Matt Damon Wades Into Controversy With Chinese-American Crossover ‘The Great Wall’

Zhang Yimou’s new action epic “The Great Wall” has faced criticism leading up to its release, all of which can be traced back to a single source – Matt Damon. The American star’s presence at both the center of the film and its advertising campaign have led to criticism that Yimou’s film has once again dropped a white savior in the middle of an Asian story. Viewed in the context of Hollywood, “The Great Wall” inarguably contributes to a pattern of whitewashing that, even in 2017, you still see in films such as the upcoming “Ghost in the Shell.” However, treating “The Great Wall” as a full Hollywood product means ignoring all of the complicated forces behind the making of the film and the ramifications of its success or failure.

Which isn’t to say that the white savior accusations are in any way incorrect. The film stars Damon as William, a member of a mercenary company who survives an attack by a mysterious creature and ends up at the center of the Chinese effort to repulse a full-on monster invasion. Starring opposite Damon is Chinese actress Jing Tian as Commander Lin Mae, a soldier who ends up developing a grudging respect for William as they work together to save the world. The rest of the cast blends recognizable Western names like Willem Dafoe  and “Game of Thrones” alum Pedro Pascal with Chinese stars  Andy Lau and Zhan Hangyu to form a huge, multicultural ensemble that reflects the film’s global ambitions.

Make no mistake, this is first and foremost an attempt at a crossover product in the vein of the “Fast and Furious” franchise, and the creative team behind the film reflects that. “The Great Wall” began as the brainchild of former Legendary CEO Thomas Tull and “World War Z” author Max Brooks . It was then handed off  to a massive six-person writing team including Bourne series screenwriter Tony Gilroy and Edward Zwick, director of “The Last Samurai.” In 2014, Zhang Yimou was brought onto the project for the famous Chinese auteur’s first full English-language feature. In a review with Indiewire, Yimou spoke out against the accusations of whitewashing.

“The Great Wall” is the opposite of what is being suggested. For the first time, a film deeply rooted in Chinese culture, with one of the largest Chinese casts ever assembled, is being made at tentpole scale for a world audience,” said Yimou.

Whether or not you agree with Yimou’s perspective, “The Great Wall” is sure to make an impact. The film has already opened in China, grossing $219.2 million against a $150 million budget before it even opens in the US. Reviews have been lukewarm, labeling the film generic and criticizing the extent to which the English dialogue hampers the Chinese cast. The film has also received mild reviews in China, although these have been challenged and suppressed by the government for doing harm to the Chinese movie industry. At the end of the day, there are many reasons to see or not see “The Great Wall,” and your conscience should be your compass when deciding what to do about what is, on the surface, just another blockbuster.

The Great Wall” opens nationwide on Feb. 17.