The classic Japanese anime franchise that had inspired The Matrix, Ghost in the Shell, is finally getting a live-action adaption this upcoming March 31st. However, ever since the first trailer releases, there has been a lot of criticism building up towards Scarlett Johansson’s casting in the main role as another case of Hollywood ‘whitewashing’.

There was so much outcry from fans online, that even a petition was generated against the film as far back as January 2015. Especially since this followed similar controversies  of white actors in Asian roles in The Last Airbender, Doctor Strange, and Aloha.  The fury from fans intensified when there was a report that the producers may have tested visual effects to make a few cast members look Asian, but Paramount strongly denied the claim. Still, two top unsatisfied Asian-American actresses raised the issue of the lack of diversity in the industry. “Nothing against Scarlett Johansson. In fact, I’m a big fan. But everything against this Whitewashing of Asian roles,” Agents of S.H.I.E.LD star Ming-Na Wing says. Fresh Off the Boat actress Constance Wu tweeted, “It’s like way to reduce race to mere (physical) appearance as opposed to say culture, social experience, identity, history.”

The Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders defended his actress in response: “To me, you know, I cast very much from the gut and I think I was very lucky to be able to get an amazing international cast of people that I’ve always really wanted to work with…. — she’s got an incredible body of work and the attitude and toughness of her really is to me The Major.”

Sanders explains that Johansson has done a phenomenally good job acting the part as Motoko Kusanagi (aka The Major), an android with a human mind employed in a task force that fights against cyber-terrorists.  “I think whenever you cast someone someone’s going to be critical about it. To me it was, you know, I stand by my decision — she’s the best actress of her generation and I was flattered and honored that she would be in this film. So many people who were around the original anime have been vehemently in support of her because she’s incredible and there are very few like her.”

Ghost in the Shell producer also responded by taking down more of the Japanese elements in the film. “Ghost in the Shell was a very international story, and it wasn’t just focused on Japanese; it was supposed to be an entire world… That’s why I say the international approach is, I think, the right approach to it.”

“We never imagined it would be a Japanese actress in the first place. This is a chance for a Japanese property to be seen around the world,” Kodansha (manga publishing company) director Sam Yoshiba, commented. “Looking at her career so far, I think Scarlett Johansson is well cast. She has the cyberpunk feel.”

After a period of silence about her controversial role, Johansson  spoke about it in a recent Marie Claire interview: “I certainly would never presume to play another race of a person. Diversity is important in Hollywood, and I would never want to feel like I was playing a character that was offensive.” Johansson also remarked that having to play such a strong  female protagonist was a “rare opportunity”, and that she shouldered a great weight of responsibility to take on her character.

It’s too early to judge the film, but the trailer looks fantastic and is garnering a great deal of attention. And though there has been a lot of backlash, there has also been an overwhelmingly positive support from other fans.  See Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEDctELIm3I