The first image of Scarlett Johansson in 'Ghost in the Shell' has been released and people are pissed because of "whitewashing"

Famous white Hollywood actor cast in non-white role and once again the film industry's history of "whitewashing" is called into question.

The first image of Scarlett Johannson in "Ghost in the Shell" has pissed off a lot of people. Source: Paramount Pictures

With filming of the live-action film version of Ghost in the Shell currently underway in New Zealand, the initial news of the film had fans excited for the release. What they weren't so keen on was the casting announcement of Scarlett Johannson in the role of Major Motoko Kusanagi. Now the studio has released the first image of Scarlett Johansson in the role and it has pissed off a lot of fans.

(Paramount Pictures) Source: Paramount Pictures

People were keen to offer up potential replacements.

Others were quick to re-iterate that Johansson is a white actor playing a person of colour.

Some were a little more sarcastic in their approach.

And others, well they used Hollywood history of poor casting choices to highlight their point on whitewashing.

I guess we'll all have to wait until March 2017 for the release of the film to see the finished product, but you be the judge of the casting choice:

(Universal Pictures/Shochiku) Source: Universal Pictures, Shochiku