The Barry Allen/Flash Casting Thread

[Airwings]

Originally Posted by Pickleweasel

For me I wouldn't want a studio to narrow it down and say we are only looking at latino actors. If a latino actor fits the role best that is fine, but to change things just for the sake of changing things is usually pointless and usually ends up for the worst.

From what I understand, Warner Bros want to have a hispanic Flash just because an all-white cast doesn't represent America these days.
It's the same thing as making Human Torch black just for the sake of it.

I really hope that studios don't limit themselves that way. The best actor should get the role, not depending on race, belief, gender or orientation.

[BigA]

The best suggestion from this thread is Sam Claflin. He was perfect as Finnick in Catching Fire (and the people that flipped out when he was cast all changed their tune after they saw it). He's already in good shape and definitely has the look and range to be a perfect Flash.

[herolee10]

Originally Posted by Airwings

From what I understand, Warner Bros want to have a hispanic Flash just because an all-white cast doesn't represent America these days.
It's the same thing as making Human Torch black just for the sake of it.

I really hope that studios don't limit themselves that way. The best actor should get the role, not depending on race, belief, gender or orientation.

I kind of hope that they don't change the Flash's ethnic background just for the sake of it.

If they want an more diverse background, then just have John Jones black since he's been portrayed as such in most mediums as of late and bring in cyborg as well.

[Wise]

Originally Posted by herolee10

I kind of hope that they don't change the Flash's ethnic background just for the sake of it.

If they want an more diverse background, then just have John Jones black since he's been portrayed as such in most mediums as of late and bring in cyborg as well.

If anything Aquaman would lend himself the most to a race change IMO.

I wouldn't mind if Mamoa was playing him.

But if they want a multi racial Justice League they can already do it with existing characters.

Superman - White
Batman - White
Wonder Woman - White
Green Lantern (Kyle) - Hispanic
Flash (Barry) - White
Cyborg - Black
Martian Manhunter (John Jones) - Black

And there you have it. A Justice League which has 42 percent of it's roster as non whites and manages to do it without altering characters. Sure Kyle probably shouldn't be around at the same time as Barry, but screw it.

Compare that to Avengers where if you don't count Fury because he's not really an Avenger is 100% white.

[regwec]

Our Wonder Woman is being played by an actress of Israeli/Middle Eastern background, so there are further diversity points right there.

I really enjoyed Ryan Choi as The Atom, and would like to see him in a JLA movie. People rarely seem to remember Asians when they think of diversity, however. Unless they think of cute Asian women. With bare thighs.

[Airwings]

Originally Posted by Wise

If anything Aquaman would lend himself the most to a race change IMO.

I wouldn't mind if Mamoa was playing him.

Gosh, I don't want a non-white Aquaman

Originally Posted by Wise

Green Lantern (Kyle) - Hispanic

The way Warner Bros think and act, I can see them go with Hal and a latino Flash, not even knowing they could have Kyle in the film. They are a little backwards sometimes.

[HighFivingMF]

Originally Posted by Airwings

Gosh, I don't want a non-white Aquaman

The way Warner Bros think and act, I can see them go with Hal and a latino Flash, not even knowing they could have Kyle in the film. They are a little backwards sometimes.

Wouldn't the backward thing be making the fourth Lantern the first Lantern?

[GREEN =w= DAY]

Originally Posted by Airwings

From what I understand, Warner Bros want to have a hispanic Flash just because an all-white cast doesn't represent America these days.
It's the same thing as making Human Torch black just for the sake of it.

I really hope that studios don't limit themselves that way. The best actor should get the role, not depending on race, belief, gender or orientation.

if they really want to bring in a Hispanic character then just bring in Kyle as Green Lantern. why make the Flash a Hispanic character when he was never Hispanic in the first place?

and i say this as a Mexican

[bluerayer]

Originally Posted by GREEN =w= DAY

if they really want to bring in a Hispanic character then just bring in Kyle as Green Lantern. why make the Flash a Hispanic character when he was never Hispanic in the first place?

and i say this as a Mexican

[InnerWarrior]

Originally Posted by GREEN =w= DAY

if they really want to bring in a Hispanic character then just bring in Kyle as Green Lantern. why make the Flash a Hispanic character when he was never Hispanic in the first place?

and i say this as a Mexican

[herolee10]

I would rather warm up to the idea of just Barry Allen being in this film and his final scene being a set up for his own film later on.

Just have him come in for his professor under the CSI unit from Central City, perhaps exploring whatever scientific mystery/plot that Lex has going on.

[FeedOnATreeFrog]

I'd rather have hispanic Hal Jordan or hispanic John Stewart than Kyle for the first movie.

[ЯɘvlveR]

or instead of turning a character like hal or barry hispanic, they can be played by one so long as the accent isn't an issue since, we come in all sorts of colors. I'd prefer that then changing the characters ethnicity.

[InnerWarrior]

Originally Posted by ЯɘvlveR

or instead of turning a character like hal or barry hispanic, they can be played by one so long as the accent isn't an issue since, we come in all sorts of colors. I'd prefer that then changing the characters ethnicity.

I agree. I didn't have a problem with Dean Cain, (Canadian, Irish, Welsh, and Japanese) or Henry Cavill (British) being Superman. Superman was still from Kansas in Lois & Clark and Man of Steel.

[ЯɘvlveR]

Originally Posted by Wise

If anything Aquaman would lend himself the most to a race change IMO.

I wouldn't mind if Mamoa was playing him.

But if they want a multi racial Justice League they can already do it with existing characters.

Superman - White
Batman - White
Wonder Woman - White
Green Lantern (Kyle) - Hispanic
Flash (Barry) - White
Cyborg - Black
Martian Manhunter (John Jones) - Black

And there you have it. A Justice League which has 42 percent of it's roster as non whites and manages to do it without altering characters. Sure Kyle probably shouldn't be around at the same time as Barry, but screw it.

Compare that to Avengers where if you don't count Fury because he's not really an Avenger is 100% white.

MM is one that they can play around with as well. instead of having him disguise himself as black he can disguise himself as asian, whether indian or chinese so it's more diversity then just black and white.

[\S/JcDc\S/]

Originally Posted by BigA

The best suggestion from this thread is Sam Claflin. He was perfect as Finnick in Catching Fire (and the people that flipped out when he was cast all changed their tune after they saw it). He's already in good shape and definitely has the look and range to be a perfect Flash.

meh

[Airwings]

Originally Posted by HighFivingMF

Wouldn't the backward thing be making the fourth Lantern the first Lantern

Not as backwards as going with white Hal Jordan and making Barry Allen hispanic just to have diversity, and not understand that there's already a hispanic GL in Kyle Rayner.

Originally Posted by GREEN =w= DAY

if they really want to bring in a Hispanic character then just bring in Kyle as Green Lantern. why make the Flash a Hispanic character when he was never Hispanic in the first place?

My answer:

Originally Posted by Airwings

The way Warner Bros think and act, I can see them go with Hal and a latino Flash, not even knowing they could have Kyle in the film. They are a little backwards sometimes.

[The Question]

Originally Posted by Pickleweasel

I don't think that is the reason for most. For me I wouldn't want a studio to narrow it down and say we are only looking at latino actors. If a latino actor fits the role best that is fine, but to change things just for the sake of changing things is usually pointless and usually ends up for the worst.

1: It isn't changing things just for the sake of changing things, it's changing things for the sake of having more than just white dudes being represented in our popular heroic narratives.

2: How do they usually end up for the worst? What about changing the race of a fictional character in an adaptation is inherently predisposed towards a negative outcome? What examples can you give of that which illustrate that it has a higher likelihood of ending badly than ending well?

[Mikelus]

Originally Posted by Airwings

Not as backwards as going with white Hal Jordan and making Barry Allen hispanic just to have diversity, and not understand that there's already a hispanic GL in Kyle Rayner.

They know that, Snyder, Goyer, Affleck... are comic book fans, so we'll see. And if they use Cyborg and Martian Manhunter, the JL will be diverse enough to avoid unnecessary changes.

[Airwings]

Originally Posted by Mikelus

They know that, Snyder, Goyer, Affleck... are comic book fans, so we'll see.

What matters is if Warner Bros know about Kyle. They are in charge and can force any direction with story/characters.

[Mikelus]

Well, if they're going to use a GL, it will probably be either Hal or John, not Kyle Rayner. Anyway, hopefully all these rumors will end soon since shooting starts in February.

[Rorschach2012]

How do you guys feel about Ben Foster as Flash?

[Rowsdower!]

I like Foster, but I think he's better at playing psychos, creeps and drug addicts. Seeing him as someone as mild-mannered as Barry Allen almost seems like a waste.

I really, REALLY want them to make a Layne Staley biopic and cast Foster.

[Airwings]

I want Mazzello as Flash

[golfguy22]

Originally Posted by The Question

1: It isn't changing things just for the sake of changing things, it's changing things for the sake of having more than just white dudes being represented in our popular heroic narratives.

2: How do they usually end up for the worst? What about changing the race of a fictional character in an adaptation is inherently predisposed towards a negative outcome? What examples can you give of that which illustrate that it has a higher likelihood of ending badly than ending well?

Well said. Sometimes, being white is integral to the character (Supes and Bats come to mind), but race has had issues in comics. For the vast majority of classic heroes, however, they were marketed towards white people as they were the ideal market. Why, if your marketing towards white suburbia in an era when race is touchy at best, would you make the characters anything other than white? For those that point towards the emergence of more diverse characters, your often left with stereotypes, weaker characters, or others who just aren't present all that often (Blue Marvel, Icon, etc.). Why, if an actor plays a role the best regardless of race, shouldn't he be cast? These characters were made white normally because, at the time, white equating to superhero was more believable than a black hero. Why not make some changes to a tradition which is rooted in inequality?