‘Hellboy’ Reboot: Daniel Dae Kim to Replace Ed Skrein Following Whitewashing Backlash

Daniel Dae Kim just found his next big role. Variety reports that the former “Lost” and “Hawaii Five-0” star is in talks to replace Ed Skrein in the upcoming “Hellboy” reboot, which will star David Harbour (“Stranger Things”) in the title role and be directed by Neil Marshall. Skrein bowed out of the project after receiving backlash over the fact that the character in question, one Major Ben Daimio, is Asian in the comics.

“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 voices in the Arts,” wrote Skrein in an eloquent Instagram post late last month. “I feel it is important to honour and respect that. Therefore I have decided to step down so the role can be cast appropriately.”

Few familiar with Kim’s work would say he’s anything but appropriate, as his Jin-Soo Kwon underwent one of the best, most moving character arcs on “Lost”; he’ll be joined in the reboot by Milla Jovovich and Ian McShane. Whitewashing controversies have also erupted over “Ghost in the Shell,” “Doctor Strange,” and “Death Note” in the last year.