Soon after news about "Avengers" star Scarlett Johansson taking on the female lead cast, Motoko Kusanagi, in Masamune Shirow's "Ghost in the Shell" movie adaptation was confirmed, a petition to recast the role was posted online.

Loyal fans of the manga series are not happy with the casting. Apparently, there is a white-washing scandal as reported by Huffington Post.

While, there is reportedly nothing wrong with Scarlett Johansson per se, fans believe that Hollywood should stick to the Japanese roots of the movie adaptation.

In fact, Japanese star Rinko Kikuchi is a crowd favorite even after Johansson's deal was reportedly finalized.

Fans move of filing a petition in Care2 Petitions is reportedly a way for the Japanese manga series "Ghost in the Shell" to retain its authenticity.

The petitioners are requesting for DreamWorks Studios, the company spearheading the movie adaptation, to recast "Avengers" star Scarlett Johansson, instead they want an Asian actress to replace her for the lead role.

The petition reads:

"Dear DreamWorks Studios,

As moviegoers and fans of the original 1995 Ghost in the Shell film, we respectfully request that you cast an actor of Asian descent for the lead role of Motoko Kusanagi rather than Scarlett Johansson.

The American film industry is already unfriendly to Asian actors without roles in major films being changed to exclude them. One recent survey found that in 2013, Asian characters made up only 4.4% of speaking roles in top-grossing Hollywood films.

Please use this opportunity to help talented Asian-American actors receive recognition for their work. There are so few opportunities for them to shine in Hollywood, and this film would be a perfect platform."

The petition has already gained 25,413 votes after it originally intends to just reach 14,000.

Marissa Lee, co-founder of an entertainment equality group called Racebending, expressed her disappointment in a blog post. She also took that chance to explain to her readers why DreamWorks had made the wrong decision of casting "Avengers" star Scarlett Johansson in Masamune Shirow's "Ghost in the Shell" movie adaptation.

"Ultimately, 'Ghost in the Shell' is a story about what makes us human. Having access to powerful media representation is key for minorities to be seen as human. As a successful white actress, Scarlett Johansson has been privileged to play powerful women characters in action films. 'Ghost in the Shell' was a chance for an actress of Asian descent to have that same opportunity."
Do you agree with the rest of the petitioners that "Avengers" star Scarlett Johansson is not the right choice for Masamune Shirow's "Ghost in the Shell" movie adaptation? Sound off in the comments section below.