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Actress Scarlett Johansson, seen here at a January Women's March against sexual violence, has pulled out of a planned movie about Pittsburgh's Dante
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Scarlett Johansson exits 'Rub & Tug' film about transgender Pittsburgher Tex Gill after backlash

Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

Scarlett Johansson exits 'Rub & Tug' film about transgender Pittsburgher Tex Gill after backlash

If Hollywood does get around to making a film about Pittsburgh massage parlor boss Dante "Tex" Gill, it will be without Scarlett Johansson.

After a firestorm over the announcement that the actress would play the infamous transgender man, Ms. Johansson on Monday released a statement saying she was pulling out if the movie, titled "Rub & Tug."

“In light of recent ethical questions raised surrounding my casting as Dante Tex Gill, I have decided to respectfully withdraw my participation in the project,” the statement read.

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The LBGTQ advocacy group GLAAD said those who caused the outcry that led to Ms. Johansson’s decision were "game changers for the future of transgender images in Hollywood,” Variety reported.

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Ms. Johansson at first seemed dismissive about concerns over her casting, pointing to cisgender actors Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto and Felicity Huffman finding award-winning success in transgender roles.

“Our cultural understanding of transgender people continues to advance, and I’ve learned a lot from the community since making my first statement about my casting and realize it was insensitive," said her statement, reported in several media outlets. “I have great admiration and love for the trans community and am grateful that the conversation regarding inclusivity in Hollywood continues.”

“Rub & Tug,” with a script by Gary Spinelli, is slated to tell the story of Jean Marie Gill, who identified and lived as the man Tex Gill and married Cynthia Bruno in Dallas, Texas, before they settled in Pittsburgh in the 1970s and ’80s. Mr. Gill was convicted of tax evasion in 1984 and sentenced to seven years in federal prison. He died in 2003.

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The “Rub & Tug” film, announced on July 2, was going to reunite the actress with director Rupert Sanders. They had worked together on “Ghost in the Shell,” which drew criticism over Ms. Johansson playing a role with Japanese anime origins.

No word yet on whether New Regency, the studio that bought the script, will continue with the project. Ms. Johansson and actor Tobey Maguire were among the producers.

Sharon Eberson: seberson@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1960. Twitter: @SEberson_pg.

First Published: July 13, 2018, 6:48 p.m.

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Actress Scarlett Johansson, seen here at a January Women's March against sexual violence, has pulled out of a planned movie about Pittsburgh's Dante "Tex" Gill.  (Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)
Jae C. Hong/Associated Press
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