Does Race Really Matter?

[Quasimod0]

The fact that I know people identify more with people of their own race? This is news? Why is knowing that fact make a person racist?

Or am I a racist because I noticed that white people will support sports which are dominated by people of other races whereas black sports fans will not? Actually noticing that makes me a racist? Or is it that we aren't supposed to say it out loud and pretend it's not true?

Dude i appreciate your guts. lol

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

I think too you could also ask why not cast a fat guy to play Captain America? Since movie magic can make him into a super athlete with sfx, why does he have to look like the character at all?

 

[Quasimod0]

I think too you could also ask why not cast a fat guy to play Captain America? Since movie magic can make him into a super athlete with sfx, why does he have to look like the character at all?

cheaper and easier to get a guy who looks like the character

 

[Human Torch]

The thing I object to the most is filling a quota.Like Perry White in the upcoming MOS.Now if it's a case of an actor like Michael Clarke Duncan taking Kingpin and knocking it out of the park,it would be one thing,but come on.There are no middle aged white actors out there that would be a fitting Perry White?

 

[Anno_Domini]

The thing I object to the most is filling a quota.Like Perry White in the upcoming MOS.Now if it's a case of an actor like Michael Clarke Duncan taking Kingpin and knocking it out of the park,it would be one thing,but come on.There are no middle aged white actors out there that would be a fitting Perry White?

Or, maybe, you know...some people don't see race and only see the acting capabilities of people so it doesn't even matter who's meant to be white or black

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

Or, maybe, you know...some people don't see race and only see the acting capabilities of people so it doesn't even matter who's meant to be white or black

It's odd though. I mean for one, why not Tombstone? Why not take a chance on an obscure black character? That would be great from the perspective that you'd elevate a character who may have been overlooked. I've always mulled over characters like Brother Voodoo or Tarantula who are ethnic, interesting and never quite made it.

I think with Kingpin you had more of a case where MCD was WAY more qualified for the role than any white actor available.

 

[Human Torch]

It's odd though. I mean for one, why not Tombstone? Why not take a chance on an obscure black character? That would be great from the perspective that you'd elevate a character who may have been overlooked. I've always mulled over characters like Brother Voodoo or Tarantula who are ethnic, interesting and never quite made it.

I think with Kingpin you had more of a case where MCD was WAY more qualified for the role than any white actor available.

Exactly.

The thing is,if someone took Robbie from Spider-Man and said "Well,you know this white actor is the most talented choice for the role." would that be as easily excepted?

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

Aaron Paul, Ben Foster, Charlie Hunnan or even Ryan Gosling would've been great and you still could've heavily featured Robbie Robertson or a black villain.

 

[Bruce Malone]

I still think there is a good deal of hypocrisy when it comes to which characters non-white actors can play that were originally depicted as white.

With the news that jamie foxx is in talks to play electro and the relatively positive response to it and the same for duncan and kingpin and jackson and fury. It seems that fanboys are ok with non-white actors in those type of roles as long as they are not the heroes or are just side characters.

Frankly it should be all or nothing. If fans are ok with the best actor regardless of race playing those kinds of characters, then there should be no issue when it comes to the heroes as well.

 

[Quasimod0]

Black people would be mad as heck if they replaced a normally black character with a white character. There would be cries of racism all around. lol.

 

[Bruce Malone]

That's such a tired argument. If you look at the sheer number of white superheroes vs black superheroes it's not even close. Blade is the only black superhero to be given his own series. So yes, if the one superhero franchise black actors can get work in as a lead went to a non-black actor you're right people would be upset but you can see the big difference.

If however actors of any race could go for any role there wouldn't be issues like that. If black actors could play spider-man i'm sure they'd be less upset if non-black actors could play blade.

 

[BestGirl]

I still think there is a good deal of hypocrisy when it comes to which characters non-white actors can play that were originally depicted as white.

With the news that jamie foxx is in talks to play electro and the relatively positive response to it and the same for duncan and kingpin and jackson and fury. It seems that fanboys are ok with non-white actors in those type of roles as long as they are not the heroes or are just side characters.

Frankly it should be all or nothing. If fans are ok with the best actor regardless of race playing those kinds of characters, then there should be no issue when it comes to the heroes as well.

I don't see it as being hypocritical. Fans are generally more attached to main characters, so they're more likely to want a completely faithful adaptation of those characters onscreen.

 

[cleverusername8]

For big name characters it does matter quite a bit. I could see even general audience members seeing the likes of Superman, Batman, or Spiderman being portrayed differently from the way they typically are. However lesser known characters by the public such as Nick Fury or Electro have a better chance of being embraced by the GA in a live action movie context.

For me personally, I am very much so against changing the characters unless if there are valid, practical reasons for doing so.

 

[Quasimod0]

That's such a tired argument. If you look at the sheer number of white superheroes vs black superheroes it's not even close. Blade is the only black superhero to be given his own series. So yes, if the one superhero franchise black actors can get work in as a lead went to a non-black actor you're right people would be upset but you can see the big difference.

If however actors of any race could go for any role there wouldn't be issues like that. If black actors could play spider-man i'm sure they'd be less upset if non-black actors could play blade.

That is true. There are a small number of black super heroes, so using a white actor to portray one wouldnt be good. I think the most popular heroes should stay the same race they are in the comics. Like spider-man being white, or luke cage being black.

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

That is true. There are a small number of black super heroes, so using a white actor to portray one wouldnt be good. I think the most popular heroes should stay the same race they are in the comics. Like spider-man being white, or luke cage being black.

I kind of made this point earlier. Electro would fall into a meat processor next month and it wouldn't even be billed as a 'major death' despite his character having a lot of longevity, he's just not that popular on his own. You could argue changing his race at least gives him a layer of interest that wasn't there before, but still I think, by and large, unless it somehow makes more sense (like MCD's size and presence greatly outweighed the color of his skin in the casting choice -- Kingpin HAS to be an imposing mass of muscle) there is really no sense in doing it.

 

[JeetKuneDo]

That's such a tired argument. If you look at the sheer number of white superheroes vs black superheroes it's not even close. Blade is the only black superhero to be given his own series. So yes, if the one superhero franchise black actors can get work in as a lead went to a non-black actor you're right people would be upset but you can see the big difference.

If however actors of any race could go for any role there wouldn't be issues like that. If black actors could play spider-man i'm sure they'd be less upset if non-black actors could play blade.

I don't think it's tired at all. The characters are what they are and were established as characters with a certain look. There is nothing wrong with trying your hardest to stay faithful to that look or being bothered when a movie ventures away from it. Doesn't matter how many there are....a fan is justified in wanting a character to be what it was when they liked it in the comic.

If you want to argue it's ok to change the race of a character...don't back away from that when the character is black or your motives start to look political.

 

[Human Torch]

I don't think it's tired at all. The characters are what they are and were established as characters with a certain look. There is nothing wrong with trying your hardest to stay faithful to that look or being bothered when a movie ventures away from it. Doesn't matter how many there are....a fan is justified in wanting a character to be what it was when they liked it in the comic.

If you want to argue it's ok to change the race of a character...don't back away from that when the character is black or your motives start to look political.

 

[Human Torch]

Another tired argument is "Well,they didn't have enough good black characters back in the day,that's why it's ok to change a character's race."

Uh,no.Comics are filled with quality black characters going back over 40 years.In the rare case of one that doesn't (like Superman,for example) create one,instead of changing the race of one that already exists.

 

[Quasimod0]

I don't think it's tired at all. The characters are what they are and were established as characters with a certain look. There is nothing wrong with trying your hardest to stay faithful to that look or being bothered when a movie ventures away from it. Doesn't matter how many there are....a fan is justified in wanting a character to be what it was when they liked it in the comic.

If you want to argue it's ok to change the race of a character...don't back away from that when the character is black or your motives start to look political.

 

[Holiday]

I kind of made this point earlier. Electro would fall into a meat processor next month and it wouldn't even be billed as a 'major death' despite his character having a lot of longevity, he's just not that popular on his own. You could argue changing his race at least gives him a layer of interest that wasn't there before, but still I think, by and large, unless it somehow makes more sense (like MCD's size and presence greatly outweighed the color of his skin in the casting choice -- Kingpin HAS to be an imposing mass of muscle) there is really no sense in doing it.

Webb and co. want to use Electro. They hired Jamie Foxx to play their version because they think he is a great fit. What about that doesn't make sense?

Using Tombstone or someone they don't want just to cast a black or non-white actor is what wouldn't make sense.

 

[Know One]

Hi gang,

Have only read the first 5-7 replies - have to agree here with 3rd poster "can of worms".

I'm really a BIG fan of Superman and racism is not acceptable to me (and I'm the typical tall, white heterosexual guy). I must admit that after 911 I felt that it was "us" and "them" (people who originate from Arabia). But, after a year or so, I realized that it was wrong that a group of people is not a whole country and so on...

I have to admit that if Superman was African or Hindu it would feel funny. But, it probably was a strange idea that a president of the U.S. would one day be black. So, what to I really think? It will happen - if not only temporary - but - GIVE IT SOME TIME. People still need to evolve and need to judge a person by what they are in the inside and not the outside.

 

[metaphysician]

Does Electro have any characterization at all? Total ciphers are actually a good opportunity for race lifting, if you want to do so.

Also, think of it from Jamie Foxx's perspective: he apparently sought out the role to audition, presumably because he's a comic fan. "Passionate interest" is a plus in my book.

 

[Spider‐Man]

It's a shame debates like this are so one sided as well. I mean, it would equally suck for them to cast a caucasian actor as John Stewart/Cyborg/Bishop/War Machine/Storm etc.

Ths is what I'm talking about. I would be just as upset about casting a white guy to play Luke Cage as I would be a black dude to play Superman. If there were no white characters and Cage was my favorite, I would rather them create an all new white character than to give the role of a black character to some white actor because 'he is the best fit for the part.' That's BS. And vice versa.

 

[TheBat447]

Race will ALWAYS matter. It's not racism to say this, just common sense. If a comic book character was drawn white skinned - that character is white skinned - and vice versa.

 

[Human Torch]

Race will ALWAYS matter. It's not racism to say this, just common sense. If a comic book character was drawn white skinned - that character is white skinned - and vice versa.