Changing race.

[Isub_Zero]

A simple question - Are there any comic books' character(mostly super heroes) that, in your opinion, their... let use a more subtle word here - ethnicity.... can be changed when adopting it for the big(or small) screen?
Don't be afraid to explain yourself if you like .

For example - Can you see a black or an asian Clark Kent/Superman?
What about a Black/asian Bruce Wayne/Batman? What about Diana Prince/Wonder Woman?

I'm curious to know what people thinks...

 

[Troy_Parker]

It's just odd when they change the main characters ethnicity. I mean say with Peter Parker, if he's african american... then you need to change his Uncle, Aunt, etc... you get the picture. lol

 

[C. Lee]

Any character can have thier ethnicity changed for a movie....the question is, should they? Does the change bring anything to the Marvel universe or the movie itself?

The comic book character list is unfortuantly not very diverse ethnicly, so the changing of some of them can only be for the better at showing the current world view. The problem is, it changes continuity, goes against decades of past history, and upsets some fans.

Thee three big changes made to characters recently were Alicia Masters (The Fantastic Four), Kingpin (DareDevil), and Nick Fury (Iron Man). Alicia and Kingpin were totally the call of the studios. Fury at least had the precident of being an actual part of the Marvel universe through the Ultimated comics.

 

[Bat-Mite]

It worked well for Catwoman when she was Eartha Kitt, but not so much when she was Halle Berry.

 

[C. Lee]

It worked well for Catwoman when she was Eartha Kitt, but not so much when she was Halle Berry.

Well....since Halle's movie wasn't connected to the comic book character in any way but name, the changing of ethnicity didn't matter at all in my opinion. Eartha's portrayal was the third actress in the part in the same series....so audiences were already a little prepared for something different.

 

[Isub_Zero]

I think there are heroes that their ethnicity can be changed. Even some of the big names heroes, But there are other that can not. An ethnic change is all up to, IMO, on the character origin, background story and "Supporting Cast".
For example i'll take Superman and Wonder Woman... Superman and Wonder Woman was always drawn as caucasian, but... if we'll take a look on Sups origin and background story, we can see that a black Superman might also fit the character origin without any big changes(if any). I guess it's one of the reason that before Routh got Sups part on SR there were strong rumers about Will Smith in the part.
In the other hand we have Wondy... A character that her origin and backround is drawn from Greek Mythology... A society that back then, most of her citizens were caucasian and as this so were thier Gods so changing her ethnicity will be almost impossible then any other hero, because of her roots. And changing her ethnicity would means changing her background completely.
In fact i think is one of the few characters that there ethnicity is too... "set in stone".

 

[WarBlade]

The comic book character list is unfortuantly not very diverse ethnicly, so the changing of some of them can only be for the better at showing the current world view.

I disagree. I think they are ethnically diverse, although they are also very clearly written from an insular viewpoint where most of the minorities presented are often little more than unlikely clichés.

Thee three big changes made to characters recently were Alicia Masters (The Fantastic Four), Kingpin (DareDevil), and Nick Fury (Iron Man).

And coming up? Thor: Hogun isn't making many waves yet, but Heimdall is.

 

[Project862006]

not everyone can have it changed

black panther for example absolutely cant

 

[Project862006]

not everyone can have it changed

black panther for example absolutely cant

 

[terry78]

In all honesty, all the racial changes I feel were made because they either were trying to be hip and cool, or because they didn't want to alienate some audience. That's what it always comes down to. There's never any deep rooted, intellectual, political statement behind it. They were just trying to be cooler than they were or something. That's why Millar made Fury in Ultimates like SLJ.

 

[Chris Wallace]

I think in SOME instances you can get away with it regarding supporting characters but never for the main character.

 

[Gentleman Owl]

In all honesty, all the racial changes I feel were made because they either were trying to be hip and cool, or because they didn't want to alienate some audience. That's what it always comes down to. There's never any deep rooted, intellectual, political statement behind it. They were just trying to be cooler than they were or something. That's why Millar made Fury in Ultimates like SLJ.

Yup, sadly it's just all about money. And weirdly enough, it works. No offence to any black or asian people (or any other race for that matter) but I've actually witnessed you watch or reading absolute piles of crap simply because someone of your race is placed as a lead, it's just ******ed. As wrong as it apparently is to take offence in race changes, I think it's just as wrong to exploit skin for marketing purposes. I wonder if Idris was simply casted because it would create outrage which means everyone would hear about the new Thor movie, not just comic fans. Thor: LOOK GUYS WE HAVE A BLACK CHARACTER. And I mean that's one of the main reasons I hate black superheroes, it has nothing to do with their skin, but rather than just making them black and getting on with it they keep pointing it out over and over normally through cheesy tired stereotypes.

 

[terry78]

Yup, sadly it's just all about money. And weirdly enough, it works. No offence to any black or asian people (or any other race for that matter) but I've actually witnessed you watch or reading absolute piles of crap simply because someone of your race is placed as a lead, it's just ******ed. As wrong as it apparently is to take offence in race changes, I think it's just as wrong to exploit skin for marketing purposes. I wonder if Idris was simply casted because it would create outrage which means everyone would hear about the new Thor movie, not just comic fans. Thor: LOOK GUYS WE HAVE A BLACK CHARACTER. And I mean that's one of the main reasons I hate black superheroes, it has nothing to do with their skin, but rather than just making them black and getting on with it they keep pointing it out over and over normally through cheesy tired stereotypes.

That was absolutely nowhere near what I meant in my post.

 

[Gentleman Owl]

That was absolutely nowhere near what I meant in my post.

I was just building off what you said and replying to you. In a kind of, 'I agree it has no good intentions it's just about money'. Then proceeded to fly off into a rant as I so often do.

 

[Chris Wallace]

Yup, sadly it's just all about money. And weirdly enough, it works. No offence to any black or asian people (or any other race for that matter) but I've actually witnessed you watch or reading absolute piles of crap simply because someone of your race is placed as a lead, it's just ******ed. As wrong as it apparently is to take offence in race changes, I think it's just as wrong to exploit skin for marketing purposes. I wonder if Idris was simply casted because it would create outrage which means everyone would hear about the new Thor movie, not just comic fans. Thor: LOOK GUYS WE HAVE A BLACK CHARACTER. And I mean that's one of the main reasons I hate black superheroes, it has nothing to do with their skin, but rather than just making them black and getting on with it they keep pointing it out over and over normally through cheesy tired stereotypes.

I don't do this. I avoid exploitation titles, whether it's in comics, movies or TV. Yes, a lot of times "minority" characters are wedged into these stories for totally token reasons. But don't paint them all with the same brush. I'm a fan of Black Panther because I like him as a character. I enjoy the Blade movies and I love Storm. On the other hand, I think Luke Cage, Steel and Spawn are pretty lame, and I don't pick up their titles for that reason.

 

[Man of Tomorrow]

Hollywood is only allowed to do this with Asian characters..

 

[Tacit Ronin]

I can see a British, 5.8" Bane.

 

[Isub_Zero]

Someone mentiomed Thor... I gotta say Thor is another Character i think it ethnicity can not be changrd because the title is too connected to the Nord Mythology and... Nord people are mostly White. Asians are defently out of the equation, because... Well are there any asian, that were borned in Nords states like Denmark, Sweden, Holland etc.?

 

[Pink Ranger]

Hollywood is only allowed to do this with Asian characters..

That's because of all the minority groups, Asians (particularly men) are the most despised ethnic group in so-called left-Liberal Hollywood. You can do things and say things about Asians in a Hollywood production that you could never, in a million years, get away with if the target was black, Jewish or latino.

 

[Man of Tomorrow]

Yup. It's true.

 

[JAK®]

Make more minority characters instead of changing white characters.

 

[WarBlade]

That being said, not merely to fill a quota, but to simply describe the world the way it really is. (Building on JAK®'s comment)

 

[Jager X]

Here is the thing on this issue. Only when there are very rare instances where there is no applicable actor or race is of no importance should race change be allowed. With Kingpin, there is honestly no white man in hollywood with a body type suited for the character. Kingpin is supposed to look obese but is surprisingly solid. MCD was the only man able to pull off such an imposing stature. As with Heimdall, given that the story is based on a comic book and not the actual myths then it should not be an issue. But, then again, people still can not comprehend the fact that 300 is a comic book adaptation-despite there being a damn flute playing goat present.

 

[Jager X]

Make more minority characters instead of changing white characters.

I completely agree. I have already made a vow that if they make James Bond black that I will forever boycott the franchise.

 

[Isub_Zero]

I didn't read a lot of comics, so i have to ask... How many Super heroes are there, that there ethnicity isn't caucasian? I heard about "Black Panther", "Cyborg" the lack "Green Lantern" and "Blade" of course, but i'm sure there are more... Can someone give me a list?