Rub & Tug May Not Happen Following Scarlett Johansson's Exit

The future ofRub & Tughas been cast in doubt following Scarlett Johansson ’s exit over criticism of her portraying a transgender man in the moving-picture show . establish on the true account of businessman / crime kingpin Dante " Tex " Gill , the motion-picture show would havereunited Johansson with herGhost in the ShelldirectorRupert Sanders . The genuine Dante Gill was a bigger than life character who , while transition from distaff to male , went toe - to - toe with the family and became a crime boss of 1970s Pittsburgh via his conglomerate of illegal massage parlour .

Johansson ’s aim to portray Dante Gill inRub & Tugmet with almost contiguous shout from the transgender community , who accused the motion picture of ciswashing . After ab initio defending her decisionto headliner in the movie , mention other examples of cisgender actor play transgender characters , Johansson later bowed outwith a statement rationalize for her earlier " insensitive " statements . Many in the LGBTQ community of interests hail the move as a " game auto-changer " for the hereafter of trans images in films .

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But now it appear that without Johansson ’s name attach to the moving picture , Rub & Tugis in danger of not being made at all . The Wrapreports that , according to sources with insider knowledge , it ’s unclear if the movie will go forth even though Sanders persist committed . Johansson ’s own production company These Pictures was prepare to produce , but it ’s not known if they will stay involved , now that the actress has left her office . Joel Silver ’s Silver Pictures is also involved with the movie , but the company did not respond when need to provide an update on their commitment .

The question of representation in media has become a raging subject in recent years , with more Hollywood studio apartment making a push to include actors of different ethnical backgrounds as well as more women andLGBTQ individuals in striking rolesin film and TV series . However , contention still often arise , especially when it comes to issue of whitewashing and ciswashing . Johansson herself was embroiled ina prior whitewashing backlashover her casting in the sci - fi movieGhost in the Shell , which was based on a Nipponese manga and realise Johansson diddle a role who was earlier Asiatic .

While Hollywood at large strives to get it veracious in terms of diversity , many smaller film production witness themselves in a scrap of a bind when it comes to weigh inclusiveness vs. the realness of financing . Most would consort that casting a transgender actor as Dante Gill inRub & Tugwould institutionalise a great message and would ultimately be the right thing to do . However , the film only receive funding because Johansson ’s name was attached to it , and without her it ’s very possible the money can no longer be raised to put the film in yield . Perhaps there is still a way to retch a transgender actor as Gill inRub & Tug , feed some worthy performing artist a chance at a break in - out role . But the only way that happens is if some company is willing to take a big risk on a film that lacks a name star .

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