The 'Deadpool' actor has backed out of playing an Asian character in Lionsgate and Millennium's reboot of the 2004 sci-fi movie.
- Aug 29, 2017
AceShowbiz - Ed Skrein ditches "Hellboy" remake after whitewashing controversy. The "Game of Thrones" alum is stepping down from the role of Major Ben Daimio in "Hellboy: Rise of the Blood Queen" amid backlash over the casting of a white actor for the character who is portrayed as of Asian heritage in the original comic books.
The Francis Freeman/Ajax depicter in "Deadpool" wrote in a lengthy post on Twitter, "Last week it was announced that I would be playing Major Ben Daimio in the upcoming HELLBOY reboot. I accepted the role unaware that the character in the original comics was of mixed Asian heritage. There has been intense conversation and understandable upset since that announcement, and I must do what I feel is right."
"I feel it is important to honour and respect that," he continued. "Therefore I have decided to step down so the role can be cast appropriately." He added, "Representation of ethnic diversity is important, especially to me as I have a mixed heritage family. It is out responsibility to make moral decisions in difficult times and to give voice to inclusivity."
"It is my hope that one day these discussions will become less necessary and that we can help make equal representation in the Arts a reality." He then concluded the post, "I am sad to leave Hellboy but if this decision brings us closer to that day, it is worth it. I hope it makes a difference."
— Ed Skrein (@edskrein) August 28, 2017
Responding to Skrein's departure, Hellboy producers Larry Gordon and Lloyd Levin, Lionsgate and Millennium said in a statement, "Ed came to us and felt very strongly about this. We fully support his unselfish decision. It was not our intent to be insensitive to issues of authenticity and ethnicity, and we will look to recast the part with an actor more consistent with the character in the source material."
David Harbour, who is set to play the titular hero originated by Ron Perlman in the Guillermo del Toro films, supported Skrein's decision. He tweeted, "Hey internet. Thank you for your voices. An injustice was done and will be corrected. Many thanks to @edskrein for doing what is right."
Hey internet. Thank you for your voices.
An injustice was done and will be corrected.
Many thanks to @edskrein for doing what is right.😈👊🙏 https://t.co/tUvP6YibgG
— David Harbour (@DavidKHarbour) August 28, 2017
"Hellboy" creator Mike Mignola also tweeted, "thank you @edskrein very nicely done..."
thank you @edskrein very nicely done... https://t.co/hwCsaf9iZj
— Mike Mignola (@artofmmignola) August 28, 2017
The "Hellboy" remake has Neil Marshall on board as director and is scheduled to go into production in September. Other stars attached to the project are Sasha Lane as Alice Monaghan (a woman saved by the titular hero from fairies), Ian McShane as the demonic hero's adoptive father Professor Trevor Broom, and Milla Jovovich as the villanious Blood Queen.
No release date is announced for the movie just yet.
