• Options
• Login
• Desktop Style
• Recent Posts
• Most Popular

Netflix faces backlash for casting Jared Leto as Yakuza member in 'The Outsider'

• Netflix faces backlash for casting Jared Leto as Yakuza member in 'The Outsider'

• Netflix faces backlash for casting Jared Leto as Yakuza member in 'The Outsider'

  ReedeFox > 27/02/2018, 14:25

  Netflix has just released the trailer for The Outsider starring Jared Leto as a member of the Yakuza and it looks like the movie is already facing criticism.
  
  
  
  Jared Leto plays an American soldier held captive in the final days of World War II. After being freed by his yakuza cellmate, he must join the organised crime group in order to pay them back. Check out the trailer:
  
  
  
  To be fair, the movie looks pretty decent, but people are apparently furious over the fact that Netflix decided to cast a white actor as a yakuza member. One Twitter user even accused Netflix of whitewashing.
  
  
  
  Many people felt that, instead of hiring a white actor to play the lead, the film could have easily hired an Asian or Asian-American lead.
  
  
  
  The Outsider isn't the first movie to be accused of 'whitewashing' and it certainly won't be the last. Other films the faced backlash for the same thing were movies such as Ghost in the Shell starring Scarlett Johansson and Matt Damon's The Great Wall. Personally, I'm of the opinion that these actors are used because they are universally well-known and are a sure thing to pull in numbers at the box office. I feel like people might be getting their panties in a a bunch over something that's just not that big of a deal.
  
  The Outsider will be released on Netflix 9th March.

• RE: Netflix faces backlash for casting Jared Leto as Yakuza member in 'The Outsider'

  FantasticMR > 27/02/2018, 15:18

  "Plays and American soldier held captive in the final day of WW2"
  
  So now it's Whitewashing to have an American lead playing and American actor because it's set in Asia? 
  
  People are overly keen to be annoyed OR this is hype caused by Netflix. I still don't believe that "millenials" found friends hard to stomach just as it gets a 10 season release on NetflixUK. I think it just drums up the promotion to say that people are angry about it. Get more eyes if people are enraged rather than saying people thought it was good.

• RE: Netflix faces backlash for casting Jared Leto as Yakuza member in 'The Outsider'

  jesslloydfan > 27/02/2018, 21:54

  More whining over nothing. The whole point of the story, and it’s even in the bloody title, is he is an outsider to the country and the culture. I understand some might not want to watch another take on this story but that doesn’t make it whitewashing. These are the same kind of morons who claimed the casting in Iron Fist was whitewashing (even though the character was supposed to be white). People just like to be offended, think this looks interesting personally.
  
  Also the Great Wall was another false claim of whitewashing, since it was a Chinese production, the director was Chinese and wrote that part for Matt Damon. Ghost in the shell the character was a cyborg, so race is irrelevant (it’s even addressed in the film).

• RE: Netflix faces backlash for casting Jared Leto as Yakuza member in 'The Outsider'

  parkaner > 28/02/2018, 16:26

  So if they cast a black actor to be the American soldier, would they then conveniently not notice that he wasn't an asian either?
  Sounds a bit like American Ninja really, I watched that when I was 10 and thought it was ace. Then I saw it again last year and actually it's not that great is it.

• RE: Netflix faces backlash for casting Jared Leto as Yakuza member in 'The Outsider'

  gymaddict69 > 02/03/2018, 22:23

  Hang youre head in shame parkaner..how dare you call the legendary 'American Ninja' not that great lol (note to self : need to check my collection for and rewatch that). Well, if nothing else all this supposed whitewashing bollocks has certainly generated unintentionally extra publicity for thhe film. That said, what if the complaints were engineered by netflix and co knowing that this would lead to free aditional publicity..hmm. Personally i think Jared is a fantastic actor, the premise sounds pretty strong so im planning on being all over the film on its release.

• RE: Netflix faces backlash for casting Jared Leto as Yakuza member in 'The Outsider'

  gymaddict69 > 16/03/2018, 22:36

  Im saying it now..given there track record of either releasing, making or being affiliated with, Netflix should focus on old content and tv shows, NOT NEW FEATURE FILMS. Have seen many released under their banner and have enjoyed all of 1 to date..and 'The Outsider' was noti it. Got around to checking this out several days ago and whilst tere are flshes, brief flashes of moderate to extreme violence, its jus there for the sake of it. The film really suffers whenever someone is not getting their brain bashed in. I dont have an issue with slow burners so long as it keeps my interest (or atleast builds to it). This turned out to be dull and plodding to the point of becoming sleep inducing. Got around an hour into this before my body and mind gave out and put me to sleep. A real shame because i do like Jared Leto as an actor and musician but suppose sticking a great actor in a shit film will still ultimatley lead to a shit film.
• Next Oldest Next Newest