Scarlett Johansson faces a backlash on a controversial new role

Scarlett Johansson has found herself at the center of a controversy over the casting.

According to reports, the actress, who was criticized for playing a traditionally Asian character in Rupert Sanders' 2017 film, "Ghost in the Shell," once again teamed up with the director to become a transgender in his next film. , "Rub & Tug".

The Hollywood Reporter writes that the film focuses on the actual story of Dante "Tex" Gill, who ran a massage parlor and prostitution ring in Pittsburgh in the 1970s and 1980s.

Gill was born Jean Marie Gill, and although it is unclear whether he identified himself as transgender, The Hollywood Reporter noted that an obituary in his local newspaper reported to Gill "[insisted] that she was a man".

When asked to answer those who say that a transgender actor should play the role, the publicist Johansson told Bustle on Tuesday: "Tell them that they can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto and Felicity Huffman's representatives for comment. "

Tambor, Leto and Huffman have all played transgender roles in the past. Tambor won two Emmys for his role in the Amazon series "Transparent", Leto won an Oscar for his work in "Dallas Buyer's Club", and Huffman won a Golden Globe for his performance in "Transamerica".

A representative of Johansson did not immediately respond to ABC News's request for comment.

This is not the first time that Johansson, 34, has to defend his career choices. Last year, she was criticized for taking on a role in "Ghost in the Shell", a film based on a popular Japanese manga series. Although critics said that an Asian actress should play the role, Johansson later told "Good Morning America" ​​that she believed the character was "essentially without identity".

"I would never try to play someone of a different race, of course," she said.

After the news broke that Johansson was cast in his last role, many online asked how a cisgender actor might be the best choice to play Gill.

April Reign, the activist who founded the #OscarsSoWhite movement, tweeted that Johansson, who is also producing "Rub & Tug", "has no trouble gaining money. "money" and "does not need the increased profile". "Then why would she take work from a trans-actor?" Reign asked.

"We have seen male and female actors move away from roles in recent years so that a person who could bring a more nuanced experience to the character was allowed to shine, "continued Reign. "That's what should be happening here, Rub & Tug is not your movie, ScarJo, no need to monopolize," Reign also tweeted.