Jeffrey Wright IS Commissioner Gordon

[TheGuy]

 

[Blade Hoarder]

I dunno about this casting. I always pictured Gordon as an Irish descendant. This is way off cours for me. I like the actor, but he doesn't scream Gordon to me.

Black people can have Irish ancestry in America. Obama is Irish on his mother's side. Your point is farcical.

Also, how the hell is Gordon a "white" character? Is he a reformed KKK member? Is that a part of his character? LMAO.

 

[Art Vandelay]

While I'd agree Gordon being white isn't crucial to his character, nevertheless, he has been a white guy.

 

[Blade Hoarder]

Of course he was. He was created in 39. I don't have to go into a history lesson to know why he and everyone was white.

 

[Arachnerd]

While I'd agree Gordon being white isn't crucial to his character, nevertheless, he has been a white guy.

Who's been played about five times in live-action by caucasian actors. Him being played by an actor of different race in this really shouldn't be an issue.

 

[flickchick85]

While I'd agree Gordon being white isn't crucial to his character, nevertheless, he has been a white guy.

Everybody was a white guy in comics back then. For unfortunate reasons. No reason they should stay that way.

 

[Blade Hoarder]

Yeah. A lot of people are either unintentionally or maliciously ignoring the fact that most these characters were created in the 40-60's period. America was strictly an apartheid state then.

Hollywood is approaching it as if these characters were made today. That's what a reboot is. It's the same reason why you won't see every character with a cigarette in their mouth. Or every male slapping a woman in the ass. They are approaching these characters ANEW from a 21st century standpoint.

 

[Arachnerd]

Well, that and it's a new interpretation of the character.

You want to see a white Gordon? You've got a lot of actors from previous live-action Batman media to choose from.

 

[Art Vandelay]

Everybody was a white guy in comics back then. For unfortunate reasons. No reason they should stay that way.

I'm not saying they should.

 

[AndrewGilkison]

Wright is a great choice for Gordon. I don't care about his skin color.

Nolan also white washed Bane when he cast Tom Hardy to play him, and I didn't hear a lot of people being up in arms over that.

 

[Travesty]

I brought up both Bane and Ra's so many times. I always got the "Nolan is god, so who cares" comments. But now people are going straight to racism. Bizarre.

 

[Invader Joker]

To be fair social media either didn't exist or wasn't as big in those times. If a new Ra's, Talia and Bane were cast and their actors were white I'm sure there'd be as much or more *****ing as there is for Gordon.

 

[Boom]

Wright is a great choice for Gordon. I don't care about his skin color.

Nolan also white washed Bane when he cast Tom Hardy to play him, and I didn't hear a lot of people being up in arms over that.

I actually do remember some fans being up in arms about Bane. I even remember Hardy commenting on it.

I don't remember hearing so much about it with Ra's, though.

 

[shauner111]

The complaints weren’t loud because most of us were just excited to see Tom Hardy in a role like that. But Ras, Talia and Bane were indeed white washed. If you think about it, why is Talia french in TDKR? It was Nolan just wanting Marion Cotillard back in the fold after Inception without thinking too hard about it. It’s like Michael Caine playing Leo’s father...just doesn’t add up.

But of course, there’s more of a rumbling on social media about Zoe playing Selina or Wright playing Jimbo. Which doesn’t add up at all. Their characters don’t need to be white. I’d argue that Bruce Wayne needs to be white. But Gordon doesn’t.

 

[fan4stic]

This has to be one of the worst counter-arguments I've ever heard.

Jeffrey Wright has terrific acting chops. Letoker was a combination of a number of things that eventually resulted in a horrible interpretation of the character, even Jared Leto's acting included.

It's not unreasonable to assume that Wright might deliver a good performance rather than a bad one. The former is more likely to happen than the latter given his previous roles. You seem to be presenting your opinion as neutral, yet it's clear you're disguising it as such because you dislike this choice that much and aren't willing to give it a chance thus far.

Never change, Batman fandom.

I don't see how. If you can argue pro a casting based on not seeing it yet and/or a non popular casting choice being doing what's considered by a lot of people to be well done, why not is the flip side not appropriate?

His acting chops doesn't equal a good character or a good performance. To assume either way I think may be preconceived.

Why is it wrong to not think that though? Why is it wrong to not assume that? But, no, I'm not disguising it. I made my lack of interest in the casting clear (along with other rumored and confirmed ones at the time) when rumors arose about it. I'm offering a counter in this situation to those taking issue with some not jumping onto the ideas of how this will be good.

How's that different from assuming the opposite?

 

[Invader Joker]

I actually do remember some fans being up in arms about Bane. I even remember Hardy commenting on it.

I don't remember hearing so much about it with Ra's, though.

I can absolutely guarantee you that if social media existed back in 2005, there'd have been a lot of complaints about Ra's

 

[fan4stic]

Well, that and it's a new interpretation of the character.

You want to see a white Gordon? You've got a lot of actors from previous live-action Batman media to choose from.

Who's been played about five times in live-action by caucasian actors. Him being played by an actor of different race in this really shouldn't be an issue.

I think that's similar to saying I should be fine with Leto's Joker or Eisenberg's Lex because there are perceived better versions out there. I don't agree with either statement. What's wrong with not being pro casting based on it not looking like the character, whether by skin color, height, weight, body type or facial structure? Am I wrong for not wanting Adam Driver as Batman based on his facial features?

Yeah. A lot of people are either unintentionally or maliciously ignoring the fact that most these characters were created in the 40-60's period. America was strictly an apartheid state then.

Hollywood is approaching it as if these characters were made today. That's what a reboot is. It's the same reason why you won't see every character with a cigarette in their mouth. Or every male slapping a woman in the ass. They are approaching these characters ANEW from a 21st century standpoint.

Of course he was. He was created in 39. I don't have to go into a history lesson to know why he and everyone was white.

what does that connect to? If the character was done now, whose to say he wouldn't be white?

Also, how the hell is Gordon a "white" character? Is he a reformed KKK member? Is that a part of his character? LMAO.

the character's drawn as white. As far as I know Blade being black isn't based in some deeply rooted character heritage thing, but that character is black and I don't see why that should be changed. Same with Jim.

Which doesn’t add up at all. Their characters don’t need to be white. I’d argue that Bruce Wayne needs to be white. But Gordon doesn’t.

I don't see why needing to be white is the point. The character of Jim is white. I don't see why it needs to be changed. Though I'd argue when you're saying Bruce needs to be white but others don't, that you're picking and choosing. I wouldn't want it, but if one can be race changed by your perception, why not everyone?

 

[fan4stic]

I brought up both Bane and Ra's so many times. I always got the "Nolan is god, so who cares" comments. But now people are going straight to racism. Bizarre.

I take it as a case by case basis, depending either/or on the actor cast/ the role they're cast in.

For me, I think of Bane as not as prominent a character as Ra's, by race or otherwise.

But for Ra's I've never gotten the impression wasn't a british man (I mainly gain myinfo from TAS) and I liked Liam Neeson for the part then and didn't think about it being a race change at the time.

For Batman I could be accepting if Idris Elba was cast for Batman for instance. But I wouldn't be into Adam Driver. White or not. I could conceivably go for Oscar Isaac as Batman as well. Though not necessarily my choice.

Catwoman's character I can see as more racially bendable.

But I don't necessarily see this with Gwen Stacy or strongly with MJ.

 

[Dr.]

...It’s like Michael Caine playing Leo’s father...just doesn’t add up.

Technically, Caine played Leo’s father-in-law. And an Englishman being the father of a French woman (Mal) isn’t so odd if the Englishman worked in France (which was established) and raised a family there. In any case, Inception is famously immune to “plot hole criticism” - because any alleged mistakes can be rationalized as weirdness within the dream state.

 

[shauner111]

Why do I remember him playing his father? Hmm.

About why Bruce should be white: he’s old money. A huge point of his character is that his parents (and he) represent the 1 percent of white rich folk who are “at the top of the food chain” so to speak. And Bruce comes directly from that lineage. Except he’s the one who chooses to fight for the 99 percent behind closed doors. Even when people believe he’s just a filthy rich white dude with power.

Jim Gordon on the other hand doesn’t need to be anything but a good cop who eventually becomes commissioner. Warmth and determination is what matters. The colour of his skin has no effect on the story or his character or the people around him. Harvey Dent is the same. Doesn’t matter if he’s played by Billy Dee Williams, Jamie Foxx, Tommy Lee Jones, Matthew McConaughey, John David Washington or Aaron Eckhart.

 

[Blade Hoarder]

what does that connect to?

D...do you really not know basic history?

If the character was done now, whose to say he wouldn't be white?

He wouldn't only be white. He can now be more than simply white. There are no legal barriers any more

the character's drawn as white.

And Thor is drawn beardless. Is Hemsworth therefore miscast?

Harvey Dent is drawn with dark hair. Was blonde Eckhart miscast?

You can't use the way a character is drawn as a crutch to casting flesh and blood actor.

Plus, there's nothing about him that's inherently white. He is a racially, sexually, gender neutral character. A beaten down, cynical police captain/commissioner can be played by people of any race. He can even be a chick.

 

[C. Lee]

And Thor is drawn beardless. Is Hemsworth therefore miscast?

Harvey Dent is drawn with dark hair. Was blonde Eckhart miscast?

You can't use the way a character is drawn as a crutch to casting flesh and blood actor.

Talk like this undermine your argument about race not mattering in choosing an actor. Comparing hair color or whether or not someone has a beard to another persons racial heritage is like comparing what clothes someone wears or doesn't wear to as if he is right for the part.

 

[Blade Hoarder]

No. I am arguing against source material fundamentalism. Casting someone who looks exactly like how they look in the page is secondary to casting someone who embodies the essence of the character.

 

[I Am The Knight]

I'm fine with a race change for Gordon, but I'm not feeling Wright for the part. I wonder what kind of take Reeves is going for.

 

[Travesty]

I haven't been feeling most of the cast, except for Paul Dano. I can't even see Pattinson yet. That's not to say I'm against their casting or anything, it's just too early for me to see what Matt Reeves is doing, cause it's just not lining up for me. I'm in this hardcore "wait and see" mode for most of the cast, cause I just don't see it.

This may change the second we see pics with the kind of aesthetic Matt Reeves is going for. So who knows? But as it stands right now, aside from Paul Dano, I'm just not seeing/feeling it yet.