Arrow Should Ra's Be Middle Eastern or East Asian?

[mr. peasant]

There's been speculation on the board that next season's storylines will likely involve Ra's and that the character himself will make an appearance in the flesh. While there's no direct evidence of it thus far, I thought I'd just raise this question regardless - what ethnicity should Arrow's version of Ra's al Ghul be?

An immediate reaction would probably veer toward Middle Eastern; based solely on the Arabic name. And indeed, the comic books and various animated incarnations of him do go along this line. Likewise, some of the named League characters have been Middle Eastern. The current favourite amongst posters here is for Oded Fehr to play Ra's.

On the flip side, Nanda Parbat is located in Tibet. And presuming the founder of the League of Assassins would reflect the geography of his base of operations, that would suggest he's East Asian. Various background League characters have been portrayed by East Asians. Personally, I feel that the fact that the show has introduced his daughter - with her being played by Katrina Law - has made this debate somewhat moot. Unless of course, people aren't able to differentiate between ethnicities that aren't White or Black.

 

[p4poetic]

Honestly don't care whichever, as long as he's not white washed.

 

[Bathead]

With a name like Ra's Al Ghul, I would think it more likely Middle Eastern. If he was meant to be Asian, then his creators would have given him a more Oriental sounding name. And the way he's always been drawn has been more Mid-eastern than Asian.

 

[Hush]

I think you cast the right actor and damn this race ********, people didn't ***** with Neeson.

 

[Tec15]

He should be an unseen character and not appear for a long while if ever.

 

[dude stannis]

I voted 'Other', but that's not to say he shouldn't be Middle Eastern or East Asian. Essentially, he could be any ethnicity and it wouldn't matter as long as he's got the presence for the character. If Oded Fehr can do a good job with the character, then why not?

 

[LordMortis315]

I'm fine with either. Just so long as they don't cast some white guy. I mean, I love Liam Neeson and all, but that casting...no.

 

[Mike Murdock]

I suppose an argument could be made that he should have the same ethnicity as Katrina Law.

 

[Boy Scout]

I suppose an argument could be made that he should have the same ethnicity as Katrina Law.

I was going to say the same thing.

 

[p4poetic]

So Chinese it is.

 

[Majik1387]

I think you cast the right actor and damn this race ********, people didn't ***** with Neeson.

Yes we did, and still do.

 

[Rorschach2012]

I suppose an argument could be made that he should have the same ethnicity as Katrina Law.

yeah

i don't give a **** about what Ra's' race is....

as long as Katrina can believably be his daughter

 

[Fans of Reilly]

Some one with good a British accent White Black or between I do not care I'm from the Middle East and I do not care what his race is

 

[Rorschach2012]

as long as this mofo sounds like David Warner/BTAS Ra's/the definitive Ra's voice, idc what his race is..

 

[lujho]

I can easily buy Katrina Law as the daughter of Oded Fehr and an East Asian woman. I'd love Fehr or anyone else of a similar look.

I know it's not PC but I'd accept a white guy in "tanface" too, if he played the part really well.

 

[Mike Murdock]

I should add that I have no idea what ethnicity Katrina Law actually is, so I was being somewhat tongue in cheek there. Part of my thought process is that it can be ambiguous without problems.

 

[Primal Slayer]

As long as he aint white, I will take which ever. Though I prefer Middle Eastern.

 

[marvelrobbins]

I just hope we don't get a rehash from trilogy where the ra's of comics is simply stand In for ducard.As far as I am concerned In Nolan trilogy Lien Neeson wasn't ra's he was Henri Ducard.

Beyonnd what actor they get it will be intresting to see what Is Ra's plan on show.

 

[p4poetic]

I should add that I have no idea what ethnicity Katrina Law actually is, so I was being somewhat tongue in cheek there. Part of my thought process is that it can be ambiguous without problems.

Chinese, German and Italian.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHneO22qZLY

edit. Wikipedia says her mother is Taiwanese? Odd.

 

[DaveMoral]

Taiwanese IS Chinese.

Ra's ought to be Middle Eastern, and they seem to have been playing that angle for the League. As far as Nanda Parbat, Arabs have long spread throughout the Silk Road. So that shouldnt necessarily be an issue at all. And the League is arguably somewhat modelled after the legends of the Ismaili Assassins, who had fortresses from Syria to Persia, and their descendents settled in India. There are Ismaili Turkomen in Xinjiang province, China.

 

[Mike Murdock]

Of course, if she's half-Taiwanese, there's no reason it couldn't be on her mother's side. Maybe they could split the difference and cast an actor with both east asian and middle eastern ancestry (or they could geographically split the difference and cast a Kazakhstani actor ). Or maybe I'm just overthinking it and they should just cast a good actor

 

[mocomic]

Oded Fehr

It would be epic if they got him

From trailer I think Nyssa is killed, and Ra's blames team arrow

 

[Human Torch]

I say Middle Eastern,as was originally intended.But I'm guessing he'll be East Asian,since:

Law is more Asian looking than mid Eastern looking
It'd be less PC to have him Mid Eastern
Ollie will be in China in flashbacks,easier to work him in there somewhere.
The brief (headless) glimpse gave a more "Mandarin" vibe
They're using the Nolan style Ninja look for the LOA members

Just my hunch.

 

[Human Torch]

Would be cool in Faran Tahir got the role.Ollie and Ray are in a meeting.Ra's walks in: "The bow and arrow..."t:

 

[MichaelChen]

I can't help but wonder if they'll pull a bait-n-switch and have Nyssa be the real Ra's Al Ghul, and have whoever seems to be Ra's just be a decoy.