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Post by Hauntedknight87 on Feb 24, 2019 0:19:56 GMT
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Post by politicidal on Feb 24, 2019 0:46:32 GMT
Aquaman's success does suggest that people don't care beyond a certain point. Then again, and this is no slight against Arthur Curry, but the character doesn't hold the same iconic status as Superman does. It's different from James Bond whom I think was meant to be written as a Caucasian Englishman since Kal-El is technically an extraterrestrial. So it shouldn't matter but we know by now just how rigid fandoms are when it comes to canon continuity.
The one time I've seen a different background for Superman on film was in that DC animated movie GODS AND MONSTERS which featured him as the son of Mexican migrants and that was a unique take nor did it distract from the story.
Until reading this link I hadn't even heard of Calvin Ellis but that could be an interesting take. Perhaps in eighty years where this type of thing isn't a big internet controversy but we're not there yet as a species.
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Post by scabab on Feb 24, 2019 3:59:47 GMT
I'd say he does. That's what he is and what he's always been known as. Aquaman isn't that iconic so it's not really the same and Momoa still looks mostly white anyway.
Black Panther and Blade always need to be black in the same way too because it's what they are.
It's not like there's any shortage of white actors to play the part. Casting Superman as another race would stir controversy for nothing really.
They have the character Steel who is as close to a black Superman as you're going to get and nobody has taken that part up yet so that should be the priority.
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Post by Hauntedknight87 on Feb 25, 2019 14:33:15 GMT
Does Superman need to be White? No.
He's an Alien from another world, he could be played by any actor regardless of ethnicity.
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Post by Vassaggo on Feb 25, 2019 14:47:07 GMT
Because of the Moses analogy I always thought it would be fun to have a Middle Eastern Actor.
Edit: Not a 100% serious, but think of the heads that would explode a Middle Eastern actor playing an actual Alien here illegally raised by Corn Fed Midwestern Parents...
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Caesium137
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Post by Caesium137 on Feb 25, 2019 15:29:26 GMT
He was white in the comics so has to be white on the big screen, non-starter argument really
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Post by Grabthar's Hammer on Feb 25, 2019 15:57:00 GMT
I don't think he needs to be white. Calvin Ellis was the black Superman on a different Earth in DC comics and that was a perfectly good storyline.
I'd prefer to see a proper version of Steel before a black Clark Kent, but the idea that we'd see a specific skin color and automatically say "no thank you" seems pretty racist lol.
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kratos
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Post by kratos on Feb 25, 2019 23:53:31 GMT
Does Superman need to be White? No. He's an Alien from another world, he could be played by any actor regardless of ethnicity. He may be an alien but he is a caucasian alien. That's what he has always been and has always been known as. Why would there be a need to change it? There's no shortage of white actors and people aren't complaining about him being white so he'd be changed for the sake of being PC and that would backfire tremendously. There's plenty of black characters in comics for black actors to play. There's a whole list here en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_black_superheroesSo why does a black or asian man need to play a famous white character when they have their own characters?
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Post by politicidal on Feb 26, 2019 1:37:18 GMT
In the Man of Steel's absence, they could experiment with an Icon movie. That could be interesting. He was Milestone's answer to Superman.
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Post by Grabthar's Hammer on Feb 27, 2019 16:36:45 GMT
I was actually thinking about this again I think that as long as we've had our white Superman that it's okay for Clark Kent to be a different race at some point, especially in the movies.
Like we've had 8 live-action films, something like 5 live-action TV shows, numerous animated films/series, and not to mention over 80(!) years of comics, all featuring white Clark Kent. The idea that there would be people who would throw a tantrum if there were to be even ONE film featuring a non-white Superman is just wildly selfish.
It's been 80 YEARS of good old Caucasian Superman! We would have plenty of material to keep us warm at night when we're crying in our pillows over a dark skinned Clark.
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Post by lenlenlen1 on Feb 27, 2019 17:58:59 GMT
Thanks for posting the article. Interesting read.
This subject came up when it was suggested that Michael B. Jordan was being considered for the role. Before I get into my opinion on this, let me just say that I believe the reason he was even suggested was that as a studio Warner Brothers is contractually obligated to seriously consider anyone that works for them regardless of race. That being the case the people who wrote articles about it glommed onto the notion that he was black as a means of getting clickbait, because they knew people would get worked up about it.
Onto my opinion:
No, Superman does NOT HAVE to be white. I agree with the points made in the article. BLASPHEMY YOU SAY! Hear me out...
There's nothing inherently white about his story. We've all seen black people play aliens from other planets before, so that's nothing new. It could simply be that Superman parents were black Kryptonians, so he's black, and when he lands on Earth he's "adopted" by the Kents. Period. No problem. Otherwise he can be exactly the same character. I think that he might experience some instances of racism, but those could be written as reasons why he's so interested in heroism and justice, the same way that bullying has been traditionally played in his early years. I honestly believe he can be black/African American and still be the same hero we all know.
Some of you are going to say "that's reverse racism! What if Black Panther was cast with a white actor?!" Well, that's NOT the same at all. The vast majority of black comic book characters were created with blackness in mind, Superman was NOT created with whiteness in mind; it's just what was done then. Blackness wasn't even a consideration at the time.
Black Panther on the other hand is an African character. He HAS to be black. Luke Cage/Powerman was created in response to the social movements going on in the inner cities of the 70's. etc. etc. They have to be black because their story is inherently about blackness.
There's nothing inherently "white" about Spidermans story, or about Punishers story, or about Wolverines story, or even about Batmans story (though you could make an argument that the Wayne family couldn't have been African American and have that level of old money), etc.
On another note, I've had this argument with friends. They said "No! Never!" However, they didn't have a problem with Journey Smollett (an African American actress) being cast as Black Canary (a blonde blue eyed white character). Why is that? "Because...", they said, "...she's not a major character and Superman is".
Nonsense! If it doesn't matter for one it shouldn't matter for the other. Anything less is a hypocritical contradiction. In fact, I would argue that doing a version of Superman as a black man would be an even greater statement because of the importance the statement that would make: That black people can be our greatest heroes too. The success of the movie Black Panther tells me that I think we might more ready than many people seem to think...
Ok, now let me have it!
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Post by PreachCaleb on Feb 27, 2019 23:56:48 GMT
Bingo. That right there is the crux of it. Superman's race is not part of his origin or even his creation (though the Moses parallels are there). As a huge Superman fan for over twenty years, I would have no problem with a black Superman. Provided the story is better than Man of Steel.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2020 1:28:17 GMT
Well, they could create a black superhero who has super powers.
But Superman is just too iconic.
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gromel
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Post by gromel on Mar 5, 2020 8:06:22 GMT
Superman no, Clark Kent yes. Midwest small town WASP farm boy. (though we have already had a part-Asian one in Dean Cain, still he is also part-white, and the ethnic ambiguity arguably conveys "alien adoptee immigrant" better than a pure Asian look would've or whatever)
Let's be real, Momoa was only cast as Aquaman because of Game of Thrones, just like Dinklage as Trask in X-Men. He was alright though, and as already said Aquaman isn't as iconic so they could get away with it. But such a visual departure is not automatically optimal, and only accepted over time.
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Post by Skaathar on Mar 6, 2020 19:32:47 GMT
He doesn't need to be white but it certainly makes more sense for him to be white.
I mean, he grew up on a farm in a small town in Kansas. I've been to similar towns before and I stuck out like a sore thumb because I wasn't white. If Clark's whole childhood schtick was about him blending in and flying under the radar, it makes more sense for him to be white.
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Post by Prime etc. on Mar 6, 2020 19:54:42 GMT
The rocket from krypton could have landed in Harlem or Alabama.
He would still have to blend in within that environment.
He doesn't need to be white because Perry White has that covered.
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Post by Skaathar on Mar 6, 2020 19:57:37 GMT
Thanks for posting the article. Interesting read.
Black Panther on the other hand is an African characters. He HAS to be black.
Ok, now let me have it!
You do realize there's a good amount of Caucasian Africans right? |
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Post by politicidal on Mar 6, 2020 20:41:42 GMT
It sounds too much of a task for WB to handle, but I'd like to see a 'Into the Spider-verse' take on Superman but in live action. Just think of some gobbledygook to explain how Clark Kent meets Power Girl, Conner Kent, and Supergirl. There's a villain that brings them together like maybe Brainiac or Mr. Mxyzptlk and they have to work together.
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Post by lenlenlen1 on Mar 11, 2020 14:30:45 GMT
Thanks for posting the article. Interesting read.
Black Panther on the other hand is an African characters. He HAS to be black.
Ok, now let me have it!
You do realize there's a good amount of Caucasian Africans right? Please elaborate...
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Post by Skaathar on Mar 11, 2020 15:26:08 GMT
You do realize there's a good amount of Caucasian Africans right? Please elaborate... Wait, you really don't know that there's a decent amount of white people in Africa? Check out the demographics of South Africa. While the dominant race is still black Africans, about 4-5 million are white Africans. That's not an insignificant amount. What I'm trying to say is, just because a person is African doesn't necessarily mean they're black. |
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