Which actors should WB/DC recruit?

[Rowsdower!]

Sarah Shahi (Huntress)

Oh yes. Sarah Shahi as Huntress. Or any comic book superheroine who wears very little clothing.

 

[Lobo]

Richard Madden

 

[Arach Knight]

That's a bit out of context. She clarified that race swapping is lazy and if they want to recruit ethnic actors, they should use them existing ethic characters or create original ethic characters.

She made that response after she received immediate backlash for her initial remarks. If you watch the video of her original comment, she plainly states "I think it’s so stupid… because of this whole, like, ‘minorities in Hollywood’ thing… it’s so stupid, it’s like, stop stealing all the white people’s superheroes. Make up your own, you know what I’m saying? What’s up with that?"

No one should be an apologist on her behalf. She made a stupid comment. Comicbook characters aren't "White people's superheroes": they are American heroes, which means any American should be free to act, enjoy or look up to these characters. Superheroes are an American tradition and Michelle Rodriguez made a dispicable comment. Had she said what you just said, I would have agreed as there are plenty of awesome non-White superheroes. But what Michelle Rodriguez actually said reeks of ignorance and pandering to Whiteness.

Minorities aren't "stealing" characters.

 

[Snow Queen]

She made that response after she received immediate backlash for her initial remarks. If you watch the video of her original comment, she plainly states "I think it’s so stupid… because of this whole, like, ‘minorities in Hollywood’ thing… it’s so stupid, it’s like, stop stealing all the white people’s superheroes. Make up your own, you know what I’m saying? What’s up with that?"

No one should be an apologist on her behalf. She made a stupid comment. Comicbook characters aren't "White people's superheroes": they are American heroes, which means any American should be free to act, enjoy or look up to these characters. Superheroes are an American tradition and Michelle Rodriguez made a dispicable comment. Had she said what you just said, I would have agreed as there are plenty of awesome non-White superheroes. But what Michelle Rodriguez actually said reeks of ignorance and pandering to Whiteness.

Minorities aren't "stealing" characters.

How often does that even happen anyway? Once or twice? I honestly can think of more that go the other way.

 

[Arach Knight]

How often does that even happen anyway? Once or twice? I honestly can think of more that go the other way.

I don't understand your comment. Are you asking how often Hollywood puts out superhero movies starring minority characters?

 

[Snow Queen]

I don't understand your comment. Are you asking how often Hollywood puts out superhero movies starring minority characters?

Minority actors "stealing" white superhero roles.

 

[Arach Knight]

Minority actors "stealing" white superhero roles.

Ahh. Indeed it is not as often as fanboys purport. In fact, Will Smith famously turned down the role of Superman because he did not want White people to be angry with him.

 

[Boy Scout]

Minorities aren't "stealing" characters.

Believe it or not, I've actually seen someone make that comment. They were 100% serious when they said it, too.

 

[DrCosmic]

She made that response after she received immediate backlash for her initial remarks. If you watch the video of her original comment, she plainly states "I think it’s so stupid… because of this whole, like, ‘minorities in Hollywood’ thing… it’s so stupid, it’s like, stop stealing all the white people’s superheroes. Make up your own, you know what I’m saying? What’s up with that?"

No one should be an apologist on her behalf. She made a stupid comment. Comicbook characters aren't "White people's superheroes": they are American heroes, which means any American should be free to act, enjoy or look up to these characters. Superheroes are an American tradition and Michelle Rodriguez made a dispicable comment. Had she said what you just said, I would have agreed as there are plenty of awesome non-White superheroes. But what Michelle Rodriguez actually said reeks of ignorance and pandering to Whiteness.

Minorities aren't "stealing" characters.

I think what's more interesting is that it's not minorities who are casting/writing minorities in superhero roles. White businesspeople need women and minorities to come see their films and not go make up their own mythologies. They have a vested interest in "Giving away" white characters to minorities and women. Perhaps Michelle's idea of an Latino or Asian or African movie super-franchise is the best way to go about things, but if so, lets put the honus on the people who are the primary contributors to disincentivizing that, and not on the audience who simply wants to see their race on screen, just as every other part of modern life is reflected in this adaptations. I'm sure if superheroes movies were stingy with giving people modern haircuts, people with modern haircuts would be just as ornery, and perhaps some person with a modern haircut might cry "Stop stealing Pompadour people's characters!"

Another aspect of what makes them everyone's heroes is that creators of many ethnicities have made superheroes what they are today, especially DC. Dwayne McDuffie and Jim Lee, shoot David Ramsey and Jessie L. Martin's work in the Arrowverse has elevated that entire world much higher than it would be with lesser actors grounding those series. To say that it is a white people's mythology is a bit of an insult to these non-white people without whom there would be fewer of us in this forum to say the least. This is to say nothing of women's contribution to superheroics. Goodnight.

 

[DA_Champion]

I think what's more interesting is that it's not minorities who are casting/writing minorities in superhero roles. White businesspeople need women and minorities to come see their films and not go make up their own mythologies. They have a vested interest in "Giving away" white characters to minorities and women. Perhaps Michelle's idea of an Latino or Asian or African movie super-franchise is the best way to go about things, but if so, lets put the honus on the people who are the primary contributors to disincentivizing that, and not on the audience who simply wants to see their race on screen, just as every other part of modern life is reflected in this adaptations. I'm sure if superheroes movies were stingy with giving people modern haircuts, people with modern haircuts would be just as ornery, and perhaps some person with a modern haircut might cry "Stop stealing Pompadour people's characters!"

Another aspect of what makes them everyone's heroes is that creators of many ethnicities have made superheroes what they are today, especially DC. Dwayne McDuffie and Jim Lee, shoot David Ramsey and Jessie L. Martin's work in the Arrowverse has elevated that entire world much higher than it would be with lesser actors grounding those series. To say that it is a white people's mythology is a bit of an insult to these non-white people without whom there would be fewer of us in this forum to say the least. This is to say nothing of women's contribution to superheroics. Goodnight.

Not to be too cynical but if all that matters is the self interest of white businesspeople then they benefit from collectively limiting minority roles on film and in all popular culture. It normalises and reinforces the idea that "white male" is the default of humanity, which benefits them in their own personal lives and contributes to their privilege.

Another point of view is that it would be bad for Disney to develop Ms. Marvel, et cetera as it would undermine the Princess Line that brings them so much money. Their marketing model is based on the princess line and appealing to girls as girls and boys as boys. If they blur that, then they need a new marketing model and there's no guarantee they'll be able to develop one as successful as their current model.

For minorities to get more roles in film you basically need one of the corporations to break the mould. Marvel will eventually make Ms. Marvel, but that's because WB is making Wonder Woman. They'll do the bare minimum to keep up, and even then it will be one female-led movie after 15 or 16 male-led movies.

There's a reason institutional racism and misogyny survive. It's because these systems benefit the people at the top, which is tautologically obvious.

 

[Arach Knight]

Not to be too cynical but if all that matters is the self interest of white businesspeople then they benefit from collectively limiting minority roles on film and in all popular culture. It normalises and reinforces the idea that "white male" is the default of humanity, which benefits them in their own personal lives and contributes to their privilege.

This already happens in numerous forms of media, including a White Ang in the Avatar film, Bruce Lee being replaced by David Carradine in The Legend of Kane, the recent cancellation of Young Justice for attracting too many female viewers. There are plenty of people in power that continue to disenfranchise women/gays/blacks/hispanics/asians when it comes to media representation.

As it were, it is to the advantage of people in power to be inclusive. This is one of the reasons why the color line was broken in baseball. Even though the movie 42 made it seem that Branch Rickey was purely this altruistic Christian, in reality, Branch Rickey was influenced as much by his faith as he was by money. The Montgomery Bus Boycotts put an end to seating discrimination in the south because the White business owners that ran the bus line were loosing too much money when Black people stopped using the bus.

Money has the distinct quality of being able to transcend most forms of discrimination/bigotry, so while your cynicism isn't out of place, don't be swift to dismiss a person putting money well above any perceived "self-interest." The only self-interest that governs this world is avarice, and that is an interest that knows no color (unless you are a Green Lantern fan).

TLDR; people value money more than they do shallow ideologies on ethnicity.

 

[Winged Wonder]

Karl Urban has been rumoured for Ocean Master bro.

That may be, but he'd still make a better Hawkman, in my opinion. Never got the Gerard Butler love, personally.

And since my Michelle Rodriguez comment caused such an unintentional stir, I also wouldn't mind seeing Katheryn Winnick (Vikings) in the role of Shayera.

 

[Rowsdower!]

I want to see a movie where Katheryn Winnick and Natalie Dormer play sisters.

 

[Mightmitenot]

UCLA Quarteback Craig Meyers as Shazam. At 6'0" he is big enough and gives the Rock's Black Adam a height advantage. Let's hope he can act!

 

[CaptainWagner]

Oh yes. Sarah Shahi as Huntress. Or any comic book superheroine who wears very little clothing.

Most definitely. I think she'd make a great Elektra on Daredevil, but I'd accept her in pretty much any superhero role.

Speaking of Person of Interest stars:

Jim Cavaziel as Deathstroke

 

[warhorse78]

Logan Lerman and Chloe Grace Moretz are my top picks.

 

[Fallen Angel]

Pierce Brosnan.
probably because I watched GoldenEye the other night.

 

[Lobo]

Logan Lerman and Chloe Grace Moretz are my top picks.

Who would they play?

 

[dude stannis]

Most definitely. I think she'd make a great Elektra on Daredevil, but I'd accept her in pretty much any superhero role.

Speaking of Person of Interest stars:

Jim Cavaziel as Deathstroke

There's a line he has in Escape Plan, where he says "I will personally pull the ****ing life out of you." in such a cold, badass manner, that's perfect for Deathstroke.

 

[Arach Knight]

That may be, but he'd still make a better Hawkman, in my opinion. Never got the Gerard Butler love, personally.

[YT]/watch?v=zDNN_I0PvAs[/YT]

That is why all of the love for Gerard Butler. The man is a natural for hyper-violence and one-liners that still come across as cold and scary, even though you want to laugh.

 

[warhorse78]

Who would they play?

Supergirl/Batgirl for Chloe, John Grayson for Lerman.

 

[Energist]

Rinko Kikuchi as Katana.

 

[Panthro]

Andrew Garfield for either Blue Beetle/Ted Kord or Wally West/The Flash.

 

[Fallen Angel]

Anyone who had Scott Eastwood in the stakes would win now.

 

[Rowsdower!]

Rinko Kikuchi as Katana.

Ooooooh that's a great one.