I just wonder if this was really about Fishburne's acting or about his color? Did the WB cast him because they saw that he could bring something new and dynamic to the role (which anyone who's ever seen him in any of his roles knows is what he does best) or was this a matter of appeasing political correctness because thus far, everyone cast was white?
Another question to ponder: we've seen the Reboot Perry White as of SDCC, but will the actual issue feature a change to the character? It wouldn't bother me, and it would make sense to tie in to the film. In fact, it would be great.
But I am still left to wonder what the real impetus behind this decision was...
The answer, my friend is both.
Commercially you need blacks in a blockbuster ensemble film because minorities make up almost half your ticket buying audience. If you have a city that's full of white people, some are going to recoil (or choose a movie they think is more for them instead), and you can't afford that. You can't afford the PC Caucasians disinterest either.
Critically, you're not really being authentic if you make anything homogenous. Things need details, quirks, texture, and just non-genericness. Inserting minority characters helps give the world and the story texture in a way that is simple and beneficially to the movie as a whole. This, incidentally, also feeds the bottom line.
People don't like their cheese moved, but in this case, it's simply wise. So in a situation like this, you can either create a new character or change a character's race. Let's say you do both, so then you have to figure out who to change. It can't be Superman, or Jor-El or the Kents... but who then ? So you start throwing out names. Zoe Saldana as Faora. Antonia Banderas as Zod?
And then someone says Fishburne as Perry White, and everyone's eyes light up like mine did when I read the front page article. There's a lot of reasons why, but mostly it's because Fishburne would absolutely nail the part, just based on his filmography and awards. And then you start picturing him sitting there at that desk silently chewing out Lois and Clark and it just looks
good. And his race
also brings a new dynamic to the part that a white actor can't bring. A texture, if you will.
OR maybe it wasn't like that. Perhaps they decided that Perry White was the one to change because people are used to see black actors in that kind of supporting cast boss role. Then they went through the list: Forrest Whittaker, Charles Dutton, Cuba Gooding Jr, Laurence Fisbhurne... then everyone's eyes lit up. Felt that same rush when casting Keaton as Batman or RDJ as Iron Man. Totally unexpected, but it somehow just works.
In addition to being perfect for the part, despite his race, what makes him not "right" for the part is exactly why he was cast, and a big part of what he brings to the table, both critically and commercially.
And then, on top of that, to make sure it's clear that it's not just a PC thing, you cast another black actor, in this case, Harry Lennix. It's entirely possible he was suggested for Perry first before he was moved to the new character. This shows they're not trying to meet a quota, they're making authentic artistic or commercial decisions.
