the character, then how can one say whether it works with whatever race or not?
Andy
Didn't know a film has any moral/ethical reasons to follow what was done in the book/comic book version. If that's the case, almost all films based on another format of the story got it wrong in either characters, storyline, dialogue, and on and on. Boo hoo to the entertainment police.
Kestrel
by this absurd logic a gay actor being given the part of a straight charracter will have to turn it down on pc moral grounds. and thats just one example.
pacint
This is not about gender or sexual orientation. Female Starbuck worked in Battleship Galactica.
But changing the look of a chara anycter and the location of a Story.
Chinese Batman operating from Beijing or Singapore of course won't have any probs with the Fans. ;)
pacint
Bigger question, would a Hollywood Studio consider him for the Role.
Recent big storm about the Salaries of Chinese Actors in Hawaii 5-O.
Lucy Liu worked in Charlie's Angels as they were a new team.
Doctor Who is changing into a woman, yeah timelords can reincarnate into anyone.
And that is one of the problems, what rationale in the movie is given for the race and/or location change.
These days there are plenty of Asian actors to choose from for an Asian role.
maglev101
If Asian/Asian-Americans actors/actresses are not given opportunities to even play Asian/Asian-American characters, then how would they ever develop into "proven talented actors and actresses"?
ThePBot
I agree. The "I just want good actors or actresses to play regardless of what race the role is supposed to be" is a stupid argument in itself, and I really think it's just another way of justifying whitewashing. If a character's story line is tied with the ethnicity, then it matters a lot.
CyburneticTiger
I don't think anything should be tied in with ethnicity. That's the root of the problem imho. Let's start looking at people as humans vice an ethnicity or race. If someone is a good actor and can play the role they should play the role regardless if said fictional character is of the same race. It's ridiculous that being white disqualifies him and there are just as many white roles that have been given to non-white actors and actresses, which is a great thing.
As for developing lesser known actors and actresses; a major motion picture is not where they develop. They usually do smaller roles and projects to build a portfolio and use those to help when they audition for a role. They're given a fair shot but casting makes the best choice for how they want to see the movie turn out. nothing is wrong with that.
ThePBot
So you're okay with a film about American slavery of blacks that are being portrayed by white actors (possible with black faces on)?
LOL nope, especially historically in Hollywood. Otherwise this wouldn't even be much of an issue.
Yubaru
Look, this argument is getting out of hand, public pressure dictates to a private entity who they should hire, based upon their skin color, and possible talent.
If the public cared about it they would refuse to pay their money to go and watch.
What you are suggesting here is that YOU and others who have this opinion, are arrogant enough to dictate to others what they should or should not think and do.
Consider that...
Kestrel
Zang Zhiyi was given the starring role in Memoirs of a Geisha, remember? The charracter was japanese but the director chose a chinese actress for the part. Because she was the best choice. Yes folks, its called ACTING. ANd SHOWBIZ. Brits can play americans, americans can play Greeks, and screenwriters and directors can choose to write it and film it any way they want.
Toasted Heretic
Ben Daimo is a comic book character.
Slavery actually happened.
metaterapin
I wonder if the same backlash would happen if the next Bond we're cast as a black or Asian? I think we know the answer to that.
Kestrel
metaterapin, EXACTLY.
MrBum
@Yubaru
I'm a little late in responding, but what exactly am I dictating? That Asian-American actors should be given chances to prove themselves? I admit that's my opinion, but I don't think it's a opinion that's way out of line.
That would be too late, don't you think? This "backlash" was simply a bunch of people expressing their disappointment via social media, because again, Asian-American actors have very few opportunities as it is. The actor and producers actually listened and acknowledged their being unaware of the issue. What's wrong with that? Do you have a problem with the cause or the method?
What does that have to do with anything? Are you saying that Asian-Americans should just stick to careers business or medicine and be content with a lack of representation in the media of their own country?
Toasted Heretic
Bond is British. So unless you're saying British equals whiteness; there's no problem with a black, Asian or mixed race Bond.
The Bond thing has been done to death on other threads, of course. So you can review them if you really want to re-hash that particular discussion.
Illyas
This is your brain on liberalism. Apparently even meritocracy is now racist and evil.
Kestrel
Toasted Heretic, Bond was written as white, just as Shaft was written as black.
Kestrel
Toasted Heretic, Im sure you and all the other 'liberals' on this site would go ape**** if Shaft was recast as a white man.