Death Note director responds to whitewashing criticism

Adam Wingard, the director of the upcoming live-action adaptation of Death Note, has defended the film over its whitewashing criticism.

The manga classic has been adapted for Netflix and stars the likes of Nat Wolff and Willem Dafoe. The story is originally set in Japan but has been moved to the US for the movie. And that’s whats angered many fans, who feel the film should stick to the roots of the original and star Japanese actors.

A petition to boycott the film because of the “whitewashing” has reached almost 17 thousand signatures:

Boycott Netflix's Death Note for Whitewashing! https://t.co/H4XaKQq190

— mr weyland? (@alangrahnt) April 17, 2017

Wingard has now responded to the criticism on Twitter, defending his decision to Americanize the film:

There is no conspiracy to remove Japanese culture from Death Note. Its a fresh version of the story set in Seattle. Also see The Departed. https://t.co/ZezHsFSecC

— Adam Wingard (@AdamWingard) June 6, 2017

A: the departed sucked.
B: Japanese people don't live in Seattle? Well shit….. https://t.co/1KAYUDPcS0

— Red Lantern Mal (@_MalevolentMal) June 7, 2017

A. Thats not the point. It's a remake of Infernal Affairs set in Boston.
B. They do but there are also white, blacks, hispanic etc. https://t.co/RW6PvxdEsE

— Adam Wingard (@AdamWingard) June 7, 2017

Death Note premieres on Netflix on August 25th. See its trailer below in the meantime: