The actress, who has previously faced accusations of “whitewashing”, is now at the centre of a new casting controversy.

Scarlett Johansson is facing a barrage of criticism after being cast in the role of a transgender man who ran a chain of American brothels.

Transitioning from female to male during the film, Gill flourishes in the male dominated mob world of prosтιтution and crime.

However, some people have called Johansson’s casting highly problematic.

People on Twitter were quick to react, with nefertariey writing: “So first scarlet johansson, a white cis woman, takes the role of ghost in the shell and now she’s playing as a transgender person with the same director?”

‘I was born interSєx and doctors tried to erase me. It’s important to speak out’

Japan’s same-Sєx marriage ban ruled unconsтιтutional

They wrote: “trans actors: nobody will hire me cuz they only want cis people / film industry: hey, we gon make a movie about a trans person / trans people: finally! a role perfect for me / film industry: no sorry lol we got scarlett Johansson / this time haha maybe the next one?”

User Antiomi wrote on Twitter: “Roles portraying members of oppressed communities should be played by actors from those communities. It’s really not that hard. Scarlett Johansson has done this twice now. There’s no excuse.”

And trans tweeter Basil wrote: “Scarlett Johansson can play any character, I don’t care. If she plays a trans man, fine. As a trans person myself (female to male) I have no problem with it. Leave her be, guys, it’s just a film role. #ScarlettJohansson.”

Johansson herself has addressed the controversy, giving a comment to online magazine Bustle via a representative: “Tell them that they can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto, and Felicity Huffman’s reps for comment.”

Not really sure why Scarlett Johansson playing a trans individual is a problem. If people can only play roles that represent them, LGBT actors will have a lot less roles.

The three actors mentioned all received acclaim for their portrayal of transgender characters.

Tambor won an Emmy for his portrayal of Maura Pfefferman in Transparent, Leto won an Oscar playing a trans woman in Dallas Buyers Club and Huffman was nominated for an Oscar for her role in Transamerica.

This is not the first time Johansson has faced a backlash over her choice of role, nor is it the first time she has worked with director Rupert Sanders.

‘Whitewashing’ claims over Scarlett Johansson’s role in anime filmThousands of fans are angry that the US actress was cast in the remake of a Japanese movie instead of an Asian actor.
The 33-year-old actress faced accusations of “whitewashing” after being cast as cyborg soldier Mira Killian / Major Kusanagi – a role originally written as east Asian – in futuristic crime drama Ghost In The Shell.

Rub & Tug is due to go into production early next year, and lists both Johansson and Spider Man actor Tobey Maguire among its producers.