Was Bill Nunn Miscast as Robbie Robertson?

[TMC1982]

I say this because I've been reading on the IMDb.com messsage boards that state that Ernie Hudson (AKA Winston Zeddmore) would've been better suited for the part than Radio Raheem.

 

[david icke]

Ernie Hudson would've been fantastic. The only downside to him that might've happened is that by sheer force of personality, he could have been just as forceful a presence as Jonah, and Robbie is supposed to be the mellower version, stern but more fatherly.

I think Bill Nunn was fine in the role. I like him as he's the only serious voice in the bugle scenes, and he plays it well.
I recall someone saying over in the 'black superheroes' thread that he didn't like that Bill Nunn wasn't physically like RR, and that there is less care taken on black characters on looking like their comic counterparts. I can see his point, but after a while i forgot he was more overweight than his comic counterpart, and you get that kind of thing elsewhere with white characters too, like Pat hingle in the Batman series. His weight bothered me too as Gordon, but then I forgot about that as it increasingly became apparent that they were never going to do the character anything like teh comic character, the weight wouldn't have bothered me afetr a while if he had been more like the character.

Ernie Hudson worked with JK Simmons in OZ. I suppose I'm more used to Ernie H being a really dominant personality, perhaps this would have risked some of Jonah's overbearing personality being muffled. ie You don't want the backing singer to be better looking/sounding than the band's lead singer, takes teh focus of attention in the wrong direction.

 

[The Joker]

Yeah, I think he was miscast. I just don't get a Robbie Robertson vibe off him. And that's not just down to the lousy material he gets.

He just doesn't come across as Robbie Robertson in any way at all. Ernie Hudson, wow he would have been terrific. I could really see him as Robbie, and verbally clashing with J.K. Simmons' Jonah.

 

[Hobgoblin]

I never thought Robbie was so over weight. He always seemed slim in the comics. Besides, Robbie gets such a ridiculously small amount of screen time, its hard to make a comparison.

 

[Panthro]

I never thought Robbie was so over weight. He always seemed slim in the comics. Besides, Robbie gets such a ridiculously small amount of screen time, its hard to make a comparison.

That's true, he only gets what, 5 minutes in each film?

But I do find the idea of Ernie Hudson as Robbie fascinating.

 

[El Payaso]

Yes, he was miscast. But then again the role of Robbie was reduced to a cameo per movie.

 

[LightningFlash]

Everytime he was onscreen, I only pictured him on Sister Act.

So yes, it was miscast.