25 Movies That Race-Swapped Asian Characters With White Actors

Hollywood has frequently cast white actors in roles originally written for or based on Asian characters. This practice ranges from early cinema employing prosthetics and makeup to modern adaptations that alter the ethnicity of source material protagonists. The following list explores various films where Asian characters were reimagined with white actors in the leading or supporting roles. These examples span differing genres including historical dramas and superhero blockbusters.

‘The Conqueror’ (1956)

John Wayne stars as the Mongol emperor Genghis Khan in this historical epic. The production utilized makeup and costumes to transform the American actor into the legendary Asian conqueror. Critics and audiences often cite this casting decision as one of the most confusing in cinema history. The film focuses on the romance between the warlord and a Tartar princess during his rise to power.

‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ (1961)

Mickey Rooney plays Mr. Yunioshi who is the Japanese landlord of the protagonist Holly Golightly. The performance relies heavily on exaggerated makeup and prosthetics that caricature Japanese features. This portrayal has sparked significant discussion regarding racial stereotypes in classic Hollywood cinema. The character serves primarily as comic relief throughout the film.

‘The Good Earth’ (1937)

Paul Muni and Luise Rainer portray the Chinese farmers Wang Lung and O-Lan in this adaptation of Pearl S. Buck’s novel. The studio chose white actors for these lead roles despite the story taking place entirely in China. Rainer won an Academy Award for her performance as the diligent wife facing famine and hardship. This film remains a prominent example of the studio system prioritizing star power over authentic casting.

‘Dragon Seed’ (1944)

Katharine Hepburn stars as Jade who is a young Chinese woman leading a resistance against Japanese invaders. The film depicts the struggles of a peaceful village forced to defend their land during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Makeup artists used tape and prosthetics to alter Hepburn’s appearance to fit the Asian setting. The narrative focuses on the resilience and patriotism of the villagers under occupation.

‘The Teahouse of the August Moon’ (1957)

Marlon Brando plays Sakini who is an Okinawan interpreter for the American military forces. The actor spent hours in makeup daily to darken his skin and alter his eyes for the role. The plot follows the attempts of an American captain to democratize a small village in occupied Okinawa. Brando adopts a specific accent and mannerisms to portray the local guide.

‘The Inn of the Sixth Happiness’ (1958)

Ingrid Bergman portrays Gladys Aylward who was a real-life British missionary in China. While the real Aylward was a British woman, the film casts Curd Jürgens as the Chinese Colonel Lin Nan. The romantic subplot between the European missionary and the Chinese officer is central to the narrative. The casting of a German actor as a Chinese military leader reflects the era’s casting norms.

‘Anna and the King of Siam’ (1946)

Rex Harrison stars as King Mongkut of Siam in this dramatic retelling of Anna Leonowens’ memoirs. The English actor adopts a distinct cadence and makeup to embody the Thai monarch. The story explores the culture clash and developing respect between the King and the British schoolteacher. This role would later be famously played by Yul Brynner in the musical adaptation.

‘Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing’ (1955)

Jennifer Jones plays Dr. Han Suyin who is a Eurasian doctor falling in love with an American reporter. The character faces prejudice from both Hong Kong society and her own family due to her mixed heritage. Makeup was used to give Jones a more Asian appearance for the role. The film is a romantic drama set against the backdrop of the Chinese Civil War.

‘Flash Gordon’ (1980)

Max von Sydow appears as Ming the Merciless who is the tyrannical ruler of the planet Mongo. The character originated in comic strips as an Asian villain representing the Yellow Peril archetype. The film retains the exotic costumes and facial hair associated with the original design while casting a Swedish actor. Ming serves as the primary antagonist attempting to destroy Earth with natural disasters.

‘Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins’ (1985)

Joel Grey plays Chiun who is a Korean martial arts master training the titular character. The makeup team applied extensive prosthetics to transform Grey for the role of the elderly mentor. Chiun teaches Remo the secrets of Sinanju to help him fight corruption. The performance earned a Golden Globe nomination despite the controversy over the casting choice.

‘Short Circuit’ (1986)

Fisher Stevens portrays Ben Jabituya who is an Indian engineer instrumental in creating the robot Number 5. The actor darkened his skin and adopted a heavy accent to play the character. Ben provides technical expertise and comic relief as the team tries to locate the sentient machine. Stevens has since expressed regret regarding his participation in this role.

‘Starship Troopers’ (1997)

Casper Van Dien plays Johnny Rico who is the central protagonist of the intergalactic war story. The character was explicitly Filipino in Robert A. Heinlein’s original novel and spoke Tagalog. The film adaptation reimagines Rico as a citizen of Buenos Aires with a white American appearance. The movie satirizes fascism and military propaganda through its action-packed narrative.

’21’ (2008)

Jim Sturgess stars as Ben Campbell in this drama based on the true story of the MIT Blackjack Team. The real-life student who inspired the character was Jeffrey Ma which makes him Asian American. The film changes the protagonist’s background while retaining the core plot of students counting cards in Las Vegas. Other members of the team were also composite characters or had their ethnicities altered.

‘Dragonball Evolution’ (2009)

Justin Chatwin plays Goku who is the Saiyan martial artist from the famous Japanese manga and anime. The film reimagines the hero as a high school student in an Americanized setting. Fans criticized the movie for straying far from the source material’s cultural roots and visual style. The story follows Goku’s quest to collect the Dragon Balls before a villain can use them.

‘The Last Airbender’ (2010)

Noah Ringer stars as Aang in this live-action adaptation of the Nickelodeon animated series. The original show drew heavy inspiration from Inuit and East Asian cultures for its characters and setting. The casting of white actors for the protagonists Aang, Katara, and Sokka drew significant criticism. The film depicts Aang’s journey to master the four elements and restore balance to the world.

‘Edge of Tomorrow’ (2014)

Tom Cruise plays Major William Cage in this sci-fi action film based on the Japanese light novel All You Need Is Kill. The original protagonist was a Japanese recruit named Keiji Kiriya. The adaptation shifts the setting to Europe and changes the main character into an American public relations officer. Cage finds himself caught in a time loop while fighting an alien invasion.

‘Aloha’ (2015)

Emma Stone portrays Allison Ng who is a character described as being of quarter Chinese and quarter Hawaiian descent. The casting choice sparked a conversation about the representation of mixed-race individuals in Hollywood. Allison is an Air Force pilot who bonds with a defense contractor overseeing a satellite launch. The director later apologized for the casting decision.

‘The Martian’ (2015)

Mackenzie Davis plays Mindy Park who is a NASA satellite planner monitoring the mission on Mars. In the original novel by Andy Weir the character is described as Korean American. The film adaptation casts a white actress in the role of the technician who first discovers the astronaut is alive. Mindy plays a crucial role in the communication efforts between Earth and the stranded botanist.

‘Doctor Strange’ (2016)

Tilda Swinton stars as the Ancient One who acts as the Sorcerer Supreme and mentor to Stephen Strange. In the original Marvel comics the character is depicted as an elderly Tibetan man. The filmmakers stated they changed the character to a Celtic woman to avoid racial stereotypes. She teaches the protagonist the mystic arts to defend reality against dark forces.

‘Ghost in the Shell’ (2017)

Scarlett Johansson plays the Major who is a cyber-enhanced soldier fighting cyber-terrorism. The film is based on a Japanese manga and anime where the protagonist is named Motoko Kusanagi. The adaptation reveals the character’s brain originally belonged to a Japanese runaway named Motoko. Critics debated the implications of a white android body housing a Japanese ghost.

‘Death Note’ (2017)

Nat Wolff plays Light Turner in this adaptation of the popular Japanese manga series. The original character is Light Yagami who is a brilliant Japanese high school student. The film relocates the story to Seattle and changes the names and backgrounds of the main characters. Light discovers a supernatural notebook that allows him to kill anyone by writing their name.

‘Annihilation’ (2018)

Natalie Portman stars as Lena who is a biologist venturing into a mysterious environmental anomaly. The film is based on Jeff VanderMeer’s Southern Reach Trilogy where the character is described as having Asian features. The adaptation focuses on Lena’s mission to understand the Shimmer and find answers about her husband’s illness. The director stated the casting occurred before the second book describing her ethnicity was released.

‘Bullet Train’ (2022)

Brad Pitt plays Ladybug who is an unlucky assassin on a high-speed train. The film is based on Kōtarō Isaka’s novel Maria Beetle where the protagonist is Japanese. The adaptation Americanizes several characters while retaining the Japanese setting and plot structure. Ladybug must navigate a train filled with rival killers to complete his mission.

‘Batman Begins’ (2005)

Liam Neeson plays Ra’s al Ghul who is the leader of the League of Shadows. In the DC Comics source material the character is typically depicted as being of Arab and East Asian descent. The film presents the character initially as a mentor named Henri Ducard before revealing his true identity. Ra’s al Ghul seeks to destroy Gotham City to purge it of corruption.

‘Speed Racer’ (2008)

Emile Hirsch stars as the titular driver in this adaptation of the Japanese anime and manga Mach GoGoGo. The original character is a Japanese teenager named Gō Mifune. The film retains the stylized aesthetic of the anime but casts mostly white actors for the racer family. Speed competes in the Grand Prix to expose corruption in the racing industry.

Please share your thoughts on these casting choices and other examples you might know in the comments.