Just a year ago, African Americans were up in arms over the white-washing of the film ‘Gods of Egypt.’ Now it appears that the Asian community is sick of Hollywood’s sh*t too.
The Great Wall, a film shot entirely in China, tells a fictional story about why The Great Wall of China was built. The trailer debuted this week and shows Matt Damon in the lead role as the hero who leads Chinese soldiers in the fight against mythical creatures who are trying to overcome the wall.
Though a fictional depiction and complete fantasy (like Gods of Egypt), “Fresh Off the Boat” star Constance Wu (Taiwanese-American) has had it with Hollywood’s white-savior storyline, saying, “Our heroes don’t look like Matt Damon.”
Wu took to social media to voice her frustrations with the poor casting choice, saying that a person of color should have been chosen to portray the hero in this film. “We have to stop perpetuating the racist myth that only a white man can save the world,” Wu wrote. “It’s not based in actual fact. Our heroes don’t look like Matt Damon. They look like Malala. Ghandi. Mandela. Your big sister when she stood up for you to those bullies that one time.”
She went on to say that she is tired of filmmakers using budget and talent as an excuse for why they have pushed the narrative that white people are superior to people of color and that people of color need white heroes to save them from themselves.
Wu wanted to make it especially clear that she isn’t placing blame on anyone, not Matt Damon, Chinese financiers, or anyone in particular. She simply wants to bring awareness to the situation and encourage casting directors to take a “chance” on not casting only white heroes in films. “If nothing else, you’d get some mad respect (which is WAY more valuable than money),” Wu writes.
Watch the trailer for The Great Wall below.
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