Skrein's Hellboy Exit Sends Whitewashing Message

Actor Ed Skrein has rightfully received widespread praise for deciding to leave the Hellboy reboot after learning of the whitewashing of his character Benjamin Daimio, who's depicted in the comic book source material as Japanese-American. It's a bold statement -- one that needs to be taken by more actors -- that should be applauded for what it is: a professional sacrifice that further raises the awareness that persons of color should be represented in Hollywood, particularly when casing roles that are theirs to being with.

Skrein's departure came just a week after he joined Neil Marshall's adaptation of Hellboy, apparently unaware of the character's ethnicity. Upon learning more about Daimio and the ensuing controversy, he walked away from the project because he doesn't believe it's right for him to portray the character. The fact that someone who isn't yet an A-list actor would be so vocal and take action regarding such a critical issue speaks volumes about him. It also shines a bright spotlight on what's transpiring in Hollywood, and what needs to be drastically fixed.

"I accepted the role unaware that the character in the original comics was of mixed Asian heritage," Skrein's statement read, in part. "There has been intense conversation and understandable upset since that announcement, and I must do what I feel is right."

The fact that he was simply willing to not only listen to the conversation but also take the next step and resign from the film deserves to be commended, because it's clear the other stakeholders weren't interested in doing the same. "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," Skrein's statement continued. "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."

Make no mistake, Skrein is making a massive difference.

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The True Value and Importance of Skrein's Decision

The film's producers -- Larry Gordon, Lloyd Levin, Millennium Films and Lionsgate -- came out afterward to support Skrein's decision with a statement of their own: "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." So, could they not have cast someone more "consistent with the character" in the first place? It's understandable if fans take these words with a pinch of salt.

It doesn't seem they remember Ghost in the Shell or Gods of Egypt, two major Hollywood films in which whitewashing concerns ended up overwhelming any positive press. This is a repeating trend in which Hollywood ignores dismal box-office returns that demonstrate audiences simply aren't interested in products where unnecessary whitewashing -- or to put it more sternly, the scrubbing of people of color from key roles -- is prevalent.

Asian culture, in particular, has been on the receiving end of this unsettling tendency, with the Ghost in the Shell debacle being compounded by Tilda Swinton's casting as the Ancient One in Marvel's Doctor Strange. What makes it so disappointing is that often times these minority roles are treated like novelty items. To Hollywood studios, they seem almost like throwaway roles, but to actors, actresses and viewers of color, they mean so much.

No one expected Skrein to make his U-turn. In fact, most fans likely thought this latest case of whitewashing would be brushed aside and then forgotten. Now, more than ever, studio executives and Hollywood stars have to stop making such excuses and begin accepting that whitewashing is a legitimate issue. Ghost in the Shell's original director Mamoru Oshii defending the whitewashing of Johansson as Major Mira Killian didn't help, it simply enabled it. The ending of the 2017 film, in which the character is revealed to actually be Motoko Kusanagi, who's entire existence has been whitewashed by placing her consciousness in a white woman's body, was a slap in the face.

And here's the thing: Scarlett Johansson is a big enough name to have pumped the brakes and walked away from Ghost in the Shell without fear of harming her career. Apart from supporting roles in Deadpool and Game of Thrones, Skrein simply doesn't have the same clout. Studios aren't knocking on his door 24/7, but Skrein made his decision based on principle.

In his statement, he added that he came from a mixed heritage family and wanted to "give a voice to inclusivity." Hopefully, he has inspired some heavy-hitters and A-listers to do the same.

At the end of the day, it's disappointing that it has come down to an actor who's still working to establish himself in Hollywood to make the first move, but it's a move that matters nonetheless. Skrein's brave choice is one small step for Hollywood, but in the grand scheme of things, it's a very large step for the movement. It's an inspiring and bold decision that hopefully will encourage the powers-that-be to start being more proactive, and less reactive.

This is a landmark stance, and one that sadly doesn't happen often enough. Audiences have spoken up in the past, by not rushing to buy tickets for whitewashed films; now, it's time for actors and actresses to follow Skrein and do the same. Only when these major stakeholders in Hollywood listen and decide to be the change they all preach about will any progress be made. Ultimately, actions speak louder than words, and right now, Ed Skrein's voice is the most deafening sound in Hollywood. Let us hope the right ears are listening.