Fant4stic "Flame On!" The Human Torch Thread

[Eddie]

I'd like to hear people's arguments against this potential casting without resorting to bringing up the actor's race? i don't know much about the actor himself but "he's black" doesn't seem like a compelling argument against an actor.

Well there's always the fact that the actor seems to think that all there is to a character with over 50 years of history is his name, his charisma, and his playboy lifestyle. I'm not even a huge FF fan and that still comes across as a huge oversimplification. It doesn't even address one of the biggest traits of the character: his roles as a brother and a friend. You know, in that comic with family as one of its biggest themes. It's naive to think all actors know diddly about the characters they play in an adaptation, but it's still a plus when they do.

 

[Lencho01]

Know one knew her ethnicity and she's been shown to have different shades of skin color. She could be white, hispanic or could be just mix of who knows what. RIght now you all are questioning it yourselves. Thats why no one gave a ****. No one knew enough about her. Any comic fan who knows MAria Hill and saw a pic of Cobie from Avengers would know exactly who shes playing just based on the hair. If Maria Hill was Asian or Black and they cast Cobie, it would have been a different situation in terms of fan complaining.

That too.

 

[Eddie]

Know one knew her ethnicity and she's been shown to have different shades of skin color. She could be white, hispanic or could be just mix of who knows what. RIght now you all are questioning it yourselves. Thats why no one gave a ****. No one knew enough about her. Any comic fan who knows MAria Hill and saw a pic of Cobie from Avengers they know exactly who shes playing just based on the hair. If Maria Hill was Asian or Black and they cast Cobie, it would be a different situation in terms of fan complaining.

I just wanted to add that Maria Hill has definitely been drawn pretty darn pale at times. Heck, I've seen comparison pictures of comic Hill and movie Hill that are pretty close. As for that comment (by someone else, not the person I'm quoting) that they'd guess Maria Hill was a Latina because of her name... neither "Maria" nor "Hill" are of Spanish origin.
(to clarify, Maria is quite common as a name in Spanish speaking cultures, but it's not of Spanish origin)

 

[Spider‑Man]

Please do. I have NEVER said it was a wrong opinion. Actually, I think it's a valid opinion. However, Bruce wanted a reason why MBJ is wrong for the part OUTSIDE of his race.. and honestly no one who is against his casting has a valid reason outside of that.


I think you're still confusing my opinion on this casting with my opinion on certain statements that were made in this thread that you asked us not to talk about.

1. There probably isn't another reason.

2. But that is reason enough to many.

 

[Paradox1]

If they cast Jordan in the role fan boys are gonna be up in arms lol, I don't think its as much a race issue with fans as much as they are like old men who fight change in every fiber of their being. I mean people are still complaining about Superman not having trunks thats ridiculous.

Anyway I'm in favor of Jordan getting the role he's a very hot competent actor who could do Johnny Storm justice. Besides it's always good to see a alumni from the Wire get work.I hope he gets it and better yet I hope the movie is actually good because that is of more importance than anything else.

 

[def28]

I just wanted to add that Maria Hill has definitely been drawn pretty darn pale at times. Heck, I've seen comparison pictures of comic Hill and movie Hill that are pretty close.

Agreed.

 

[JP]

Well, you're all giving perfect reasons why there isn't anything wrong with MBJ playing Johnny.

 

[Shazam]

i like Liam Hemsworth for Johnny Storm

I agree.....

 

[def28]

Well, you're all giving perfect reasons why there isn't anything wrong with MBJ playing Johnny.

I'm neither really for or against the MBJ casting but I don't see how Maria Hill is a similar situation if that's what your implying. This is mostly about fans relying on the looks of the comics.

If Maria Hill was Black all through the comics and Cobie was casted there would have been fan backlash. With Maria Hill though, there is no skin color issue because she's drawn with different skin tones.

Johnny has always been drawn as White. If Johnny Storm was Black in the Ultimates, there would be lil to no backlash about MBJ, just a 616 vs Ultimate story/character debate at most. The ethnicity issue wouldn't be as debatable since all comic fans just pretty much care about is if it was in a comic before film.

 

[Eddie]

Liam Hemsworth is actually a darn good choice I hadn't even considered. He's a few years younger than MJB as well.

 

[Duran Man]

Let's hope it stays "not real."

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

On the surface I don't like it. It comes off as a way just to diversify the cast for the sake of diversifying it or Trank really enjoys working with this guy enough to shoehorn him into a major role. Don't give me that jazz about racism either. Honestly if they made both Sue Storm and Johnny black I wouldn't mind so much. I think the brother/sister relationship is an important core aspect to their characters.

 

[Paradox1]

Jordan has bigger name Liam Hemsworth is more known for the person he dates.

 

[def28]

Jordan has bigger name Liam Hemsworth is more known for the person he dates.

Nah, Id prefer to see MBJ cast then Hemsworth based on their previous performances. But Hunger games and having Thor for a brother makes him a bigger name even without dating the Cyrus.

 

[terry78]

He's the other Hemsworth. Really I have heard people refer to him like that.

 

[JP]

Ok, since "no one cares about Hill" because she's a minor character, and because she's had a few comic panels where she's had a lighter complexion.. How about Katniss Everdeen played by Jennifer Lawrence with a tan and a dye job? Only brought it up because of the Hemsworth posts above.

Does it really matter that they cast a white lead when the performance is as good as Lawrence's was?

 

[terry78]

Weren't some of the fans of the book griping because that Rue chick was black?

 

[Hunter Rider]

I don't see any need to change Johnny from what he's been the entire time the character has existed, it's just a pointless thing to do when there are loads of actors out there that fit the bill.

 

[cronosred]

I love that people on here are allowed to tear apart actors for their age, hight, weight, hair color, hotness, shape of their nose, chin, waist, and yes even arm length when they are suggested for or cast in roles but when the color of their skin is brought up some act like that's the time you should feel guilt and shame and not dare say anything about it because that makes you racist.

 

[terry78]

Well, BP and Luke Cage couldn't work as white characters because their entire being does in fact hinge on them being black. Blade, eh.

 

[Sawyer]

Weren't some of the fans of the book griping because that Rue chick was black?

You're referring to only one of the most epic of fails in fan history. They were ****ing about a black girl playing her... when she was clearly described as being black in the book.

 

[cronosred]

Well, you're all giving perfect reasons why there isn't anything wrong with MBJ playing Johnny.

Have you ever suggested an actor for a role with their looks in mind or do you only ever suggest actors on their talent alone?

 

[Hunter Rider]

I love that people on here are allowed to tear apart actors for their age, hight, weight, hair color, hotness, shape of their nose, chin, waist, and yes even arm length when they are suggested for or cast in roles but when the color of their skin is brought up some act like that's the time you should feel guilt and shame and not dare say anything about it because that makes you racist.

That is changing right now, any poster calling another poster a racist because they'd like an actor to be cast who looks like a character that has been around half a century, will be infracted in the same way a racist comment would be infracted.

 

[Zarex]

Well, you're all giving perfect reasons why there isn't anything wrong with MBJ playing Johnny.

It's a risky, perhaps even foolish move for FOX to change the iconic look of a mask-free character that has maintained a consistent appearance in live action films, animation, comic books and assorted branded merchandise since 1961. The Human Torch has been depicted as a tow headed, light skinned young adult since back to 1939, if you include Jim Hammond's days as a member of Timely's big three.

But why not really get creative with the casting? I propose the following options:

Invisible Woman - Rebel Wilson. Anyone who disagrees is Weightist.
Mr. Fantastic - Donald Sutherland. Anyone who disagrees is Ageist.
The Thing - Neil Patrick Harris. Anyone who disagrees is Homophobic.

 

[pr0xyt0xin]

It's a risky, perhaps even foolish move for FOX to change the iconic look of a mask-free character that has maintained a consistent appearance in live action films, animation, comic books and assorted branded merchandise since 1961. The Human Torch has been depicted as a tow headed, light skinned young adult since back to 1939, if you include Jim Hammond's days as a member of Timely's big three.

But why not really get creative with the casting? I propose the following options:

Invisible Woman - Rebel Wilson. Anyone who disagrees is Weightist.
Mr. Fantastic - Donald Sutherland. Anyone who disagrees is Ageist.
The Thing - Neil Patrick Harris. Anyone who disagrees is Homophobic.

What a great lineup! I'd like to see a manip of this.

I bet Wilson and Sutherland would have great on screen chemistry. HOT STUFF!

And with enough CGI NPH would be a great Ben Grimm. Him and Sutherland's Reed could have been childhood friends. When Reed was 45 and Ben was 7.

Throw that together with the adopted family dynamic of Sue and Johnny. And you've got quite the Fantastic Four. What a thrill ride that would be.