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Daniel Dae Kim has stepped into the role famously vacated by Ed Skrein in the HELLBOY reboot, individuals with knowledge of the project confirmd Tracking Board.
Skrein had been cast in the role of Ben Daimio in the film, but the casting drew criticism since the character is Japanese-American in the original comic books. Days later, Skrein took an unprecedented step and withdrew from the project.
“It is clear that representing this character in a culturally accurate way holds significance for people, and that to neglect this responsibility would continue a worrying tendency to obscure ethnic minority stories and voice in the Arts. I feel it is important to honour and respect that. There I have decided to step down so the role can be cast appropriately,” Skrein said late last month upon his exit.
Following Skrein’s exit, the film’s producers, Lionsgate and Millennium also released a statement in support of the actor’s decision, saying, in part, “We will look to recast the part with an actor more consistent with the character in the source material.”
They have fulfilled that promise with the casting of Kim, who will now play Daimio, the rugged military man and member of the bureau for paranormal research and defense who can also turn into a jaguar when angered.
Stranger Things actor David Harhour stars in the reboot, which also has Ian McShane and Milla Jovovitch as part of the cast.
Kim is coming off of an eight-season stint on Hawaii Five-0, leaving, ironically, due to pay disparity with his white co-stars. He is also an executive producer on ABC’s new David Shore medical drama The Good Doctor, which is based on the Korean drama of the same name.
Linda Ge| TV Editor
