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

[kitsunefather]

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

Actually, that was kind of the point. To give the Nazis the impression that their ideal was on the opposing side.

Also, one of the most effective interrogators during the Nuremburg trials was blonde with blue eyes, because the Nazis would feel at ease talking with him because of their conditioning.

And Marvel's actually included the idea that the there was a project similar to the Tuskegee airmen, where they tested the different super-soldier serums on black soldiers and then sent them on suicide missions, and just kept it classified (which they won't put in this movie but I'd personally like to see).

OT:
For some characters, their looks are a component of it. Superman is the blue-eyed boyscout. Thor is a Viking. But other characters (Hank Pym, the Human Torch, Daredevil, etc.) could do with some kind of change to shake things up a bit.

As an aside, Samuel L Jackson as Nick Fury?

Much better than the alternative:

Yeah, the real question should just be "why aren't there more black/asian/hispanic etc. superheroes with there own comic books?" That way, you'd see more movies with varying super hero nationalities. It works both ways. Imagine if the Blade or Shaft was cast as a white man in the movies. What the hell would they be thinking?

Or sweet monkey christ the horrible names they'd give non-white heroes (DC in particular): Black Lightning, Indian Chief, etc.

 

[Instant K4rma]

I wouldn't mind based on the fact that they are a black person, but the race of a hero is a very important part of their character, and to change something like that would divert from the source material quite a bit. Imagine the Iron Man movies if Tony Stark was played by Denzel Washington, or if Captain America in the upcoming film was played by Don Cheadle. Though they would most likely put on fine performances, the sudden change of race from the source material would probably throw off a large amount of people.

EDIT: And don't get me wrong, this would work both ways. To have a white person portray a black hero would have the same general affect as a black actor portraying a white hero. The race of a hero is just too much of a defined characteristic to change for an adaptation, in my opinion.

 

[mikeybuthge]

If it's a direct continuity yeah, but what if say, they use the new Batman Inc. story arch where Bruce trains more Batmen in different countries, or if they do a sequel not in present day, where the Batman is forgotten, and someone new dons the cowl? Think more about possibility than continuity

 

[PoliceBox63]

I don't think I'd like it for a big character. A character's ethnicity is part of who he/she is (doesn't define them but it's a part of who they are). I hated the idea of a black Spider-Man and Fury (I dislike Jackson's interpretation of the character) and I'd also be really disappointed if they cast a non-black person for Luke Cage. They are who they are. On the other hand, the ultimate universe showed that your skin colour doesn't decrease the effectiveness off the character (Nick fury) however, the Marvel movies all seem to be based in the regular universe so some consistency would be nice.

 

[TheRobotandtheBeast]

The color of the hero is part of who he is. Only races who are that hero, should be that hero. At least in the case of Green Lantern. White guys should only be Superman, etc.

Green lantern was black in JL Unlimited and more badass for it

 

[Vryyk]

Morgan Freeman could do any hero ever created.

 

[kitsunefather]

Morgan Freeman could do any hero ever created.

You know.. I'd actually be intrigued to see Morgan Freeman as Superman.

I think it would be rather silly. Like a giant playing a midget.

John Rhys-Davies in the Lord of the Rings. Tallest guy in the room plays the Dwarf.

 

[Valkyrie101]

Yes, in the same way as I disagree with the whitewashing of black characters. Keep some consistency, except where the character's race is ambiguous.

 

[EightGaugeHippo]

I dont care, aslong as they do a good job.

 

[Calbeck]

Only if white or Hispanic or Asian people can play "traditionally" black characters.

COMING FOR FALL 2012: SHAFT. Starring Dana Carvey.

 

[Soxafloppin]

Well to be honest yea, i would. Not because i dislike Black people, but i like the Actor to somewhat resemble the Character he is playing, Its the same problem i'd have if they randomly gave spidey Ginger hair and made him fat.

 

[Vibhor]

Most certainly not.
If this activity pisses off the hardcore fans then I promote it

 

[Kenko]

Well, did anyone mind Sam Jackson as Nick Fury?

Wesley Snipes as Batman. Now that would be awesome.

Also, Donald Glover as Spiderman. (ninja'd)

Wane Brady as the Joker.

I could actually see Snipes as Batman. Sounds pretty cool actually.

 

[Snotnarok]

When a character is designed usually the race is picked. Normally race doesn't factor into my head but we're talking about something that was designed not born.

Why is it different when designed? Because race usually has culture behind it, to change a characters race can change a character and honestly that can be very jarring. The only way I think it'd work is if it was a spinoff, like ...er...Think Spiderman 2099 but with another race, it's a different saga I guess so anything goes.

Hell it worked for Spidergirl (yes gender not race but shadda) and she seems pretty cool. It just took spiderman to have a kid for it to work better.

But for the main thing? No that really doesn't work in my head.

 

[teebeeohh]

as long as it doesn't interfere with who the character is(black panther has to be black) or with the origin (Batman was already mentioned).
for that reason a non-white Cap wouldn't work, nobody would have tried to turn a black man into a supersoldier in the forties.

 

[Nopenahnuhuh]

Suddenly I think America wouldn't really care much for Super-man if he were to be made black. Though I've got to admit a black batman would be freaking awesome!

 

[badgersprite]

No. Movie adaptations are already AU so who cares?

 

[GrizzlerBorno]

I'm was not much of a comic book kid when i was little, so the first time i EVER saw the Green Lantern superhero was in the Justice League cartoon series (i don't remember the exact name) where Green Lantern was an African American ex-army dude turned superhero. and i thought that was perfectly fine and i actually liked him. and then i eventually found out that Green Lantern was 'originally' a white guy. and THEN i found out that GL is 'now' a "Ryan Reynolds!" So, i would have actually preferred if he was a black guy in the movie, purely for the 'first impression i have'.