Scarlett
Johansson, who came under fire for Ghost in the Shell, is facing a new backlash
for a new movie with director Rupert Sanders in which she will portray a
transgender man. (Mike Segar/Reuters)
Scarlett Johansson is experiencing backlash and
opposition for her film roles choices once again, but she has defended her
decision to portray a transgender man in her upcoming movie.
According to industry media outlets, the
performer, popular and famous for her role as Black Widow in 'Marvel's Avengers'
movie franchise, is set to star in 'Rub & Tug', a film which is
based on the colorful life of Pittsburgh crime boss Dante Gill in the 1970s and
its climax and thrill.
To the surprise, Johansson will also serve as a
producer on the film.
The casting quickly ignited a wave of disapproval
online and on social media world. Many filmmakers criticized for not hiring a
trans actor to star and decry the project as another instance of Hollywood
sidelining an underrepresented group.
Following are some of the comments and tweets showing up regarding this hot topic
When approached for comment on the backlash, a
Johansson representative told online to the magazine Bustle "Tell them that
they can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto and Felicity Huffman's reps
for comment."
Tambor, Leto and Huffman are cisgender actors who
have earned fame and awards for portraying and representing trans characters
onscreen (in the Amazon series 'Transparent' and the films 'Dallas
Buyers Club' and 'TransAmerica', respectively).
Canadian director Jean-Marc Vallée, who directed
and guided Leto in his Oscar-winning role in Dallas Buyers Club, said he
is not in favor with the opposition.
He said from Montreal on Wednesday,"[It]
doesn't mean that because I am casting this type of role that I need to go to
this type of person. This is the nature of acting.'
Moreover, Vallée said he's open to seeing
transgender actors at auditions, but "it's not about aiming for ... an
astronaut because your character is an astronaut."
However, Rub & Tug will reunite
Johansson with Rupert Sanders, who directed her in the controversial and
conflicting live-action variation and adaptation of Ghost in the Shell.
That project came under fire because Johansson
played a character that — in the famed original manga series — was a Japanese
woman.
Thus, it really portrays the idea that she always
opted for the controversial and not-so-easy characters for films and movies and
always defended herself!
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