Would you mind black actors portraying superheroes who are normally white?

[HigherTomorrow]

No, I wouldn't mind a black actor/actress playing a typically white superhero too much so long as they didn't change too many other things.

But you can bet that people would mind if they cast a black superhero as being white. That's just the way this kind of thing works, and it's pretty silly.

How at all is it silly? Turn it around and have Luke Cage played by a white guy and you'd be screaming racism.

 

[Whitenail]

It depends, throughout my life my only interactions with most superheros are when they adapt the stories and characters from whatever comic/radio-play/zoetrope into film so for something like Nick Fury I wasn't bothered at all by Samuel L Jackson portraying him, because I had no idea who he was.

Admittedly I'd be a bit confused if they try'd to sell me a black Superman, but if they can reimagine a relatively unknown character (unknown so far as to not rustle any feathers except for amongst their most devoted fans) with a fitting black actor who can pull of the character's style and persona then I wouldn't mind.

 

[Trolldor]

A superhero of a different race? Only on the condition that their race is not an at all relevant aspect to their character.

For example, Thor can't be played by a black man, he's a Nordic god.

 

[anthony87]

Is the character white in the comics? Then he's white in the movie.

Is the character black in the comics? Then he's black in the movie.

Why the fuck is this apparently so hard for people to wrap their heads around?

 

[gigastar]

As long as the actor does a decent performance, no I wouldnt give a flying too-year-old shit from a old, sick cat with permanent diarrhea about who plays who.

 

[AdamRBi]

Yeah, I do. Characters like Peter Parker were conceived and written as he was, as soon as you change something he suddenly becomes a completely difference character.

I don't mind adding depth to a character, adding elements that may have not been established when the character was first invented. But when you change something fundamental to a character such as race, gender, or upbringing you essentially make a whole new character. At which point you're no longer writing Spiderman, you're writing about a whole new character with spider powers using the Spiderman name for recognition.

If the change is fundamental, but also doesn't add anything to the character, then the change itself is completely pointless. In the point of Spiderman, I understand there should be no discrimination towards the actors; but imagine if this was done for the comic series? It'd be weird and out of place, much more then the movie would. Though on the other hand, I wouldn't mind seeing it. You can take a lot more chances when it comes to comic books.

All in all I don't like it, unless the series is meant to be a "What If" Scenario. If it was "What If" it'd be an interesting take on it. If it's a reboot and you make an established character a difference race "just because" then I don't like it.