When Scarlett Johansson was announced as the star of new biopic Rub & Tug, there was no little outcry at the notion of another cisgender actor playing Jean Marie Gill, who lived as trans man Dante Tex Grill while running a criminal enterprise. Now, she's decided to leave the role.
When the initial concerns were expressed about Rupert Sanders' latest, Johansson's response was more brusque, pointing to the likes of Jeffrey Tambor in Transparent. But she's now doing the right thing and standing aside.
"In light of recent ethical questions raised surrounding my casting as Dante Tex Gill, I have decided to respectfully withdraw my participation in the project," Johansson said in a statement to Out magazine. "Our cultural understanding of transgender people continues to advance, and I’ve learned a lot from the community since making my first statement about my casting and realize it was insensitive. I have great admiration and love for the trans community and am grateful that the conversation regarding inclusivity in Hollywood continues.
"According to GLAAD, LGBTQ+ characters dropped 40% in 2017 from the previous year, with no representation of trans characters in any major studio release. While I would have loved the opportunity to bring Dante’s story and transition to life, I understand why many feel he should be portrayed by a transgender person, and I am thankful that this casting debate, albeit controversial, has sparked a larger conversation about diversity and representation in film.
"I believe that all artists should be considered equally and fairly. My production company, These Pictures, actively pursues projects that both entertain and push boundaries. We look forward to working with every community to bring these most poignant and important stories to audiences worldwide."
Gary Spinelli's script will follow Grill's experiences in 1970s Pittsburgh, taking on the mob and running a chain of illicit massage parlors offering prostitution, plus an anabolic steroid ring that helped power NFL team the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Keep up to date with all the latest movie news, click here to subscribe to Empire on Great Magazines and have the latest issue delivered to your door every month.