Black Thor Actor Talks About Racist Comic Book Fans

[Animyr]

He does look pretty awesome in that screenshot.

And my, has this thread grown.

 

[Jacob Haggarty]

Is it just me or does he look like a brute from halo 3?

Its that damned hat thing that does it.

 

[tj236]

You know... I bet if the Old Spice guy was cast, there would have been fewer complaints.

 

[tj236]

eh I get the complains tho... You can't make that massive of a change to an established character, especially one that well known and of the religious nature and not expect to hear a lot of flack about it... I mean imagine if I made a movie and picked Tom Hanks to play Martin Luther King JR.... you can bet the backlash would be horrendous and the people who complained about me casting a white guy to play a well known black figure wouldn't get called "racist"

Wow. I just pictured Tom Hanks in black-face. Just... wow.

 

[moviedork]

imagine if I made a movie and picked Tom Hanks to play Martin Luther King JR.

There's a huge difference between casting a character for a comic book movie and casting a historical figure for a Bio Pic. Casting Tom Hanks as Martin Luther King JR would be dumb because it changes Dr. King's entire message. Does casting Idris Alba really change Heimdall's message all-that much?

 

[Atmos Duality]

I liked black Nick Fury. Samuel Jackson was a good pick for the role because he does that barely-constrained rage bit very well, while still holding that air of absolute dominance (something very necessary to make a normally in-control character like Tony Stark look meek and subservient in comparison).

So why not one of the Aesir too?
To quote Ghostbusters:
"It's a she."
"I thought Gozer was a man?"
"It's whatever it wants to be."

 

[samsonguy920]

People need to get their head out of their ass for once and for all!

I, for one, like Idris Elba and I look forward to what he can do as Heimdall. Far as I am concerned the comic purists raising a stink about this are being just as racist as those not being as subtle.

 

[samsonguy920]

So why not one of the Aesir too?
To quote Ghostbusters:
"It's a she."
"I thought Gozer was a man?"
"It's whatever it wants to be."

I couldn't have said it any better. You, sir, have my sword.

 

[RJ Dalton]

Are people seriously still banging on about this? I mean, if it was about the actual Norse gods, I'd agree, for the simple reason that if an African god were played by a white guy in a movie, there'd be equal backlash and I'd agree with it.
But it's a fucking comic book. They're portraying the "Norse gods" as highly intelligent aliens from outer space. They can cast whoever they want because they're not the actual "Norse gods." They don't have to cast them according to the mythology.

 

[Zero=Interrupt]

Black Thor Actor Tries To Boost Thor Movie Attendance With Marketing Stunt About Being Black And Norse.

Next, the all-white cast of the new production of "Roots" talks about how much they loved Levar Burton in Star Trek: TNG.....

 

[The Deadpool]

I think the people DEFENDING the casting choice are more worried about race than people complaining about it.

This isn't to say that the racists AREN'T whining too, but ad hominem arguments are never a good thing (Remember Niven's 16th law).

If you think this was a good casting call for Heimdall, one must ask... Would you be okay with Robert DeNiro playing Thor? I mean, he's a WONDERFUL actor. He's got good range. I'm sure he could play the part well, certainly as well as anyone, probably better than the current choice (whoever the hell he is). That'd be a great idea, right?

 

[Jenx]

The key point, however, is that without the context is does look like a double standard, which is one of the biggest parts of the problem.

Aye, double standards are always lurking somewhere out there. Actually there's another example I have of casting similar to this one, except in a very less known movie (I assume). If you've seen the 2000 TV movie by Hallmark called Jason and the Argonauts, one thing that always stood out to me an that always irked me was the fact that Orpheus was black. Now I live in Bulgaria, I've been to Greece several times too and I am fairly sure we do not have a lot of black people between us, even less in ancient times. The actor wasn't all that good at his role either, so I don't think the "best actor for the job" card can be used.

So here's the question - is it racist to think that a story about Mediterranean heroes should be portrayed by actors who at least look Mediterranean?

 

[jspheonix]

Jesus is meant to be black (logically), I don't see people complaining about his presentation in just about everything

 

[fozzy360]

Would you be okay with Robert DeNiro playing Thor? I mean, he's a WONDERFUL actor. He's got good range. I'm sure he could play the part well, certainly as well as anyone, probably better than the current choice (whoever the hell he is). That'd be a great idea, right?

That comparison makes no sense. de Niro being cast in Thor would bring complaints that would have nothing to do with skin color. People don't want Elba as Heimdall merely because he's black.

Norse Gods. See, thing is, they should look like, I dunno, Norsemen? Maybe? Just a thought? Hell, if you wanna get all official about it why not just go ask the "Norse" church; I think they call it "Germanic Neopaganism" now.

How about we make a Black Panther movie and cast T'Challa as a blonde haired, blue eyed white man. Maybe a modern remake of Roots, starring Tom Cruise. Wtf?

It's not racist to expect a Norse deity to be white, it's common f'ing sense. What's next, black hobbits? /facepalm

If this movie was about the actual Norse mythology, then I could accept the complaints, but it isn't. The movie is based on a line of comic books that use that mythology as a base to create their own story and happenings. Your examples of Black Panther and, especially, Roots are bad ones because those stories specifically have to do with race. If white people were cast in these films for roles that specifically require black people, then people would actually have a damn good reason to complain.

 

[Scarlet Mongoose]

I've always been of the opinion that your race doesn't matter as long as you portray the character well enough.

Billy Dee Williams was a fine Harvey Dent in the '89 Batman film.
Michael Clark Duncan as Kingpin was one of the only good things about the Daredevil movie.

I say as long as they do justice to the role, skin tone isn't that big of a deal.
Though, I have a minor caveat with that statement. I feel that sort of thing should only really apply to the minor/supporting characters.
But even so, I'm not totally opposed to the idea of it happening to a main character. I guess it all depends on your willingness to accept changes.

 

[ReiverCorrupter]

-snip-

You see what I just did there was construct an argument where my conclusion follows reasonably from my premises. Calling people pricks over and over again doesn't accomplish much.

And being kind only goes so far. There's no sense in skirting around it. This entire discussion has purely been an outcry over how the color of one's skin matters more than any of the other obvious issues this story has when compared to real Norse mythology. I can't be kind about that, because the people who feel it is an issue, regardless of which side they are on, aren't doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. And frankly, I don't see why I should use "proper" language to explain this.

It's like the argument over using swear words. If you're using replacement words to try and soften the blow, it's still the same blow. You've just made it more palatable.

I think the real issue here is that everyone's so quick to be offended about -everything-. In your case, you agreed with the premise (either that or just felt like tidying up my post), but still felt the need to point out the words I used. Isn't it kind of funny that, in my argument to point out that bickering over the little things that don't matter, you picked out my use of the word "prick"?

I wasn't really even making a point about kindness or courtesy. Name-calling is an argument ad hominem and is therefore a fallacy. I think you're delusional if you think being angry and calling people pricks is going to accomplish anything. The best way to call somebody out is to objectively point out how they are wrong by forming a coherent argument around the given facts of the matter. What, do you think if you call somebody a prick you're going to do anything but make them angry and more solidified in their position? It might help you vent but by no means have you won an argument. You don't have to be nice, you just have to try to be reasoned.

 

[Nerf Ninja]

I saw Thor today (excellent film, I now want Kenneth Brannagh to direct Superman)

If I hadn't already known he was black it wouldn't have even registered with me. All I saw was a good actor.

(Kind of feel proud of myself for that)

Thinking about it though there should have been a lot more black guys in the Asgard army. Thousands of them and only one black guy?

 

[standokan]

He did a good job so I don't give a rat's ass wether it's right or wrong plus, I must say, gold DOES look alot more awesome on a 'black' person than it will ever do on a white man, not a bling joke.

 

[airrazor7]

So everyone crying foul over the movie casting in this forum, are you suggesting that this movie and Norse Mythology is largely defined by skin color? Are saying that unless every character is cast properly by the shades of their pigmentation, that we the potential viewers will miss a every integral part of the story? Whether you realize it or not, that is exactly what you're saying.

 

[electric discordian]

Okay they tried to make this less Racist by creating a Black Character. And they made him the Doorman! Oh I dispair, I was half expecting him to say "Can I open the Door massa!" It was fail on everything!