# Scarlett Johansson Drops Out Of Transgender Role In 'Rub And Tug' **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 13, 2018, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scarlett-johansson-drops-out-of-transgender-role-in-rub-and-tug/817867 "2018-07-13T22:26:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scarlett-johansson-drops-out-of-transgender-role-in-rub-and-tug/817867/181 "2018-07-18T21:37:23Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > That sounds circular, to me. You can’t have a trans movie without a trans star, and you can’t have a trans star without a trans movie, therefore neither will ever exist. It is circular. It’s also true. And the fact that transgendered people make up such a small percentage of the population means it’s probably going to continue to be true. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scarlett-johansson-drops-out-of-transgender-role-in-rub-and-tug/817867/182 "2018-07-18T23:19:29Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Well, I don’t know how happy your friends will be about it, but I bet we won’t see anyone attempt another trans centered movie for a long time now. First off, that’s stupid. There will continue to be independent movies by trans people. But, yes, it may discourage Hollywood from making more movies like this. What you fail to grasp is that is a good, if not perfect, outcome. In the current system, they would only be made so that some actor could get some sort of praise for playing a “difficult role,” while exploiting the story of a trans person. I mean, look at the subject of this movie. I’m sure the guy has a story to tell, but look at how neatly it fits into the stereotype that trans people are sexual deviants. It’s not about the struggles of some trans athlete or model who is perfectly wholesome. It’s about the guy who started all those “happy ending” massage parlors. The title makes it clear that’s the reason to watch–to see the seedy, sexy underbelly. Sure, maybe a version where trans people are in charge and make sure that it’s not exploitative or perpetuating stereotypes would have been ideal. But I fully understand why shutting it down entirely is acceptable. Better to not have any mainstream movies than to have Hollywood put out this trash. Like Moana, there will eventually be a movie where they do listen and try to make things work. Until then, it’s fine if trans stories are only in independent films. Better to tell their stories accurately than try to reach a mass audience. The person who actually taps into this and pulls it off is going to be quite well-off, since basically the entire social justice crowd will want to go see it. ---
**Author:** ![Crazy\_Canuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazy_canuck/32/5282_2.png) [@Crazy\_Canuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazy_Canuck)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scarlett-johansson-drops-out-of-transgender-role-in-rub-and-tug/817867/183 "2018-07-18T23:20:47Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Just reporting from the small corner of the trans community with which I’m personally familiar, the feeling seems more “bullet dodged” than “opportunity missed.” A high-profile, pro-trans mainstream film would be great. A high-profile, mainstream film that perpetuates stereotypes and presents caricatured takes on trans lives would be worse than no film at all. Fair enough. I personally believe that more exposure to the concept that transexuals are just people would be good for society in a general sort of way. Due to human xenophobia, people fear what they don’t understand, and the easiest way to help them understand is teach them in a way that they might listen. So even though it probably would still be full of caricatured takes and stereotypes (because it’s still a Hollywood movie) I still think it would probably be better for both the trans community and society as a whole if it was made. Then again, I’m a cis guy who has never even heard of the subject of this movie, so take my opinion with a large grain of salt. That said, I agree with CarnalK, this situation will cause a chilling effect on future movies focused on trans people. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scarlett-johansson-drops-out-of-transgender-role-in-rub-and-tug/817867/184 "2018-07-18T23:35:08Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **CarnalK** : > > It is circular. It’s also true. But the same argument could also be used to “prove” that there will never be a star born after the year 2000. Which is clearly absurd. The flaw, of course, is that not every movie has a star in the lead, and not every star has been the lead in a movie. Eventually, a studio will make a movie with a star in the lead, and a transgendered actor in one of the supporting roles, and that actor’s career will grow from there. Or they’ll make a movie about a transgendered character, and find a previously-unknown trans actor to star in it. Or maybe it’ll be a movie for which the main character’s gender identity and/or physical sex doesn’t even matter, and it just happens to be a trans actor who passes the audition. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scarlett-johansson-drops-out-of-transgender-role-in-rub-and-tug/817867/185 "2018-07-18T23:54:47Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > But the same argument could also be used to “prove” that there will never be a star born after the year 2000. Which is clearly absurd. The flaw, of course, is that not every movie has a star in the lead, and not every star has been the lead in a movie. > > Eventually, a studio will make a movie with a star in the lead, and a transgendered actor in one of the supporting roles, and that actor’s career will grow from there. Or they’ll make a movie about a transgendered character, and find a previously-unknown trans actor to star in it. Or maybe it’ll be a movie for which the main character’s gender identity and/or physical sex doesn’t even matter, and it just happens to be a trans actor who passes the audition. No, that probably won’t happen and if it does it it won’t be the beginning of a trend. There’s just too few transgender actors to build any real momentum with it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scarlett-johansson-drops-out-of-transgender-role-in-rub-and-tug/817867.md?page=9)