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

[Dorian6]

I don't think the color of a person's skin is all that important, and as long as the actor can do justice to the character, and the writers don't use it as an excuse to indulge in annoying stereotypes, then you can do whatever.

I personally would have loved to see Glover as the new Spider Man, at least then the movie would still be holding my interest.

Most of these characters were developed in the early-mid 20th century, times when you'd only see blacks as servants, or asians as offensive stereotypes. The thought of a non-white protagonist was unheard of.

I guess it comes down to the question "Would I want to go see a movie with a black Wonderwoman, or an asian Batman?"

F*ck yeah I would!!

 

[TrollOgerElf]

or how about be bring back all those not white hero's
only make them not suck

 

[AgDr_ODST]

Now, I think the superhero that would REALLY shake things up if he was black would be Superman. Imagine a pod crash-landing in a field in the middle of rural Kansas probably (if you were to set the film in modern times) right in the middle of the civil-rights movement, and an older white couple finding a black baby inside, then deciding to adopt him as their own. That's pushing some headline-making boundaries. And you can bet it would be another awesome portrayal of diversity to have a black man fighting for truth, justice and "the American way". That puts racial equality right into that American way he's fighting for, and you can bet some sections of the American public who need a wake-up call would have a hissy-fit about it. But there's nothing inherently wrong with the idea, and it may actually be a good idea to look at for any Superman movies in the recent future. Why can't a black hero have the same respect as a symbol of good that Superman has? Why wouldn't a black Superman work?

This sounds like fantastic idea that would make for a potentially great movie or comic book series

Wesley Snipes as Batman. Now that would be awesome.

yeah except for the fact that hes going to jail for tax evasion

 

[Norix596]

Not all that major - the race of superheros have changed over time.

 

[Mattox33]

I think it would really, really depend on the character. I mean for instance: Black Panther played by say an Irish guy. Wouldn't really make a whole lot of sense. Clark Kent, in the same vein, is supposed to appear as a happy, simple farmboy from Kansas. That wouldn't quite fit as well with a black guy, given the culture surrounding that area.

With that said, could Hal Jordan be black and still make it work? Absolutely. What if The Flash was played by a mexican? I can see that. Spiderman actually I think would work better as a black kid, given his backstory. Tony Stark could totally be hispanic, and it would still definitely work. Wonderwoman should, by all rights, probably look Brazillian.

I think as long as their race isn't important to their backstory, powers or motivation, it's not an important detail. If it is an important detail, no, leave it alone.

 

[Antonio Torrente]

Well, did anyone mind Sam Jackson as Nick Fury?

I actually liked the African-American Nick Fury.

 

[likalaruku]

No, especially if they have yummy Jamaican accents.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Actors should be as close to the role they are trying to play. So for that reason, if a character is white, the actor should be white and so on.

 

[Choppaduel]

Wesley Snipes as Batman. Now that would be awesome.

yeah except for the fact that hes going to jail for tax evasion

Really? well in my mind 90s Snipes is playing Batman anyways so w/e.

 

[uchi mata]

I would have a problem with it, cause everyone knows what would happen if a white guy got a part that was supposed to be black guys part.

 

[deonte9109]

You know I will be brutally honest....yes I would mind. And its not because of any prejudice I have against any ethnicity its just more so that Hollywood already butchers story adaptations and just using actors that dont visually represent the character they play would just be infuriating. Mind you that if there was some alternate ethnic identity for the hero ie Ultimate Nick Fury then I would be ok with it because I know that its still relevant to main story. If they had out a white Nick Fury in Iron Man I wouldve been fine since comics had had Nick to be both black and white. If the hero was black before then go ahead and film a black hero or not but if for the entirety of the comic they've been white black purple etc. then keep it that way.

 

[Kurokami]

I was watching Donald Glover on Comedy Central Presents and it reminded me of the campaign for him to audition for the new Spider-Man. I personally don't mind because a character like Peter Parker is the everyman. I can't really think of any heroes that are normally white who absolutely have to be white.

What are your thoughts?

Nick Fury = Samuel L Jackson.

Get. The Fuck. Out.

Samuel L Jackson is good for his own variety of humor going on which is fine for many roles, Nick Fury is not one of them.

As for people of other races portraying superheros, fine I don't care. Provided you explain that it's set in an alternate universe or some kind of bullshit. I like my heroes the way they are.

 

[Mcface]

Some can, some cant.
I can totally see Captain America, Spider Man, or The Hulk casting black guys to play them.

others.. not so much.

 

[Syphous]

You know I will be brutally honest....yes I would mind. And its not because of any prejudice I have against any ethnicity its just more so that Hollywood already butchers story adaptations and just using actors that dont visually represent the character they play would just be infuriating. Mind you that if there was some alternate ethnic identity for the hero ie Ultimate Nick Fury then I would be ok with it because I know that its still relevant to main story. If they had out a white Nick Fury in Iron Man I wouldve been fine since comics had had Nick to be both black and white. If the hero was black before then go ahead and film a black hero or not but if for the entirety of the comic they've been white black purple etc. then keep it that way.

Exactly this. It would be like making Batman black suddenly, or making Spawn white. It's too much of a shock to the system, it just wouldn't feel right.

 

[the27thvoice]

Frankly I would mind, yes. I would like my movie superheroes to be as much as possible like the comic book superheroes. I'm absolutely sure people of all races can act, but in portraying famous people you need to look the part.

On a side note, if anyone saw The Bone Collector and read the book, that's a first class example of bad casting. Thom is not a fat black woman, he's a fit white man and Lincoln Rhyme is not Denzel Washington. (Actually, I could accept Denzel if he weren't so damn cheerful, he was supposed to play a bitter man driving all people away.)

 

[Guest_Star]

I was watching Donald Glover on Comedy Central Presents and it reminded me of the campaign for him to audition for the new Spider-Man. I personally don't mind because a character like Peter Parker is the everyman. I can't really think of any heroes that are normally white who absolutely have to be white.

What are your thoughts?

As many has said already in this thread - it depends on the comic character.
Batman, Supes, Luke Cage, Magneto or Black Panther wouldn't work at all as different ethnicies.
They have strong personalities even outside the costume and/or their ethnicity is a essential part of the character.

The Punisher, Hulk, Spidey on the other hand.
These are characters that either have bland and anonymous alter egos, or they are so defined by their actions that ethnicity doesn't really matter.
(The sad part is that of the top of my head I can't think of any non-white characters that qualify. Says a bit about the comics book industry, donn'it?)
*edit* Wait. Spawn? Wasn't he afro-american?

But there's one other major issue - this will only work if the characters remain essentially uncoloured (pun intended) by their ethnicity.
If Glover can act, he should be considered for the role as Spidey, as long as Spidey doesn't end up like a jive-talkin racial stereotype.

 

[alrekr]

Captain America could use an ethnification, as sending a blonde-haired blue-eyed superman to fight the nazis seems a bit counterproductive.

But thats the irony! Cap was made using nazi research thats why he is blonde haired blue eyed, he's what the nazis think the superman should be. Read the source material before posting or at least check the wiki page.

 

[Treeinthewoods]

I think it would be a good thing, it wouldn't bother me at all. I'd also be happy to see white actors portray traditionally black heroes.

Why? It has zero effect on the story. Turn Superman black right now and he's still Superman, change Spiderman latino and nothing changes either unless you go for cheap racist "differences." Skin tone does not affect your personality at all.

What does skin color matter? I'd love to see Denzel play Batman, Vin Diesel could pull off a decent Luke Cage. Hell, if I'm ever lucky enough to get either a Flaming Carrot or Squirrel Girl movie I don't care who the actor is or what color skin they have.

Now of course if they turned Squirrel Girl black and changed her into a caricature of herself I'd be upset, but no more then if they used a white actress who sucked. If the actress has the chops it would awesome regardless.