Actress Ruth Negga, who stars in "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." as Raina, has landed a lead role in AMC’s drama pilot, "Preacher," according to Deadline.com. Negga is the first actor cast in the Sony TV and AMC Studios project based on a ’90s comic with a cult following, in which a small-town Texas preacher develops the power to influence everyone’s decision-making. Negga will play the role of his ex-girlfriend Tulip. 

While the actress has cred in the comic book universe due to her recurring role on "S.H.I.E.L.D.," the casting decision has some comic lovers up in arms because the original character is white. A few are also claiming that the creators of the project are targeting a "certain demographic" with their decision to cast a black woman.

 

This will be the second comic book-based Sony project to cast a woman of color for a part originally depicted by a white woman. The other is the studio’s Playstation series "Powers" co-starring Susan Heyward.

Negga will also star in the upcoming flim "Warcraft" due out next year.