Scarlett Johansson Ghost In The Shell Controversy

Now I am thinking of Elba playing Bond.

They do it for the same reason Bollywood makes Hitler an Indian, this film is generally being made to appeal to the western audience who just happen to be predominantly white, they could casted an Asian actor to play the role, I myself am not a fan of anime but looking at Scarlett Johansson and the character she is to play side by side, they look  quite similar to me.



     

wouldnt 'who cares?' be the least racist response? I agree there needs to be more diversity in Hollywood, but that doesnt demand that actors must be the same ethnicity as the character they play...

Hollywood is doing this because they think it will make them more money. They think money paying audiences want to see white actors.

The only way they will change is if they lose money on films that white wash away ethnicity and if they see ethnic centric movies make money.

I'd choose Scarlett as she looks similar.

As long as she'll have to strip naked to become invisible like in the cartoon, I'll be happy! :P

Holy shit I was thinking the same thing during Exodus Gods and Kings (that shit movie _) 

To be honest though, the anime character doesn't look Asian.

Despite my profile pic, I'm actually Chinese and I'm OK with this. I think, based on Scarlett Johanssons previous work, esp for Avengers, she displays a lot of the same traits as Motoko well. She even looks like the character, more so than say Zhang ziyi. So long as we don't get another Avatar: The Last Airbender, I'm fine.

Kusanagi does not look asian. Any white actress would have sufficed for her role.

Anime characters in general RARELY look Asian. The primary way of distinguishing westerners from easterners in Anime is by giving Westerners blonde hair and/or blue eyes, or by giving them something that directly links them to being American like having a USA bandana or wearing a cowboy hat.

This is as ridiculous as people complaining that the new Star Wars lead is a black man.

What I find hilarious is that ScarJo actually looks more like Kusanagi than ANY Japanese girl suggested for the role. Just look at the photos at the 29-20 second mark of this very video.

Do you know many non whites have taken the roles of white characters in movies? DO YOU?! NO! BECAUSE YOU ONLY CRY WHEN IT IS A WHITE PERSON. You are all being bigots while claiming to be against bigotry.

For example Lucy Liu. An Asian girl who is playing the role of a WHITE BRITISH CHARACTER. DOES ANYONE GET ALL UPSET AND CRY RACIST OVER THAT?!?! NOPE!!!!

When I first heard about Scarlett Johansson playing the role of Major I was overjoyed to say the least. She a great action actor and is more than qualified for the role but I didn't take into account the many talented Asian actors who are also qualified. I think they are choosing Johansson to open up the audience more since many don't even know about G.I.T.S. Still sucks though.

scratch that one off my list then

sorry - been a GITS fan since the beginning (that really ages me)   I have liked everything from the franchise but if this hollywood version comes out with vestiges of "40's Asians played by the White Man" comes back into vogue- well it will be the first Ghost in the Shell I will pass by

Movie should have been done in Japan anyway......

This movie is gonna probably suck so bad. Hollywood always fucks things up

Sorry but Lucy Liu or Zang Ziyi(which i love as an actor) aren't more fit for the role anymore than Johansson is. They lok even less like Motoko actually. Besides it's an American film where they will speak English. Isn't that fact they won't even be speaking Japanese whitewashing in itself? So why is now that you are worried about whitewashing?

Look i think there could be some better lady for the role out there still, personally i would prefer some non so known actress with good acting skills, powerful presence and simple facial features BUT that is not what is really gonna ruin this film if it ends up not being decent.

The problem isn't whitewashing, is Hollywood-washing. What do i mean? I mean lets throw few smug Hollywood style one-liners, lets make it a little Hollywood style action etc. Generally the way of directing Hollywood does has a style and i hope they don't fill the film with it.

Woa..wait what? I never knew she was bisexual? I'm referring to the MAJOR.

As long as she goes nude who gives a fuck.

Scarlett J as Motoko Kusanagi?
I could make a long evil rant or just say:
I will not watch the movie.
i expect a flopp. 

Don't Asians want to be white? They pander to them all the time.

I was kinda pissed at the casting choice at first, but I think Scarlett can pull it off. What I'm more worried about is the director of the film. Dude's only got one film on his resume, Snow White & the huntsman.@_@. This film deserves a top notch director and cinematographer. Especially ones that are already experienced with the futuristic sci fi genre. I think Neil Blompkamp would be an ideal director for it. District 9 and Elysium are both great sci fi, acton, films that are also heavy on sociopolitical, moral and philosophical issues. I think it's gonna suck more because of the choice for director and writer. The guy doing the screenplay has never done sci fi only a straight to dvd movie about telemarketers lol!, a movie about an autobiographical book in which the author who was a technical adviser decided to leave the project and asked his name be removed from the credits after reading the final script. (wikipedia). Yup, this shit's gonna suck balls.

Beyond that, you have an actress who is not a fan, doesn't look right for the role and was fairly 'blah' in Lucy, a writer who has only written trash, and a fairly green director whose only work of note is Snow White and the Huntsman. My guess is this will do about as well as The last Airbender or Dragonball: Evolution.

There are a lot of problems for black people in Hollywood, but at least they can be the main characters. I would argue that Hollywood is more racist toward South Asians and East Asians, because they are never the protagonist in films.

Finally, I don't understand who this movie is for? Non-fans will have no idea what this is and won't want to see it, and fans of the series will view all the attempts at "updating", and "Americanizing" the story as steps in the wrong direction. The people who would normally be the most excited about this are the ones crying foul the loudest.

This video is nonsensical. Doona Bae is South Korean, Mina-Na Wen is Macau & both Lucy Liu and Zhang Ziyi are Chinese, neither of this actresses are Japanese. To use non Japanese actors as examples to play a Japanese Character just because they look similar to Japanese people to prove a point about a non Japanese person like Johansson being cast is pretty freaking ridiculous, outrages & ignorant.

ummm most anime characters dont even look asian to begin with

ironically you are the racist for not giving her a fair chance, you are judging her for her race. we don't necessarily need Asian actress, she doesn't look very asian to be honest

I'm okay with them casting a black actor for Johnny Storm. Why should this be considered any different?

Actually most of the actresses which you mentioned were not Japanese women. in the fare East the ethnic groups distinguish themselves from each other. So a Chinese actress would make a poor choice as a Japanese character.

Besides the movie was made for an American audience therefore race shouldn't be an issue.

Wow a movie made in america starring an american actress, wow we must rage

It’s interesting that they’re suggesting Chinese characters to play a Japanese one. Woke people are racists that think all Asians are the same. Lucy Liu is actually American!!!

The people that accuse this of "White Washing" have not seen nor experienced the GINTS universe.

Nobody will probably read this but did anyone actually watch the movie. The white washing is part of the plot to keep her from knowing who she is. If she saw her own face or asian face she might remember who she was. Plus in the anime she doesn't look asian at all while asian humans look like they should.

This message is to all those who think the Majors character should be japanase, The major is a cyborg and her physical form is an entirely assumed one get it its not her original body so why the hell does an asian woman need to play this role even if her original (not cyborg) body was a Japanese one that would still apply because she is reborn with a whole new body i think this movie is legit for doing this actually the film is called GHOST IN THE SHEEL meaning you are your ghost not your body this is just another accuse to promote hatred who ever agrees with this crap