First look at Daniel Dae Kim as Ben Daimio in 'Hellboy'

Looking fairly badass on this banner art for New York Comic Con.



Here is your first look, sort of, at Daniel Dae Kim as Ben Daimio in the upcoming new Hellboy movie. Check out this badass banner art displayed this weekend at the Dark Horse Comics booth at New York Comic Con. Amidst all the fangs and wings and hooves and other ungodly beasts, there's a decent glimpse of DDK, weapon drawn, rocking Daimio's scarred face and looking fairly badass.

Daniel Dae Kim to replace Ed Skrein in 'Hellboy'

Former 'Hawaii Five-0' actor in talks to play Ben Daimio in 'Hellboy: Rise of the Blood Queen.'



What. Are you telling me that an Asian American character will be played by an actual Asian American actor? That's wild! Daniel Dae Kim will reportedly star as Major Ben Daimio in the upcoming Hellboy movie reboot.

Daniel Dae Kim in Talks to Replace Ed Skrein in 'Hellboy' Reboot (Exclusive)

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kim is talks to step into the role of Ben Daimio in Hellboy: Rise of the Blood Queen. Ed Skrein, who was originally signed on to play Daimio, dropped out of the project after an outcry over his casting -- yet another Asian character gets the Hollywood whitewash! In Mike Mignola's original Hellboy comic books, Daimio is Japanese American. Ed Skrein is... not.

This is more like it. Kim, who recently made headlines with his very public exit from Hawaii Five-0 after seven seasons, will play the severely scarred former marine officer who works for the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense. Due to supernatural encounter in the field, Daimio has the ability to transform into a monstrous, jaguar-like creature under extreme stress.

Damn, Daniel!

Ed Skrein exits 'Hellboy' after whitewashing backlash

"It is our responsibility to make moral decisions in difficult times and to give voice to inclusivity."



Well, this is a surprise... Actor Ed Skrein has stepped down from his role in the upcoming Hellboy movie reboot after his casting set off massive outcry over yet another instance of Hollywood whitewashing.

Ed Skrein Exits 'Hellboy' Reboot After Whitewashing Outcry

News broke last week that Skrein had joined the cast of Hellboy: Rise of the Blood Queen as Major Ben Daimio, a character who is Asian American in the comic books. This, of course, unleashed all kinds of internet fury. A white guy takes a role that clearly should have gone to an Asian actor. We'd been down this road before.

But here's what we haven't seen: a white actor stepping down from a role out of conscience and solidarity. Skrein's exit from Hellboy has to be the first time an actor has removed himself from such a high-profile project in response to public criticism. Hey, Scarlett Johansson, take some notes.

Skrein announced that he was leaving the project on Twitter.

Why does Hollywood keep whitewashing Asian characters?

'Hellboy' movie reboot casts Some White Dude as a Japanese American character.



At this point, they can't even pretend to give a shit.

This week, news broke that actor Ed Skrein has joined the cast of the upcoming Hellboy reboot, Rise of the Blood Queen, as Ben Daimio, who is Asian American in the comic books. Yes, in the illustrious Hollywood tradition of pretending Asian actors don't exist, yet another white guy will play an Asian character.

'Deadpool' Actor Ed Skrein Joining 'Hellboy' Reboot (Exclusive)

In the Hellboy comic books, Ben Daimio is a severely scarred former marine officer who works for the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense. Due to supernatural encounter in the field, he has the ability to transform into a monstrous, jaguar-like creature under extreme stress.

Daimio's Japanese American heritage actually plays a significant part in the character's development and backstory. In B.P.R.D.: Killing Ground, Daimio's loyalty is called into question when it is revealed that his grandmother was an Imperial Japanese agent known as The Crimson Lotus. As history has shown, Japanese Americans have a little experience with their loyalty being unjustly called into question by the government.

So yeah, this character is Asian American. But who the hell is Ed Skrein?