I just thought it'd be interesting to note that the reason why ScarJo was hired in Ghost in the Shell was because of her box office draw. I know a lot of people have tried to rationalize her casting but it did hit a nerve with those who are more cognizant about the history of whitewashing Asian characters. Plus, on the business side, people rationalized it by saying there were no Asian actors who would be big draws for this film and it would be a BO failure without someone of her stature. It was still a Box Office bomb but nobody blames her for it or at least not to the point where it hindered her career. However, had they actually cast an Asian person for it and it was a a BO failure, then the lesson many studios and would-be experts online would have learned was to not cast any more Asian people.
The reason why I bring this up is because Crazy Rich Asians has now made more money than any non-Marvel or animated (where we don't see her face at all) ScarJo film. I think some times people make too big of an ado about an actor's drawing power in of itself when it's really the material that attracts people and ensuring its marketed in a way to inspire people to go and simply timing and being put out at a time where the subject matter of the film would interest people (something that is very difficult to guess). Then the movie has to be good enough to garner great word-of-mouth. The movie that is the subject of this thread would most likely not be a big box office draw with or without ScarJo, so why not try to find someone a little more authentic to the role. This is more of a prestige picture anyway that is made to garner critic's attention and possibly awards. Some times those movies do become hits, but it takes a special recipe and great timing and interest in the subject matter for that to happen.
In the end of the day, I think it's the rationalization as to why we hire someone like ScarJo and not acknowledging it's a cycle Hollywood has created and keeps perpetuating, the very little opportunities many actors of different gender identities, ethnicity, race, color, etc. receive and the long history of accepted discrimination in casting and all the sub-issues that all of that entails that explains why there's an uproar now. I think if there was simply many more opportunities and trans actors start getting cast in non-trans roles then people in the community would better accept ScarJo playing a pre-transitioning trans character because she's not taking the ONE role that could have gone to a trans actor.
Updated On: 9/6/18 at 10:10 AM
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