Hailee Steinfeld is Somehow ‘Too Asian’ and ‘Not Asian Enough’ to Play Role in ‘Hawkeye’ Series
By Ryan General
When news emerged that Hailee Steinfeld could be playing Kate Bishop, protege to Jeremy Renner’s Clint Barton in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, social media went haywire.
The 22-year-old actress is in early talks to star in the Disney+ series “Hawkeye” opposite Renner, according to Variety.
The role, which is based on the Marvel comic book character Kate Bishop, was created by Wonder Woman screenwriter Allan Heinberg and artist Jim Cheung.
Twitter immediately erupted with support from both fans of Steinfeld and the MCU as well.
However, not all reactions were positive as there were a few people who also expressed displeasure with the casting.
Most of the negative reactions were apparently accusations that the casting was a form of whitewashing.
It is worth pointing out that Kate Bishop was never depicted in the comics as an Asian woman. While her ethnicity was never referenced in the comics at all, some fans might have assumed her race due to the art styles used on her in the different titles she appeared in.
Even co-creator Cheung once commented on Bishop’s racial ambiguity via a Tumblr post:
Another detail the naysayers failed to look up before their online tirade is that Steinfeld is actually part Asian.
Her mom is Filipino American interior designer Cheri Steinfeld whose family hails from Bohol, Philippines.
While the role is yet to be confirmed by Steinfeld or Disney, Steinfeld’s casting is already anticipated by many to include appearances in future films set within the MCU. In the upcoming series set to premiere in November, Renner’s Barton will pass the “Hawkeye” mantle onto Bishop.
Steinfeld, who is also starring in Apple’s upcoming series “Dickinson,” is known for her roles in films such as “True Grit,” “The Edge of Seventeen,” “Bumblebee,” and the “Pitch Perfect” franchise.
Featured Image via Instagram haileesteinfeld
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