Matt Damon has been cast as the lead in an upcoming action film The Great Wall, and the director for the film – Zhang Yimou – has clearly gotten criticism over his decision for blatant whitewashing.
In defending his decision, the legendary Chinese filmmaker insists that the film is “the opposite of what is being suggested.”
“For the first time, a film deeply rooted in Chinese culture, with one of the largest Chinese casts ever assembled, is being made at tentpole scale for a world audience,” Yimou said. “I believe that is a trend that should be embraced by our industry.”
Damon plays a warrior in ancient China who ought to save a civilisation from the wrath of dragons. Evidently, Caucasian men were not in China when the Great Wall was constructed.
Yimou added that Damon’s white heritage is crucial to the film’s plot. “Matt Damon is not playing a role that was originally conceived for a Chinese actor,” he explained.
“The arrival of his character in our story is an important plot point. There are five major heroes in our story and he is one of them—the other four are all Chinese.” The Great Wall is set for release next year.
[Source]
