Sony Pictures' Tarzan Reboot

[Arachnerd]

I am... morbidly curious as to how this will turn out. The concept is interesting, but this is Sony we're talking about here.

 

[DarkKnight88]

I actually liked the Tarzan movie from a few years back.

Though a Tarzan in the 21st century, I don't know what to think. Obviously they'll have him come to New York swinging around at some point.

 

[3rdstone]

I actually liked the Tarzan movie from a few years back.

Though a Tarzan in the 21st century, I don't know what to think. Obviously they'll have him come to New York swinging around at some point.

 

[TheVileOne]

 

[Lasirius]

Sony eh? Tarzan, starring Tom Holland.

 

[Arachnerd]

Don't give them ideas.

 

[Dr.]

I caught up with The Legend of Tarzan (the one with Alex Skarsgård and Margot Robbie) on streaming. I thought it was decent enough. But I then discovered that the movie earned poor reviews and a middling box office (not enough to offset its sizable production costs). And some critics offered the obvious complaints about the “white savior” trope and the colonialist historical context. Which is fair enough, I suppose. Except… those things are kinda baked into Tarzan’s core premise and mythology. So is a modern and politically correct/sensitive version of Tarzan even possible?

 

[TheVileOne]

I caught up with The Legend of Tarzan (the one with Alex Skarsgård and Margot Robbie) on streaming. I thought it was decent enough. But I then discovered that the movie earned poor reviews and a middling box office (not enough to offset its sizable production costs). And some critics offered the obvious complaints about the “white savior” trope and the colonialist historical context. Which is fair enough, I suppose. Except… those things are kinda baked into Tarzan’s core premise and mythology. So is a modern and politically correct/sensitive version of Tarzan even possible?

I mean, there is the obvious suggestion...

 

[Erik20]

I caught up with The Legend of Tarzan (the one with Alex Skarsgård and Margot Robbie) on streaming. I thought it was decent enough. But I then discovered that the movie earned poor reviews and a middling box office (not enough to offset its sizable production costs). And some critics offered the obvious complaints about the “white savior” trope and the colonialist historical context. Which is fair enough, I suppose. Except… those things are kinda baked into Tarzan’s core premise and mythology. So is a modern and politically correct/sensitive version of Tarzan even possible?

The whole concept of Tarzan is problematic today. Basically the only thing that made the character "special" is that he's a white guy in "the Dark Continent." (And of course he's the strongest and best at everything over there )

I also never really liked the Jane relationship. The only woman he's interested in is the first white one he sees...

But having said all of that, I did kind of like that last movie

 

[TheVileOne]

The whole concept of Tarzan is problematic today. Basically the only thing that made the character "special" is that he's a white guy in "the Dark Continent." (And of course he's the strongest and best at everything over there )

I also never really liked the Jane relationship. The only woman he's interested in is the first white one he sees...

But having said all of that, I did kind of like that last movie

I think that's another reason you'd have problems with the Phantom now. I mean I like Phantom and find him to be a cool character, but he's an old-world pulp fiction-y kind of hero.

 

[Dr.]

I mean, there is the obvious suggestion...

You mean a black Tarzan? That would be very interesting. But also complicated. By way of comparison, consider a black Superman. Doubtless, this would be controversial in some quarters. But in terms of fundamental changes to the mythos, there’d be virtually none. Just make Jor-El, Lara and Kal-El black. Done. Whereas, a black Tarzan would require some extensive rewriting of the original backstory and premise — especially if you’re doing it as a period piece. And given these required changes, an entirely new character (loosely based on the ERB concept) might be the better route…

 

[DarkKnight88]

A Black Tarzan as "King of the Apes"? You don't think that will be problematic as well?

 

[Filmfreak]

Also, doesn't his name literally mean "white skin"? I have no issue with race change in most cases, but stuff like this or the new Snow White are head scratching.

 

[dark_b]

They want to make Tarzan because its a known name but they dont want to do the story because its problematic today. so they will change it and spend months promoting it to the young kids on social media .
For the movie to make a profit they will need the older audience who will not show up. the movie will underperform and we will spend years talking how the changes didnt make sense in the context of the story.

 

[TheVileOne]

Also, doesn't his name literally mean "white skin"? I have no issue with race change in most cases, but stuff like this or the new Snow White are head scratching.

In Edgar Rice Burroughs' fictional ape speak, yes.

 

[Filmfreak]

Sure, they can always change that, but the point is that it's one of the rare cases where race actually does matter in terms of characterisation. If they're going to change core elements of who he is then why make him Tarzan in the first place? He might be a well-known character but he's nowhere near a sure thing in the box office. The last movie was filled with Hollywood stars and it still flopped.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

Aside from the other issues, this is just a character that has been done so much that nobody cares anymore. Like Robin Hood or King Arthur or Hercules.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Aside from the other issues, this is just a character that has been done so much that nobody cares anymore. Like Robin Hood or King Arthur or Hercules.

Someone should make a movie about all the heroes mentioned above being transported to the present day and teaming up. The majority of the movie could just be them sitting around complaining about how no one cares about them anymore because people like superhero movies now.