After Marvel Studios announced the highly anticipated release date for Black Widow starring Scarlett Johansson, some on Twitter had the best anti-whitewashing jokes up their sleeves.
The first movie in the MCU Phase Four focuses on Johansson’s character Natasha Romanoff and will be out in theaters and on Disney+ with Premiere Access on July 9.
Black Widow also star English actress Florence Pugh in the role of Yelena Belova, a sister-figure to Romanoff and the rumored next Black Widow character. Other cast members include David Harbour and Rachel Weisz.
Despite the excitement at the movie finally setting on a release date following numerous Covid-related delays, some haven’t forgotten Johansson’s several casting controversies.
Twitter Has The Best ‘Whitewashing’ Jokes Ahead Of ‘Black Widow’
On March 23, the MCU unveiled a new movie poster seeing Johansson in a brand new Black Widow suit similar to that of the comics.
Twitter was ready to reignite the debate on whitewashing with jokes looking back at the actress’ turn in Ghost in the Shell. In the 2017 sci-fi movie, Johansson got cast in the role of Motoko Kusanagi. Although simply referred to as Major in the movie, the character is supposed to be Asian.
At the time, Johansson appeared on Good Morning America and explained, “I think this character is living a unique experience in that she has a human brain in an entirely machinate body. I would never attempt to play a person of a different race, obviously.”
Ahead of the Black Widow premiere and in light of the recent rise in racially motivated crime and speech against the Asian community, Twitter called out Johansson's problematic casting.
"honestly i think it's pretty cool that in this, our moment of need, marvel is giving us an asian superhero,” one user wrote on Twitter.
Another fan pointed out how Black Widow will be released in VOD just like Mulan and Raya and the Last Dragon.
“Disney had to give Black Widow the Mulan and Raya treatment bc they remembered Scarlett Johansson is also an Asian woman,” they wrote.
“Everyone says that “Shang Chi” is Marvel’s first Asian superhero movie. But Black Widow is going to (hopefully) be released first,” was another comment.
‘Cruella’ Starring Emma Stone Will Also Be Released In Theaters And On VOD
“With Ghost In The Shell's Scarlett Johansson starring in Black Widow, and Aloha's Emma Stone starring in Cruella, both being added to Disney+ Premiere Access with Mulan and Raya & The Last Dragon, that mean all 4 movies on the service are led by Asian women,” joked another user.
Emma Stone — whose upcoming Cruella will be given the theatrical release plus VOD treatment this May — was also involved in a whitewashing controversy. In the 2015 movie Aloha, the La La Land actress plays a character who’s supposed to be one quarter Chinese and one quarter Hawaiian descent.
“I’ve become the butt of many jokes,” Stone said at the time.
“I’ve learned on a macro level about the insane history of whitewashing in Hollywood and how prevalent the problem truly is. It’s ignited a conversation that’s very important.”
Black Widow will be released in theaters and on VOD on July 9