Changing race.

[Kevin Roegele]

It depends if it's tokenism. I have a feeling Heimdall in Thor was cast for the sake of having a black actor in the movie and on the posters. I hope that isn't the case, and he was simply cast because he was the best actor for the role.

I have a feeling though it was done in case someone watches the movie and says, "How come all the Gods are white?"

 

[JAK®]

Norse gods have a history of being associated with Nazi/white supremacist propaganda, so maybe.

 

[RockSP]

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.

Do these blacks and asians (or any other race) people tell you they are reading and watching things you consider crap because of the black/asian/etc. leads or are you just assuming? Is it even within the realm of possibility that your taste is different than those people, and they actually like what they are reading and/or watching?

 

[Symbiotic]

I loved Michael Clarke Duncan as Kingpin.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

It depends if it's tokenism. I have a feeling Heimdall in Thor was cast for the sake of having a black actor in the movie and on the posters. I hope that isn't the case, and he was simply cast because he was the best actor for the role.

I have a feeling though it was done in case someone watches the movie and says, "How come all the Gods are white?"

Don't mention this in the Thor thread. You will be bashed for letting leak your "subtle racist tendencies".

 

[MilkmanDan]

Well are there any asian, that were borned in Nords states like Denmark, Sweden, Holland etc.?

These days? Sure. But not back in Viking times.

For me the main problem with changing the race of characters is that comics is a very visual medium. Fans usually want actors who look as close to the characters' comic book counterparts as possible. Even something as seemingly trivial as a blonde Superman or brown-haired Thor would simply feel wrong.

 

[Mistah K88]

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 never do this, sure it's nice to see that there is a minority with a leading role, but if it is crap.

These days? Sure. But not back in Viking times.

For me the main problem with changing the race of characters is that comics is a very visual medium. Fans usually want actors who look as close to the characters' comic book counterparts as possible. Even something as seemingly trivial as a blonde Superman or brown-haired Thor would simply feel wrong.

I agree with this. When it comes to major characters it comes to looking the part. Someone like Mary Jane Watson MUST have red hair, they make her hair blonde than it will not work... Minor characters can be messed with. I actually liked Kingpin being black...simply because he kind of looks scarier. I do think black Nick Fury is Marvel's favorite creation as we see him EVERYWHERE nowadays. They could change random minor characters and no one will care all that much. No one cared about Commissioner Loeb in the recent Batman movies. The major characters, you try to make them look as close to how they looked as possible. Something as trivial as hair color can throw people off. Would people honestly care if someone like Frederick Foswell or Hamilton Hill were changed to another race other than white?

 

[JAK®]

I liked the diversity in Spectacular Spider-Man, with a black Dr. Bromwell and Asian Ned Lee(ds). Even Roderick Kingsley, the Hobgoblin, was a black guy.

 

[Jordacar]

I always go on about how great a Batman TV show would be, and if they did it, I'd be up for some race lift here and there. Some characters' whiteness is non-negotiable though, like Poison Ivy and Batman himself.

I think the most thoroughly race-liftable character is Ra's Al Ghul; the actor who plays him could literally be from anywhere, as long as he strikes an imposing figure, is good with a sword and speaks perfect english. Begins did something of an averted race-lift with the whole impostor angle.

Looking back, I'm still bummed that Billy Dee Williams didn't get to reprise his role in Forever. That would've been too cool.

 

[RockSP]

I always go on about how great a Batman TV show would be, and if they did it, I'd be up for some race lift here and there. Some characters' whiteness is non-negotiable though, like Poison Ivy and Batman himself.

Why Ivy?

 

[Jordacar]

Why Ivy?

I know she's quite green these days, but she's best starting out ginger; the red hair is kinda part of her look. That's all really.

 

[Chris Wallace]

I always go on about how great a Batman TV show would be, and if they did it, I'd be up for some race lift here and there. Some characters' whiteness is non-negotiable though, like Poison Ivy and Batman himself.

I think the most thoroughly race-liftable character is Ra's Al Ghul; the actor who plays him could literally be from anywhere, as long as he strikes an imposing figure, is good with a sword and speaks perfect english. Begins did something of an averted race-lift with the whole impostor angle.

Looking back, I'm still bummed that Billy Dee Williams didn't get to reprise his role in Forever. That would've been too cool.

DId anyone really think he was gonna scar his face-even falsely-for a role? BILLY DEE? Billy was like the standard for pretty boys for quite some time. Tommy-never.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

DId anyone really think he was gonna scar his face-even falsely-for a role? BILLY DEE? Billy was like the standard for pretty boys for quite some time. Tommy-never.

Watch the special edition DVDs. Billy Dee only signed up in the first place as he thought he would be playing Two-Face later on. And he came closer than some thought...Daniel Waters wrote a short scene for him in Batman Returns, but Burton got rid of it.