A new Twitter meme involving putting John Cho on famous movie posters is calling out Hollywood for its lack of diversity, especially when it comes to Asian performers.
#StarringJohnCho was started by artist William Yu, who imagined Cho leading recent Hollywood blockbusters like Jurassic World, Avengers: Age of Ultron and The Martian.
What if Sarah and Joseph Rogers had adopted an Asian child and named him Steve? See the result. #StarringJohnCho pic.twitter.com/pnyyEtjCGz
— #StarringJohnCho (@starringjohncho) May 9, 2016
That thing out there... That is no dinosaur. #JurassicWorld #StarringJohnCho pic.twitter.com/d4F9iJEVnB
— #StarringJohnCho (@starringjohncho) May 7, 2016
F*** you Mars.#TheMartian #StarringJohnCho pic.twitter.com/izhHlaGgPz
— #StarringJohnCho (@starringjohncho) May 11, 2016
You are pretty much the only thing that makes me want to get up in the morning.#MeBeforeYou #StarringJohnCho pic.twitter.com/kvwtxcCx1D
— #StarringJohnCho (@starringjohncho) May 13, 2016
Mr. President, those better be comfortable shoes. @londonfallen #StarringJohnCho pic.twitter.com/i7hxStwVHF
— #StarringJohnCho (@starringjohncho) May 9, 2016
Since the idea took off, some other Twitter users have chimed in with their own movie poster Photoshops.
These are the best things to make XD @JohnTheCho @starringjohncho #StarringJohnCho pic.twitter.com/KZrKTwdNVM
— BossLogic (@Bosslogic) May 7, 2016
Wanted to join the trend 😀 #StarringJohnCho @JohnTheCho pic.twitter.com/E1giaJxeXN
— BossLogic (@Bosslogic) May 6, 2016
In fact, the meme has already made its way into real life, with a New York City resident slapping John Cho's face on a subway ad.
Making our way into NYC subways! Who's ready to watch @AMC_TV's Feed the Best, #StarringJohnCho ? pic.twitter.com/MlHMgsjMcp
— #StarringJohnCho (@starringjohncho) May 5, 2016
Why John Cho specifically? Well, the hashtag is meant to shatter the notion that Asian actors can't bring in revenue at the box office, as is typically considered to be canon among Hollywood executives.
"I wanted to focus on someone who not only has the artistic chops, but also the financial backing,” creator William Yu told Us Weekly. "Cho has received critical praise...while also bringing in over $100,000,000 as the face of the Harold & Kumar franchise. [He also] possesses the unique combination of charisma, presence and bankable talent that a leading man requires.”
Cho was an appropriate choice because the actor has made it a point to take roles that break stereotypes, such as when he became one of the only Asian love interests ever in a sitcom on Selfie. Though it's difficult to find roles as a black actor in Hollywood, which #OscarsSoWhite made clear, it's even more difficult for Asian Americans; while 60 percent of the world is Asian, only 1 percent of the The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is, as we previously reported.
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