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Ghost In The Shell director Rupert Sanders says Scarlett Johansson casting isn’t whitewashing

Anime-ted debate: Scarlett Johansson as the Major in Ghost In The Shell, based on a Japanese story: Paramount Pictures
Anime-ted debate: Scarlett Johansson as the Major in Ghost In The Shell, based on a Japanese story: Paramount Pictures

Movie director Rupert Sanders has defended his decision to cast Scarlett Johansson in his adaptation of Japanese anime masterpiece Ghost In The Shell amid allegations of “whitewashing”.

The Briton said audiences would “un-derstand” his choice to cast the American A-lister over a Japanese actress in the sci-fi tale, and insisted a “figurehead movie star” was needed.

“People always find controversy in a vacuum of information,” Sanders told the Standard. “I think when people see the film they’ll understand the casting choices.

“We’re not making a small Japanese version of the film. We’re making a global version of the film, you need a figurehead movie star. The world basically cast Scarlett Johansson, she’s the person people want to see in this role.”

Controversial: Scarlett Johansson as the Major (Paramount Pictures)
Controversial: Scarlett Johansson as the Major (Paramount Pictures)

It is the latest in a series of Hollywood films and TV shows to be criticised over casting. Doctor Strange faced a backlash after Tilda Swinton was chosen as Tibetan character the Ancient One. Netflix’s Iron Fist features a white Caucasian lead despite calls for an Asian-American star to take on the role.

In Ghost In The Shell Johansson plays the Major, who after being saved from a horrific crash is cyber-enhanced to be a “perfect soldier” tasked with stopping the world’s most dangerous criminals. It is based on a hugely popular manga series by Masamune Shirow. A Japanese anime movie version was made in 1995. Sanders said Mamoru Oshii, who directed the original film, supported his casting decision.

“Oshii said it the best when he said there’s no better person in the world to play the Major than Scarlett and, as the creator, I defer to him,” said the Briton, who also directed Snow White And The Huntsman.

“She’s amazing in the film, at the top of her game. She delivers an incredibly powerful performance.”

US actor Michael Pitt, who plays villain Kuze, told the Standard: “I don’t know why there’s controversy over the casting because I’m not aware of there being controversy of the anime.

“The anime is drawn a certain way and Scarlett, as far as how she looks, she looks exactly like her [the Major], so I don’t really understand what they’re talking about.”

He cited Johansson’s performance in Jonathan Glazer’s 2013 movie Under The Skin, in which she plays an alien who takes the form of a woman and preys on the men of Glasgow: “That was an extremely authentic piece of cinema that is going to get better and better with time. Seeing that, I never questioned whether or not she could play the Major. It’s not really justified.”

Oshii recently told gaming and movie website IGN: “What issue could there possibly be with casting her? The Major is a cyborg and her physical form is an entirely assumed one ... there is no basis for saying that an Asian actress must portray her.” Johansson told Marie Claire she did not want to cause offence: “I certainly would never presume to play another race of a person. Diversity is important in Hollywood and I’d never want to feel like I was playing a character that was offensive. Having a franchise with a female protagonist driving it is such a rare opportunity.”

Ghost In The Shell is in cinemas on Thursday.