Movies
Ed Skrein Departs ‘Hellboy’ Reboot Amid Whitewashing Controversy
Just last week, we reported that Deadpool star Ed Skrein had joined David Harbour, Milla Jovovich, Ian McShane and Sasha Lane in Neil Marshall’s Hellboy, a rated R reboot of the franchise that Guillermo del Toro first brought to the big screen.
Shortly after accepting the role, Skrein has left the project.
The reasoning behind Skrein’s decision? He had been cast to play Major Ben Daimio, a character of mixed Asian heritage. In the wake of the news hitting the net, many expressed their displeasure about a white actor once again being cast to play a non-white character; as it turns out, Skrein agrees that he’s wrong for the part.
“I accepted the role unaware that the character in the original comics was of mixed Asian heritage,” Skrein wrote in a statement on Twitter today. “There has been intense conversation and understandable upset since that announcement, and I must do what I feel is right.”
He continued, “It is clear that representing this character in a culturally accurate way holds significance for people, and that to neglect this responsibility would continue a worrying tendency to obscure ethnic minority stories and voices in the Arts. I feel it is important to honour and respect that. Therefore I have decided to step down so the role can be cast appropriately.”
Skrein’s full statement below…
— Ed Skrein (@edskrein) August 28, 2017
Movies
‘Drop’ – Violett Beane Joins the Cast of Christopher Landon’s New Thriller
Christopher Landon (Happy Death Day, Freaky) is staying busy here in 2024, directing not only the werewolf movie Big Bad but also an upcoming thriller titled Drop.
The project for Blumhouse and Platinum Dunes is being described as a “fast-paced thriller,” and Deadline reports today that Violett Beane (Truth or Dare) has joined the cast.
Newcomer Jacob Robinson has also signed on to star in the mysterious thriller. Previously announced, Meghann Fahy (“White Lotus”) will be leading the cast.
Landon recently teased on Twitter, “This is my love letter to DePalma.”
Jillian Jacobs and Chris Roach wrote the script.
Michael Bay, Jason Blum, Brad Fuller and Cameron Fuller — “who brought the script in to Platinum Dunes” — are producing the upcoming Drop. Sam Lerner is an executive producer.
THR notes, “The film is a Platinum Dunes and Blumhouse production for Universal.”
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