How #StarringJohnCho Changed Hollywood At a time where Hollywood was turning a blind eye to diversity, #StarringJohnCho challenged the notions of American casting. In 2017, Scarlett Johansson was cast as Motoko Kusanagi in Ghost in the Shell, igniting major uproar. “The original film is set in Japan, and the major cast members are Japanese. So why would the American remake star a white actress?” William Yu, the creator of the movement, started posting his #StarringJohnCho creations on Twitter. Soon, the internet ran with it. The hashtag is flooded with brilliantly photoshopped movie posters that made John Cho the star lead. From action films such as The Avengers, to rom-coms like 500 Days of Summer, the renditioned posters showcased a new perspective on casting and pointed out the fatal flaws of the industry. From internet meme to global movement, #StarringJohnCho amplified the demand for Asian representation. "The timing of this campaign was so perfect, in the sense that Asian Americans were ready to assert themselves and the public at large was probably primed to accept the idea in a way they hadn't before." -John Cho "The campaign wasn't just about John, and it wasn't just about money. Yes, diverse films do better finacially and are better returns on investment. But it's also the case that great films and built around great characters [that also showcase our humanity.] Our passions. Our pains. Our dreams. All of us deserve to see our flaws and joys depicted on screen," said Yu. Which is your favorite #StarringJohnCho poster?
