She's supposed to have a scar covering most of her face. So, where exactly is it?
That's the question fans of the book Mortal Engines are asking after seeing the first full-length trailer for Peter Jackson and Christian Rivers' movie adaptation.
Released today, the trailer gives fans their first look at Hester Shaw, a disfigured asassin played by Icelandic actress Hera Hilmar.
In the book, she's described as "hideous" with a scar running "down her face from forehead to jaw" and a nose like a "smashed stump".
But fans are angry that Shaw's distinguishing facial feature appears to have been toned down in the movie.
Many claim the role had been sexed up to make the film more appealing.
"Apparently there's still no room in Hollywood for an 'ugly' female protagonist," wrote one angry fan. "Despite her disfigurement being fundamental to her character and the plot. I'm not surprised. Just deeply disappointed. I expected more from you Peter Jackson."
You see, it's not only missing the essential part of her character, but if you're still going to describe her as a crazy, animalistic, flawed beast with that tiny little scar thing, this can just go straight to being problematic. #MortalEngines
— NickyQoo (@NickyQoo) June 4, 2018
Hester's facial scar defined her character. In the book, half of her face is a mess of scar tissue. In the movie her scar will be but a mere blemish on her perfect Hollywood complexion. #mortalengines https://t.co/fuy5NMvqZw
— The Odessia (@theodessia) June 5, 2018
Not seen the #MortalEngines trailer yet, but the stills of Hester Shaw's scar are not even close to the book // Now it may have been chosen for practical reasons, to help the actor but that sort of makeup didn't stop de Niro in Frankenstein, so what other reason could it be?
— Matty🤖Makes (@ohlookitsMatty) June 5, 2018
-M
hey #peterjackson of #mortalengines renown: what the heck do you think you're doing to my beloved
— A M Blaushild's in Hell (@AMblaushild) June 4, 2018
a key part of hester IS her scar, her DISFIGUREMENT.... this is a really disappointing take on a woman with notable physical otherness, just bc it makes her 'ugly' pic.twitter.com/JMwVnlvGN1
Hester Shaw as described in the Mortal Engines book VS Hester Shaw in the Mortal Engines movie. Spot the difference. #MortalEngines pic.twitter.com/4mje9Y7M6j
— LukeD (@luked312121z) June 5, 2018
Apparently there’s still no room in Hollywood for an ‘ugly’ female protagonist. Despite her disfigurement being FUNDAMENTAL to her character AND the plot. I’m not surprised. Just deeply disappointed. I expected more from you Peter Jackson #MortalEngines pic.twitter.com/Naty9AF7f8
— Hannah Victory (@HannahEJVictory) June 5, 2018
Disappointed with the new #MortalEngines pictures. Hester's scar should be hideously disfiguring. Tom is completely & utterly in love with her & still describes her as ugly. It's crucial to her character & Tom's character & their relationship. This is not that scar #HesterShaw
— Amy Hurd (@acbhurd) June 4, 2018
So lemme say until few min ago I didn’t know #MortalEngines was a book series. Upon reading descriptions of Hester’s scar from tweets from both female/male fans of the books mentioning her scar is a key part of what makes her. Yea I can understand them being upset at the change
— HuemanityX (@HuemanityX) June 5, 2018
The film follows a series of cities roaming earth on top of giant wheeled engines, and Jackson says it's been a difficult job to get it right.
"It's hard to wrap your head around sometimes," Jackson told the Herald. "There's nothing in the world you can compare them to. They're not like an aircraft carrier or a cruise ship. They're way, way bigger than that. London is a mile and a half long and three-quarters of a mile high."
Mortal Engines has a budget of $100 million and is due for release in December.