Hollywood is at it again
A live action adaptation of cult classic manga series and anime film Akira is in the works. Today the news broke that several actors are being courted for the lead roles, Kaneda and Tetsuo--and every single one of them is white. The film is to be moved to a new setting in NYC, but this hardly justifies whitewashed casting, considering the diverse ethnic makeup of the US and particularly NYC. Racebending.com says that Lower Manhattan is 41% Asian. Read their full write-up here, which includes ways you can get involved in protesting the decision. Another good explanation of why this casting is so disappointing can be found here. If you're on Facebook, please join the virtual petition here.
Joie
Joie