Thursday, October 19, 2017

‘Womanwashing’ entertainment trend continues

Whenever a white actor plays a role meant for another race, such as in the recent movie “Ghost in the Shell,” critics call it “whitewashing.”
What should we call the recent trend of filmmakers taking roles made famous by men and recasting them with women? Womanwashing?
I last wrote about the trend in February, during production of “Ocean’s Eight,” the female reboot of “Ocean’s Eleven” starring Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway. That flick is due out next June.
Since that last post there have been other projects announced or proposed that follow the womanwashing trend.
Here is a list of recent projects:
  • “Ghostbusters” (2016), female reboot of the Ghostbusters franchise
  • “Ocean’s Eight” (2018), female reboot of “Ocean’s Eleven” (2001)
  • “Nasty Women” (2018), remake of “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” (1988) starring Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson
  • “Magnum P.I.” sequel focusing on Thomas Magnum’s daughter for ABC
  • “What about Barb?”, remake of “What about Bob?” (1991) recast with a female lead for NBC
  • “The Greatest American Hero” remake with a female lead for ABC
  • “The Expendabelles,” female version of the action series “The Expendables”
  • “21 Jump Street” female version
  • “The Rocketeer” reboot with a female lead
  • “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” reboot with female cast
  • “Lord of the Flies” gender-flip remake
  • “Kung Fu” sequel with a female lead
  • “The Nice Guys” remade as a female-led TV drama series
Photo: Fan art of a possible "Expendabelles" poster.

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