While fans were left at the edge of their seats when Masamune Shirow's "Ghost in the Shell" manga was confirmed for a movie adaptation, Scarlett Johansson's casting was not received very well.
Soon after the "Avengers" star was confirmed to play the role of the female lead cast, Motoko Kusanagi, loyal fans of the manga petitioned to recast the role.
The casting is now being accused of white-washing, Huffington Post reported.
Fans reportedly have nothing against Scarlett Johansson as an actress, however, they believe that people behind the "Ghost in the Shell" movie casting should stick to the manga's Japanese roots.
Rinko Kikuchi is in fact a crowd favorite even after Johansson accepted the deal.
The petition to recast Scarlett Johansson could be found at Care2 Petitions, where fans are asking to retain the "Ghost in the Shell" authenticity.
The petitioners are asking DreamWorks Studios to replace Scarlett Johansson with an Asian actress, someone who'll be close to what the mange visualized.
The petition reads:
"Dear DreamWorks Studios,
As moviegoers and fans of the original 1995 Ghost in the Shell film, we respectfully request that you cast an actor of Asian descent for the lead role of Motoko Kusanagi rather than Scarlett Johansson.
The American film industry is already unfriendly to Asian actors without roles in major films being changed to exclude them. One recent survey found that in 2013, Asian characters made up only 4.4% of speaking roles in top-grossing Hollywood films.
Please use this opportunity to help talented Asian-American actors receive recognition for their work. There are so few opportunities for them to shine in Hollywood, and this film would be a perfect platform."
As of press time the petition already gained 42,583 votes - it originally intends to reach 14,000.
The co-founder of an entertainment equality group called Racebending, Marissa Lee, expressed her disappointment in a blog post, explaining why DreamWorks made the wrong decision in casting Johansson in Masamune Shirow's "Ghost in the Shell."
"Ultimately, 'Ghost in the Shell' is a story about what makes us human. Having access to powerful media representation is key for minorities to be seen as human. As a successful white actress, Scarlett Johansson has been privileged to play powerful women characters in action films. 'Ghost in the Shell' was a chance for an actress of Asian descent to have that same opportunity."
