Man Of Steel Turns Superman's Pal Into A Lady

[Anachronism]

Frankly, if Jimmy Olsen is going to transform, I'd rather they went with something classic.

In seriousness though, I don't think this is particularly important. Jimmy is a fun character, but I don't see this as making that significant a difference overall. Besides, pretty much everything people remember Jimmy for is his transformations from the Silver Age, and if he's not transforming into something, he's not really doing anything at all. So, this doesn't bother me.

 

[Parakeettheprawn]

Okay, no big deal.

Right?

Or is this going to be another one of *those* things the comic book fans get up in arms about before actually seeing the film?

I really hope not, as a fan (or at least former fan) I'm at least more worried about whether Star Wars as I knew it as a child is going to be thrown in a dumpster by J.J. Abrams so he can become the -next- George Lucas rather than whether Olsen's got a cock or not. This sort of thing happens -- they did with BSG, they'll do it again. As long as it works, I don't care.

 

[Ukomba]

I have no strong feelings one way or the other. Jimmy is a little anachronistic at this point anyways.

 

[Mr. Q]

How many times has that happened again?

Yeah, Jimmy has been the poster child for getting into weird situations where he's transformed into something else or is impersonating someone else. Maybe we should ask MovieBob about the time Lois Lane become a black female (look it up).

As for this revelation, I highly doubt her role is going to have any major impact on the film. Much like Heimdall being played by Idris Elba, its nothing to get your knickers in a twist but I'm sure fanboy nation will disagree.

 

[TiberiusEsuriens]

My bet is when casting calls went out they didn't specify a name or gender to the role, then cast whoever was best fit for the part and matched gender with that.

Naaah, this is sexist Hollywood, why would they actually bother with good casting? One can hope.

 

[Eliwood10]

I was going to make a joke about how Jimmy Olsen was always being transformed into something or other, or that the movie would turn out to bee a Silver-Age style elseworlds story, but I see I've already been beaten to the punch.

 

[Atmos Duality]

Seems like a somewhat odd decision, as long as they don't turn it into some sort of love triangle I don't really mind either way though.

Perhaps it's just the cynic in me but knowing Hollywood that is sadly the most plausible reason for the gender swap.
Hell, the new Olsen isn't even a Redhead, so I'm already having a hard time buying she's the "sister" of Jimmy.

 

[Kargathia]

They probably hadn't filled their boob quota yet.

(When in doubt about Hollywood, think cynical.)

 

[Legion]

Probably because they listened to the constant discussions complaining about the lack of female characters in comics, games and other "geek" fiction?

As for why they decided to choose this character, rather than use another, or introduce a new one? Artistic licensing for the sake of it probably. It works quite well in some cases though, Elementary with Lucy Liu as Watson has turned out brilliantly.

 

[saintdane05]

So, why not just choose Lana Lang?

 

[synobal]

Seriously? No spoiler warnings or anything. Thanks a lot there Escapist.

 

[Ukomba]

Seriously? No spoiler warnings or anything. Thanks a lot there Escapist.

This information is a spoiler in the same way that reporting Anne Hathaway is playing Catwoman is a spoiler. It isn't a plot point, it's casting.

 

[Eternal_Lament]

As others have said, my only worry with this development is that it acts as a catalyst for some trite love triangle. It's not that something like this wouldn't have happened if another character was put in, but the fact that they decided to go with a swapped Olson as opposed to say Lana Lang says to me that the studio was going out of their way to set-up the triangle, which just seems silly to me (assuming of course this is what will happen). Hopefully that isn't the case and it was more of a "Huh, you know I can really see her as a female Olson...Why not just make Olson a woman?" type of thing

 

[Baresark]

Meh, Jimmy as a character was a huge throwback to how Superman began. I don't know if I would consider the Olsen character useful at all, personally. Sounds to me like they just wanted more sex appeal among the cast. I think it would have been more prudent to remove the character altogether rather than change a character that is considered an important aspect of the Superman mythos by many people. But, we'll see what happens. I mean, Superman as a film franchise needed a reboot. They needed to reestablish the characters for a modernized retelling. The old movies were awesome, don't get me wrong. But the characters in the movies have been nothing like the characters in comics for a really long time. Swapping a few choice details makes sense to further separate itself from the original film franchise.

 

[Zeraki]

Oh, this can only end well. I wonder how the more hardcore fanbase will react to this change.

Spoiler

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Spoiler

How many times has that happened again?

COMICS. ARE. WEIRD.

 

[chozo_hybrid]

As others have said, my only worry with this development is that it acts as a catalyst for some trite love triangle. It's not that something like this wouldn't have happened if another character was put in, but the fact that they decided to go with a swapped Olson as opposed to say Lana Lang says to me that the studio was going out of their way to set-up the triangle, which just seems silly to me (assuming of course this is what will happen). Hopefully that isn't the case and it was more of a "Huh, you know I can really see her as a female Olson...Why not just make Olson a woman?" type of thing

Same here, if it's to make an character more interesting and to get more women in the cast for a bigger female presence in the film then I'm all for it. If it's a love triangle though, that will be silly...

 

[Drauger]

-_____- seriously?.............. I already tought the movie was gonna suck but, this crap already ? as someone already posted , why don't they just use Lana lang ? well another movie I won't see I guess.

 

[Gatx]

Maybe they're trying to do what Amazing Spider-man did - new movie, new villain (or at least not the main villain) - save the traditional love interest and villain for sequels.

Also she might even go the way of Rachel in the Dark Knight, since she's an original character.