Sophie Okonedo 'lost 1997 role to Asia Argento because Harvey Weinstein didn't think she was 'f***able', says director who was then forced off the film by disgraced movie mogul 

• Michael Canton-Jones was the initial choice to direct the cult classic B. Monkey, which was produced by the Weinstein brothers
• He says Harvey Weinstein objected to his choice for romantic lead, Sophie Okonedo, because she didn't look 'f***able'
• Canton-Jones says the two got into a fight over casting and Weinstein forced him off the project, signing another director to take over the movie 
• Asia Argento, one of the more than 50 women who have now spoken out to accuse Weinstein of sexual assault or harassment, was cast in the role
• Argento told the New Yorker last week that she was  raped by Weinstein in 1997, as they were promoting the film 

Italian actress Asia Argento is one of more than 50 women who have spoken out against Harvey Weinstein, claiming he raped her while they were promoting the film B. Monkey in 1997. 

Now it's been revealed that Argento got the role in the first place because Weinstein didn't think the director's first choice for romantic lead was 'f***able' enough. 

Michael Canton-Jones, the first director hired on the film, told BuzzFeed News on Monday about how he was essentially fired for arguing with Weinstein over casting.

Canton-Jones says he first met Weinstein in 1989, when he was making the film Scandal, which Miramax, Weinstein's company at the time, bought the distribution rights to. Cantor-Jones noted that Weinstein would only visit set on days when sex scenes were being filmed. 

The two didn't work together until 10 years later, when he was signed on to direct B. Monkey for Miramax.

Canton-Jones said he wanted English actress Sophie Okonedo for the role, but knew he would have to get her approved with Weinstein first. 

So he and Okonedo flew out to California to meet with Weinstein at the Peninsula Hotel, which is 'where the trouble began.' 

'Harvey kept saying to me, "Do you think she is f***able?"' Caton-Jones recalled. 'That was what the deal was all the time. I said, "She is the best actress for the job, Harvey." And we started arguing about it. It was only when I said to Harvey, "Don't screw up the casting of this film because you want to get laid," whereupon he went mental.'

Canton-Jones says he went back to his room to cool off and by the time he returned to Weinstein's room to sort things out, a reporter from Variety was calling him to get comment on a story about him allegedly walking off the film.

'I was furious after being kicked off my film, and I told them all about what happened. I told them about the harassment claims, and I said "Here is your quote: I don't cast films according to Harvey Weinstein's erection," and they just laughed,' Caton-Jones said.

After that, Weinstein hired a new director, Michael Radford, to take over the project and Argento was cast in the role that they had quarreled over.

'I was the stupid one who stood up and told him to go to hell,' Caton-Jones told BuzzFeed News. 'I stood up to him and told him to go f*** himself. And I got a lot of support from a lot of people when I did that, but you know, I didn't make the film, so he won.'

In an interview with the New Yorker last week, Argento revealed that Weinstein first assaulted her in France in 1997, when the two were promoting the film. 

She said one of Weinstein's producers said they were going to a party at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, but when they arrived at the hotel room, only Weinstein was inside. The producer soon left, leaving her and Weinstein alone.

Argento said Weinstein left the room at one point and came back wearing a bathrobe and holding a bottle of lotion.  

'He asks me to give a massage. I was, like, "Look, man, I am no f***ing fool,"' Argento said. 'But, looking back, I am a f***ing fool. And I am still trying to come to grips with what happened.'

She reluctantly gave him a massage and he proceeded to pull her skirt up and force her legs apart to forcibly perform oral sex - despite her repeated protestations to stop. 

Argento said at one point she stopped saying no and feigned enjoyment, hoping he would stop.  

Over the next five years, Argento says she had a consensual sexual relationship with Weinstein, but one was was motivated by her fear that he would ruin her career if she denied him.  

Argento's story mirrors the testimonies of the scores of women who have spoken out again Weinstein. Many were at the start of their careers when they were cornered by Weinstein in a hotel room meeting. 

On Tuesday, Weinstein officially resigned from the Weinstein Co, after calling into a board meeting.