So a black actor is considering role of Johnny Storm and nerdrage has turned racist again.

[Yuuki]

While this isn't as extreme as having a black actor playing Superman or a Korean guy playing as Batman, I can definitely see where the negative reaction is coming from.

Question, why do they even have to call the movie Human Torch? Why can't it just be a movie about a black guy with fire powers called something else? A large part of the reaction stems from the fact they're attempting a comic tie-in.

 

[Something Amyss]

Is it even possible to think this could be stupid idea, without shouts of 'RACIST' and a large amount of pitchfork wielding??

I don't know. Let's hear a strong and compelling reason this is a bad idea.

(Yes, I know you said you don't care about this case, but as it pertains here, I'd like to see one)

 

[Tombsite]

Why can't people stay true to the source material.

Because it's comic books. A very large part of the source material is completely bonkers

 

[SwellyMan]

Firstly you should watch this http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/the-big-picture/3183-Skin-Deep Moviebob brings up a lot of good points in the wake of the whole Elba/Heimdall debacle.

Secondly, Regardless on what you think, you'll probably still end up seeing the movie, and if the movie and the actor are good we'll all be back here when they decide to cast Aquaman as a black guy, and people will cite this and Thor of why not casting an actor due to race doesn't matter. And if they're crap, the movie will just fall into cultural nothingness and people won't give a shit. When you really think about it, there isn't much to lose.

 

[PeterMerkin69]

Comics is a visual medium, it's not at all racist or surprising that people would want the characters to be true to the source material. It's nostalgia more than anything. The Thing looked fucking stupid in the last movie. It didn't feel 'right' the whole time I was watching it. The whole reason fans get excited about seeing their favorite comic characters on screen is because they like the characters. That's kind of the point. If they start changing them for arbitrary reasons then they're not really those characters anymore. When you think Johnny Storm you probably have the 616 version in your mind. When you think Thing, you think rocky guy with a big eye brow. When you think Doom, you don't think whatever the Hell that abortion from the first film was. Why not swap everyone's ethnicity around? White Storm, black Magneto, Maori Jubilee!

Why should he be black? If you're going to go fucking around with almost a hundred years of history you'd better have a good reason, not a pandering shoe-horn and a tub of lube.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

I remember that time Heimdall was going to be portrayed by Idris Elba despite Heimdall always being white as the northern snow. I also remember Elba being one of the biggest bad-asses in Thor and doing a really good job in that role. That was a completely different character, actor, role, lore, etc. Sue and Johnny Storm are canonically siblings after all. Then again that can always be explained away with adoption or some other such thing.

My understanding was that the two Fantastic Four films were so reviled by fans and critics than any change in any way would be for the best. I look forward to seeing what comes of all of this; hopefully it'll be a great film with a Dr. Doom to insert into the shared film continuity (Dr. Doom is awesome after all).

 

[Mister K]

I think Brad Pitt should play Luke Cage. What? It will "add new depth to the character", or some other bull****.

how would that add new depth?
just curious how this works in your head.

Oops. Forgot to add *jokingly* at the end. Bad VMK, really bad.
What I meant, actually, is YOUR actual question. Such changes to characters are made to simply stir controversy, to add awareness about movie + to show that we are all "Oh so freakin' tollerant". They add nothing. They do not add depth, or change anything important.
And that's why I mentioned Luke Cage and Brad Pitt. Such change would be made just for the sake of the change + mentioned controversy.

 

[Randomosity]

If they make it work, I am perfectly okay with this. Though I am in the camp of making Sue and Johnny both the same race. In my opinion, it gets weird otherwise and ultimately would take up time in the movie to explain it. Even if it is a quick explanation, it is something that takes up time from stuff that would actually be important to the story. Best to avoid it all together and make em both the same race. I don't care if that race is Black, White, Ferret, Moon people, oompa-loompa, or otherwise, just as long as they are a match set.

 

[Sacman]

I'm sure we all know comicbook fans have a big bug up their ass when it comes to authenticity. And it's their right, I mean, they love these characters and want to see them stay as true to the source material as possible. Didn't Daniel Craig get critisized for being a blond Bond? That wasn't about race either.

Yeah, everyone forgets that nerds will rage about any, tiny, little continuity error, race really has nothing to do with it, just the fact that something changed at all... because really, without continuity, all is lost in nerddome...<.<

And honestly I'm kind of with them... though, I'm apparently one of those racist scum who thinks that if you don't look the part, you shouldn't get the role...<.<

 

[nathan-dts]

Unless Sue is black, then I don't like the idea. You can reboot the character, just like Fury, but you can't change their family or else they have to start messing with the character's background, too.

Why does Sue have to be black as well to keep people happy? One simple line "Hey, this is my adopted brother Johnny" and done. Not much to it.

I guess you're right.

 

[LongAndShort]

Ah, I find these conversations difficult. I think the best way to sum up my opinion is that if we want more inclusive casting, it should be done by creating more inclusive roles. I don't think they should turn characters black (not least because the reasoning frequently seems to be so the studio can scream "Look! A black actor!", and that offends me), I think they should start production on adapting some black superheroes to the screen.

 

[MorganL4]

I didn't agree with it but I could at least understand the argument for Heimndal.. He is a Norse god, I don't think the Norse knew that people of color existed... But Johnny Storm is from New York... I am pretty sure there are black people in New York. But as Johnny Storm is Sue Storm's younger brother wouldn't she have to be black as well? (Not that it matters if she was, but just saying if one is the other should be too)

 

[O maestre]

I think the only mistake is giving the FF another try, it is either going to link up with the avengers in some way otherwise I cannot see it succeeding, i think the stigma of the last FF movie will haunt any kind of reboot.

OT: race and ethnicity doesn't really matter unless it is a distinctive part of the character....like casting the prince of Persia as some white dude, or a movie about Malcolm X with a white guy as Malcolm... it all depends on the context. i am not a FF fan but I don't there is anything undeniably white about the Human Torch. Unless the movie takes place in the early half of the 20st century where a black astronaut is simply an impossibility. If it is taking place during our century, then I see no problem. The American president is black, so race and occupation should no longer be linked in regards to perception.

 

[Edguy]

Is it even possible to think this could be stupid idea, without shouts of 'RACIST' and a large amount of pitchfork wielding?? live in a world full of people just waiting to be offended, and it's getting boring. If something's non-canon, how can it be racist to point it out?

Couldn't agree any more. Personally, I don't care all that much about the F4, the 2005 movie made sure of that, but it still mildly annoys me. Change for the sake of change isn't a good thing. Especially considering that he's one of a pair of siblings, and if they're going with one of the being adopted or what-not, that just complicates the situation for no apparent reason. Maybe the have a script where said situation is part of the plot somehow, and that might turn out good. But it might also not, and in that case it just gives everyone who loves the comics just another reason not to like it.

I haven't read the comments, but I don't really see what racism have to do with this.

 

[Zef Otter]

Well casting a Black should be no problem :3

Now Turning a super hero Middle eastern would cause more uproar I guess.. *shrug*

Not much of a controversy.

 

[Tombsite]

I didn't agree with it but I could at least understand the argument for Heimndal.. He is a Norse god, I don't think the Norse knew that people of color existed.

They actually did. Called them "Blue men" for some reason. Brought some back as "souvenirs". My ancestors where horrible as well as colour blind

 

[Tombsite]

I haven't read the comments, but I don't really see what racism have to do with this.

Oh there are non racist reasons not to do this (and the thread is pretty good at discussing them). Still a whole lot of "accidental racists" people out there who use canon as an excuse to be, you know racist.

 

[HannesPascal]

I think the biggest question is why their trying to reboot that series after the trainwreck that was the other movies.

Because Fox will lose their license to marvel if they don't do a Fantastic Four movie during x amount of years (this was the main reason the new spiderman movie was made).

OP At least they don't want to replace Johnny with a robot to avoid kids setting themselves on fire while pretending to be the Human torch.

 

[mwhite67]

Imagine what would happen if people made a Spawn movie with white Spawn. People would probably blow a gasket. I though he was Sue's brother so are they both black? Because if not now you're changing more origin stuff than just race. I personally hate Fantastic 4 so I don't care what they do. It's probably just a publicity stunt anyway.