Stan Lee on "Black Spider-Man"

[the Dept of Science]

I can't imagine the change would affect the movie that much.
There are some characters who definately should be kept as they are, but I can think of very few examples outside of period dramas, gangster (mafia) movies or the like, where it would just be unrealistic. Spiderman isn't really a movie about cultural identity or race issues. Black guys can be middle-class and nerdy as well. It's not like they are going to turn this into SpiderBoyz in da Hood.

The way I imagine this panning out is all these people are complaining now, the movie will be released, people will forget about the fact that Spiderman is black 10 minutes into the movie and just enjoy it for what it is.

 

[bakonslayer]

If you don't give him the part, he'll just make his own B-list parody movie. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1237838/] So either way...

 

[Signa]

I see how it is, we've got a black president, but we can't have a black spiderman? I thought things had changed!

Joking aside, I don't know how a black spiderman would work. They were talking about this on the morning show I listen to. They concluded that one or two things stand strongly in the way of a black spiderman. 1) As mentioned in the article, Peter Parker is a known face to non-comic book readers. We all have our image of him in our minds, and dark skin just doesn't seem to fit that. And 2) Peter Parker is a nerd. How often do you see black nerds acting like nerds? Steve Urkel probably was the only example in pop culture that pulled it off well, but he was way over the top. The show host said that he could see an Asian pull off Peter Parker well, but a black guy would seem more like parody. It just comes down to what we perceive as character archetypes, and not racism as I think a lot of people are on the edge of calling it.

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

Want an alt race for your comic charatcer pull a Ultimate or atl world setting...and while your at it gind everything great about it into the dust....

 

[theultimateend]

Uhm, isn't Peter Parker white?

I think it's a really stupid idea to change an established character's skin color.

Then you're probably pissed about Ultimate Nick Fury. I find it awful that a character who's been around for so long has his counterpart being adapted into everything instead.

Ultimate universe characters != regular universe characters.

Please don't make that mistake again .

I love Donald Glover... but this doesn't make any sense. It's like if they were making a World War II documentary and Hitler was Asian. I don't care how good of an actor they are, that doesn't make much sense.

You just struck movie gold.

We must make a movie with an Asian Hitler...NOW.

How the hell has nobody thought this up before? Changing the race of great leaders (great as in abilities not like...good guys...don't jump me), we could have black stalin, asian hitler, uh...hmmm...white pharoah?

Wait wait...somebody help me. Oh wait I got it! White Genghis Khan!

We will make a fortune.

 

[Jamie Doerschuck]

I feel like if they don't go with a Black Spidey then people will consider it racist, but if we were to make a black superhero white it'd also be racist.

And quite honestly I don't feel like any of the black actors who are popular today would be a good fit for the role. Spiderman is a nerd, as has been said time and time again on this thread. And Will Smith or Donald Glover are not exactly as nerdy as they come. I actually thought Toby was a pretty good fit.

Was there a disagreement or something between him and the producers? I don't understand why he isn't Spiderman again.

 

[Jamie Doerschuck]

I can't imagine the change would affect the movie that much.
There are some characters who definately should be kept as they are, but I can think of very few examples outside of period dramas, gangster (mafia) movies or the like, where it would just be unrealistic. Spiderman isn't really a movie about cultural identity or race issues. Black guys can be middle-class and nerdy as well. It's not like they are going to turn this into SpiderBoyz in da Hood.

The way I imagine this panning out is all these people are complaining now, the movie will be released, people will forget about the fact that Spiderman is black 10 minutes into the movie and just enjoy it for what it is.

That depends on how they go about making the movie and the character. In "The Lightning Thief" Grover is a nerdy white kid who's kind of socially awkward, and his weapon of choice was a magical pan flute. In the movie they made Percy the socially awkward one and Grover was his saving grace fairy black person. Also, he went from a wimpy pan flute player to being incredibly skilled wielding two daggers, and I'm pretty sure he said "Yo" 50 times in the movies.

 

[zombie711]

thats understandable

 

[HardkorSB]

I think they should try releasing a comic book series about a black guy being Spiderman but everything would have to change - the main character (fuck black Peter Parker, let's go something else), his environment, friends and foes, the origin story etc.
This could be epic if there was a lot of effort put into it (good writers are a must in this one).

 

[tsb247]

BAD idea. Stick to the storyline.

This is what I was thinking. A black actor is not necessarily a bad thing, but it departs from the subject matter (the comic books) on which Spider Man is based.

 

[Spookimitsu]

No.

I barley withstanded Nick Fury but Spider Man would be last straw.

Nick Fury is black in Ultimate Marvel. This was not made-up for the purpose of the film, it has been this way for about ten years.

Spiderman, on the other hand..... I would have to shake my head.

But by all means, let him audition!

 

[roguetrooper96]

While were at it lets change obama into a white guy... and switch everyone elses race too.

 

[Mukil]

What is the world comming too?? The world's greatest rapper is white, the best golfer is black and the tallest basketball player is chinese...

Naw just playing! =D For me its less about the fact that he is black but more about the fact that I am so used to toby being spidy that I'll need some one who is so similar to him for me to be like 'spidey's back'.

Ummm but it could be like Dr. Who. I never liked it when they got a new doctor in, but after a few episodes I could never see it any other way!

 

[Raykuza]

While were at it lets change obama into a white guy... and switch everyone elses race too.

I love Donald Glover... but this doesn't make any sense. It's like if they were making a World War II documentary and Hitler was Asian. I don't care how good of an actor they are, that doesn't make much sense.

So are you guys implying that Peter Parker is a real person or that Hitler and Obama are fictional?

Spider-man can be black. Peter Parker cannot. Spider-man is a super-powered mystery boy underneath a costume who fights crime and super villains. Peter Parker is a skinny, white nerd struggling to keep up with school/work/whatever. The two are not inseparable. It would be interesting to see a Spider-man who is not Peter Parker. Anyone else think so?

 

[XAdrianX]

Im pretty much concerned about the black actor thing, I mean I couldnt care less I personally LOVE that dude in "comunity" the problem I have is if the movie go wrong a hell lot of people is gona be like: "yeah and they changed spider man into black WTF d00dz?!" which means playing the "stick to the storyline" card

 

[Ayay]

Glover as spiderman is just wierd , whats next Vin disel as shaft ? Not saying it cant be done but it would just be wierd.

 

[Lizardon]

I just don't think it would go over to well. It seems to me that it would be the equivalent to casting a 50 year old balding man to the role. It just doesn't fit the character and his roots.

Spider-man can be black. Peter Parker cannot. Spider-man is a super-powered mystery boy underneath a costume who fights crime and super villains. Peter Parker is a skinny, white nerd struggling to keep up with school/work/whatever. The two are not inseparable. It would be interesting to see a Spider-man who is not Peter Parker. Anyone else think so?

That I think could work better. Making a new Spider-Man, regardless of race. Then they also wouldn't be tied down to the original comics so much and have more freedom.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

Peter Parker is the definition of "white boy" it's not doing the character justice any other way. The same way Daredevil is a white kid from Hell's Kitchen. It's not racism it just doesn't really fit. And thinking "hmmm...reboot reboot, hey why don't we make him black?! that'll open up a whole new market and change things without actually changing anything!" strikes me as more than a bit racist. Make Mary Jane black and I'll be impressed

black chick + red hair = major fail


so hopefully this does not happen..

im all for anyone having a chance at any role, but i mean come onnnn peter parker is the definition of nerdy white kid that gets super powers, thats completely taking away from the backstory!

 

[Lono Shrugged]

black chick + red hair = major fail

I never said she should be a redhead. So no sir I do not "major fail"
If they do spider-man black he should have blonde hair like Wesley Snipes in Demolition Man. Actually just make a film about that character instead.