Scarlett Johansson finds herself once again in the midst of controversy, this time over her upcoming film, 'Rub & Tug,' where she is set to portray Dante "Tex" Gill, a transgender mobster.
Similar to the recent criticism faced by Paco León for 'La casa de las flores,' Johansson is being called out for taking on a role that some argue should be reserved for a transgender actor, addressing the marginalized representation in the industry.
Coincidentally, the project reunites Johansson with director Rupert Sanders, known for 'Ghost in the Shell,' which also faced backlash for casting controversies.
The casting of Johansson as Major Motoko Kusanagi in 'Ghost in the Shell' drew criticism for "whitewashing," as the character originally did not have Japanese features. This controversy was cited as a contributing factor to the film's perceived failure at the American box office, where it grossed only $40 million against a $110 million budget.
As protests surrounding 'Rub & Tug' grow, Scarlett Johansson responded through her representative with a concise statement: "Tell them to go to the representatives of Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto, and Felicity Huffman to request statements." All three actors received acclaim for portraying transgender characters in 'Transparent,' 'Dallas Buyers Club,' and 'Transamerica,' respectively.
Prominent transs---al actresses Trace Lysette ('Transparent') and Jamie Clayton ('Sense8') expressed their frustration on Twitter, criticizing Johansson's casting and Hollywood's casting system. Lysette highlighted the inequality in opportunities, expressing discontent with the fact that trans actors rarely get auditions for roles outside of transgender characters.
Despite the backlash, filming for 'Rub & Tug' is set to commence in early 2019. The biopic delves into the life of Dante "Tex" Gill, who gained notoriety in the 70s and 80s when his massage parlors were revealed to be a front for a prostitution business. Gill faced legal consequences, spending seven years in prison for tax evasion.
