Once in a while, actors are given a chance to do something right in the midst of a controversy. That's exactly what Ed Skrein did after he was cast in the upcoming "Hellboy" reboot in the role of Major Ben Daimio, a character who in the comics was of American and Japanese ancestry. The actor, who announced his casting just last week, took to Twitter to share that he is leaving the role because of the importance of "representation of ethnic diversity." The "Game of Thrones" and "Deadpool" actor published a note on Twitter, in which he expressed his feelings about the entire situation.
— Ed Skrein (@edskrein) August 28, 2017
Skrein was 'unaware' of Ben Daimio's roots
In the comic books, Ben Daimio is a special agent of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense or BPRD. He is a Japanese-American soldier who led a group of U.S. Marines through a mission in Bolivia. It was with shock that Ed Skrein, who is English, was cast in the role of a character who was of American and Japanese ancestry. The actor, who recently appeared in the hit "Deadpool" as Ajax, admitted in his Twitter note that he was "unaware that the character in the original comics was of mixed Asian heritage." He acknowledged that there has been "intense conversation and understandable upset" since he announced that he was joining the "Hellboy" reboot as Ben Daimio.
Ben Daimio must be represented in a 'culturally accurate way'
Ed Skrein further wrote on his Twitter note that as actors and filmmakers, they were responsible for making sure that the "Hellboy" reboot character was represented in a "culturally accurate way." He said that "to neglect this responsibility would continue a worrying tendency to obscure ethnic minority stories and voices in the Arts." He then wrote that he was leaving the role so it "can be cast appropriately." Meanwhile, the "Hellboy" reboot production members have kept mum on the issue, which continues to permeate through Hollywood.
Most recently, issues of whitewashing surrounded Marvel's "Doctor Strange," as well as "Ghost in the Shell," with Scarlett Johansson being cast in a Japanese character role.
'Deadpool' actor is of mixed heritage
Ed Skrein, who is English and Austrian Jewish, wrote in his note that he is of a mixed heritage as well, which is why for him, it was important to make a stand on the issue.
He wrote, "It is our responsibility to make moral decisions in difficult times and to give voice to inclusivity." He hopes that in the near future, such debates and controversies would become "less necessary." There's no release date set for the "Hellboy" reboot yet, but filming is set to begin this fall.
