Why Americans Don't Play Superheroes

[SoulManX]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/heat-vision/last-word-americans-don-t-95334

 

[WarBlade]

Amusing. I love how the word "outsourced" gets thrown around and in the process the article mentions Wolverine and Thor - Canadian and Norse/Alien characters respectively.

And is anyone really that concerned about an Australian playing a Greek rather than an American?

 

[Majik1387]

What a ridiculous article.

 

[Iron_Stark]

We're still winning, Robert Downey Jr trumps anything and anyone.

 

[Octoberist]

I think it's because America is so big and full of mixed bags that it's harder to find
a handsome lead with good acting abilities, charisma, and gratvitas.

Not saying that there isn't any, but generally, it seems like British actors have a different mentality to acting, usually still seeing it as an artform and not just a quick buck and fame.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

I think it's because America is so big and full of mixed bags that it's harder to find
a handsome lead with good acting abilities, charisma, and gratvitas.

Not saying that there isn't any, but generally, it seems like British actors have a different mentality to acting, usually still seeing it as an artform and not just a quick buck and fame.

Bad generalization.

 

[Octoberist]

I'm talking more about 'Newer Hollywood' not Downey, Depp's, or Pitt's generation.

I'm not saying it's not the cold hard truth and there are many exceptions to my theory but it's probably what some people are thinking. It could be a something that has some weight.

Of course, the counter-argument is that dude from 'I Am Number Four', who is disgustingly bland and..a Brit.

 

[jmc]

Who cares, just get the best person for the job.

 

[Octoberist]

I don't care either but sadly, this IS the 'Why Americans Don't PLay Superheroes' thread.

 

[terry78]

It doesn't bug me too much either way, but on the flip side I get why the article was created, because you would have to be blind not to notice it as far as casting goes. There aren't too many of us going overseas and getting acting gigs on European shows and films, but that's only because if you are an actor, breaking the U.S. market shows you've made it. And we tend to see our favorite actors over here constantly, and if you get someone from another country, they tend to meld into the role moreso than it being "*insert actor here* playing popular superhero."

 

[DarkSovereignty]

lmao, i tried posting a comment on the article to the affect of "wow, just wow...this xenophobic garbage passes as journalism?" and it didn't even make it through the spam filter.

 

[Chewy]

5/6ths of the Avengers are American, and the only one who isn't shouldn't be American anyway.

 

[redhawk23]

The Lord of the Rings was written by a Brit, and is very European in nature and 3 of the larger parts Frodo, Sam and Aragorn were all played by Americans.

also Viggo Mortenson is now playing Sigmund Freud is this some kind of a slight against the actors of Austria? No, Cronenberg just likes working with Mortenson.

 

[redhawk23]

and another thing, as the article itsself points out, our producers and such work with an open talent pool. They don't really care what nationality the actors are. This is opposed to productions like the Harry Potter movies where it is insisted that all the actors be British.

Furthermore, I don't think the American audiance really cares either. Though there are some rumblings, I don't think that many people realy care that a non-american is playing Abe Lincoln. On the other hand though, what would the British reaction have been if they had cast an American in The King's Speech?

 

[R_Hythlodeus]

The Lord of the Rings was written by a Brit, and is very European in nature and 3 of the larger parts Frodo, Sam and Aragorn were all played by Americans.

also Viggo Mortenson is now playing Sigmund Freud is this some kind of a slight against the actors of Austria? No, Cronenberg just likes working with Mortenson.

Well, before Viggo, Christoph Waltz was attached to the project and Karl Markovics (The Counterfeiters) already has played Freud LAST year in Mahler On The Couch...

It's time for an American Freud...

 

[terry78]

and another thing, as the article itsself points out, our producers and such work with an open talent pool. They don't really care what nationality the actors are. This is opposed to productions like the Harry Potter movies where it is insisted that all the actors be British.

Furthermore, I don't think the American audiance really cares either. Though there are some rumblings, I don't think that many people realy care that a non-american is playing Abe Lincoln. On the other hand though, what would the British reaction have been if they had cast an American in The King's Speech?

I think every country is pretty nationalistic in its own right, some of us are just more vocal about it. Bond being played by someone over here would spark anger not just in the UK, but probably all over the planet by fans. He's just one of those characters. I think because these are just "comic book movies" no one is all up in arms.

 

[chamber-music]

Garfield is American he has dual citzenship as does Christopher Nolan.
Christian Bale has lived in America since his late teens as well I believe.

Wolverine is canadian so I don't even know why they are bringing him up and Thor is from a fictional mythology.

I would still say by in large most leading actors in Hollywood are American.

Well only 4 out of 6 of the Bond actors have been British. Lazenby was Australian and Brosnan is Irish.

Russell Crowe who is Australian/New Zelander just played Robin Hood as did Kevin Costner who is American.
Mel Gibson played William Wallace. Its not like Britain hasn't had non-brits play roles.

As long as you can do the accent and play the role convincingly I don't mind where an actors from.

The Harry Potter thing was because the author didn't want the movie adaption to be crazy unfaithful to her stories and disapoint the books fans. Alot of authors are the same. This being a comic book movie forum we all know of film adaptations that have puked all over the original source material to make a quick buck off the popularity of a book.


In terms of acting most British actors attend Drama school and really work on their craft of acting. Alot of really great American actors do too but I think in LA you get more people who are models or have taken a couple acting classes cast in roles where they are choosen for on looks rather than acting talent. Most people who are cast purely on looks in the UK end up on soap operas like Hollyoakes that people don't take too seriously.

Back in the day even if actors were not good actors they atleast had screen presence which is something alot of modern actors in general lack.