Matt Damon says his role in the new China-Hollywood production The Great Wall was always intended to be European, in response to criticism that an Asian actor should have been picked for the part.
Some critics have said Damon’s casting amounted to “whitewashing”, in which Caucasians are chosen for roles that should go to actors from other ethnicities.
On Tuesday, Damon said he thinks of the term as applying to Caucasian actors using make-up to appear to be another race, as was common in the early days of film and television.
The 46-year-old American actor plays a British mercenary in the upcoming adventure fantasy helmed by acclaimed Chinese director Zhang Yimou. The trailer sparked criticism in the US earlier this year.
