Actor Ed Skrein announced Monday that he would step down from his role in the Hellboy reboot film, after critics objected to his being cast to portray a canonically Asian-American character. Skrein had joined the Hellboy cast last week as Major Ben Daimio, who is Asian in the comic books on which the movie is based.
Skrein acknowledged the "intense conversation and understandable upset" over his casting, saying he was "unaware" Daimio was Asian originally. "I must do what I feel is right," Skrein wrote. "I have decided to step down so the role can be cast appropriately."
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