Marilyn Manson causes outrage for playing a Native American hitman in Let Me Make You A Martyr

By Laurel Brown For Dailymail.com

Published: 22:28 EST, 12 August 2015 | Updated: 23:16 EST, 12 August 2015

Marilyn Manson is no stranger to controversy when it comes to his music, but the rocker has attracted a new form of protest with his upcoming film role.

In Let Me Make You A Martyr, the 46-year-old singer will play a Native American hitman in the dark, independent thriller.

This casting has offended some Native American activists, who would prefer an actor of that ethnicity in the role.

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Movie role: Marilyn Manson will appear in a controversial role in the upcoming independent thriller, Let Me Make You A Martyr

Movie role: Marilyn Manson will appear in a controversial role in the upcoming independent thriller, Let Me Make You A Martyr

According to Marilyn, however, he does have some Native American blood in his heritage.

'I am part Indian,' the Beautiful People singer told Rolling Stone in an interview posted along with the movie's first trailer on Wednesday.

That heritage apparently came to Marilyn - born Brian Hugh Warner - from his West Virginia-raised mother, Barbara Warner.

First look: In a trailer released on Wednesday, Marilyn appeared as Pope - a Native American hitman hired by a drug dealer to track down the criminal's estranged song

First look: In a trailer released on Wednesday, Marilyn appeared as Pope - a Native American hitman hired by a drug dealer to track down the criminal's estranged song

He added that he did not know his character of Pope was Native American when he took the role - ethnicity was not specified in the script.

'I really didn't have to change too much about myself physically,' Marilyn continued.

'I already had just shaved my hair to a Mohawk and it's black already, so without being stereotypical, that seems like the character would have that if he was part Indian.'

Controversy: Some have objected to Marilyn's casting, wanting the role to have gone to a Native American actor instead

Controversy: Some have objected to Marilyn's casting, wanting the role to have gone to a Native American actor instead

Other aspects of the role - in which Marilyn plays a hitman chasing down the adopted son of a drug dealer - appealed to the singer immediately.

'Within the first day, I was asked if I wanted to skin a coyote,' Marilyn explained. 'It was already dead. And I was asked to burn down a house and "kill" a bunch of people, so the answer was "yes" obviously.'

Marilyn has no speaking lines in the trailer, which is narrated by Niko Nicotera, who plays the estranged son.

Fitting: Playing a killer and doing things like setting fires and skinning a coyote were draws to Marilyn, who did not initially know the ethnicity of the character

Fitting: Playing a killer and doing things like setting fires and skinning a coyote were draws to Marilyn, who did not initially know the ethnicity of the character

Similar identity: Marilyn told Rolling Stone that he actually had some Sioux Indian heritage on his mother's side

Similar identity: Marilyn told Rolling Stone that he actually had some Sioux Indian heritage on his mother's side

Let Me Make You A Martyr co-stars Mark Boone Junior, Sam Quartin, Michael Potts, and Slaine.

This will not be Marilyn's first acting gig - that came in 1997, when the singer appeared in David Lynch's Lost Highway.

He has more recently appeared on several TV shows, including Sons Of Anarchy, Californication, Eastbound & Down, and Once Upon A Time.

Let Me Make You A Martyr is expected to arrive in theatres in 2016.

Acting veteran: Despite mostly being known for his music, Marilyn has had many acting gigs throughout the years, recently guest-starring on the TV show, Sons Of Anarchy

Acting veteran: Despite mostly being known for his music, Marilyn has had many acting gigs throughout the years, recently guest-starring on the TV show, Sons Of Anarchy

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