People responded that for 50 years, Spider-Man and Peter Parker have been portrayed as white. My wife responded that virtually every fictional hero, from King Arthur to Sherlock Holmes to James Bond, has been described or portrayed as white; does that mean that there could never be, say, a black Robin Hood? And isn’t that very argument a tautology?
People replied that, if the goal was to provide more roles for black actors, Hollywood is free to come up with a new, black, superhero and make millions of dollars off the idea. Glowing Disc replied that, again, that sealed off thousands of years of fictional characters from ever being anything but Caucasian.
People asked what my wife intended – was Peter Parker supposed to live in Harlem and listen to hip-hop? No, she replied; he could simply be black and have a black Aunt May. Everyone else, including Mary Jane, could stay white.
So, what’s the point? she was asked. If nothing in the story changes, why does it matter that he’s black?
Then the food came out and the matter was left unresolved. I’m curious to know what the dopers think. Could a black actor play Spider-Man? Why? Why not?
Fans would go apeshit because they’re messing with the story. This isn’t really a racial thing. People seem fine with Samuel L. Jackson playing Nick Fury, because the reboot of his character (by Marvel) changed his ethnicity (incidentally, the character’s appearance was based upon Jackson, so he’s essentially playing himself). The original portrayal was by the Hoff.
There are black superheroes out there. Some were stereotypical 70’s blaxplotation types. Others are much more nuanced. Unfortunately most aren’t ultra popular. They are talking about making a Luke Cage movie last I checked. But as for Spider-Man, it might do well, or it might not, but part of his character is a skinny nerdy white teen, and people might not like a change just for diversity’s sake.
I think a black Spiderman would be okay. Spiderman’s ethnicity isn’t a big part of his character, so I don’t really see it as a problem. Having a black, I don’t know, Shadowcat, would be kind of weird because it’s been mentioned so many times in the comics that she’s Jewish.
I agree that making Spiderman black for diversity’s sake is not necessarily a great idea. But if there’s a compelling reason (ie, a particular actor would be fantastic in the role), why not?
No reason why there shouldn’t be a black Spiderman. There’s already been an Indian Spidermanand a Hispanic/ Irish Spiderman. There would be no objection if, for example, an older Peter Parker were to train a young black man with similar powers as his replacement.
However, the Peter Parker version is white, and shouldn’t be changed just for the sake of political correctness.
A black Robin Hood would be silly. It would basically require rewriting the story from the ground up, to such a degree that it would no longer be Robin Hood. If he’s black, he’s no longer a dispossessed English nobleman fighting against the usurper for love of his homeland, now is he?
I’d not have a problem with a black Spidey, but frankly I’d rather have a new character on the same lines.
I recall years ago that a black actor was playing Jesus in JC Superstar. The theater got a lot of angry calls, letters and I believe death threats, even though if Jesus even existed he’d probably look more black than the usual blond white guy he is usually portrayed as.
As for Spiderman et al, I have no problem with a black or other ethnic group playing the or a lead role.
Characters like King Arthur or Robin Hood, it would be difficult for me to see them as non white because of where they were located and the time period. However, if done right, I could accept a different black, brown etc. playing Doctor Who, James Bond, Spiderman, Batman or Superman as long as they had the right actor.
Frankly, I’m pretty bored with Superman, but if they did something this I’d be more inclined to see it.
Comics are a visual medium, so Peter Parker should be kept as close to how he’s represented in his series. I’d have as much problem with a black Spider-Man as I would a white Blade or Luke Cage.
Kevin Costner is an American from California. He’s not English and not a noble, but he played one as an actor. Why couldn’t a black actor play an English noble?
There’s already a black Spider-Man like character. Static.
I love Virgil, but the dynamic would change, between Peter and Aunt May. Can you imagine someone writing a black grandmother as frail and unable to face the cruel realities of the world? It’s a bit old-fashioned these days, but the patriarchal family setting still lets it work. In the stereotypical black family setting in Queens, you’ve got the women ruling.
I’m not saying it can’t be done, I am pointing out where it would change things. Generally, though, the only real issue is that, then Spidey wouldn’t look like Peter Parker. So you’d have to make a new civilian identity. Which I’d think you really should try out in the comics first, so as to see if it works or not. Sometimes it does, very well: Blue Beetle, Atom (Rest in Peace, Ryan) Sometimes it takes time for it to catch on. (Wally West ) Sometimes, the readers really really don’t like it at all (Kyle Rayner)
Spidey, more than most heroes, is more than just the costume and powers, he’s the entire mise en scene. Change part of it, you should see if it works or not, before tossing it into a movie.
If I’m prepared to accept that getting bitten by a spider, radioactive or no, means that you gain tremendous spiderfighting abilities, I’m prepared to accept a black actor as spiderman. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a casting choice where I thought the ethnicity of the actor negatively affected the character portrayal.
I dunno. Why can’t a black actor play George Washington in a multi-million dollar movie? (I would, mind you, accept one playing Thomas Jefferson - provided it was Mel Brooks directing.)
I’ve never been been by a radioactive or genetically modified spider, and I have “tremendous spiderfighting abilities.” I’ve found countless spiders and killed them all.
Wow, that’s weird brainslip. I mean, of course spiderlike fighting abilities. My point remains, however, that I think this is a mountain out of a molehill issue.
Because the audience would find it distractingly bizarre than an 11th century Englishman was being played by a white guy. It’s not a case of racial equality, it’s just that that would take the audience out of the story. Lots of things about any Robin Hood movie are ridiculous and ahistorical, of course (people complain a lot about Costner’s accent, but nobody complained about Sean Connery playing Richard the Lionheart with a Scottish accent. Richard the Lionheart didn’t even speak English) but some things, like Connery playing a King Richard who can speak English like a Scot, won’t distract from the story, and some things will, like if King Richard had been played by John Cho.
By comparison, I don’t think a black Spider-Man would be distracting to anyone but comic book fanboys, and even most of them would likely be okay with it. There’s nothing that logically dictates that Peter Parker must be white, the way that it would be illogical for Robin Hood to be black.
But what does Peter’s skin color add to the story? I think people don’t want black actors playing Spider-Man because they are worried that the actors will make Parker culturally black. It would certainly feel weird if Peter Park talked in African American vernacular English. I don’t think Will Smith would be a perfect fit, but I can see Donald Glover doing it.
There is a difference between giving Peter Parker red hair and making him Irish. As long as they just change the skin color but not the character’s culture I won’t mind the choice.
That was my problem with the remake of The Honeymooners. You can have black actors play white characters, but the characters can’t suddenly become culturally black. If you do that then it changes the story. In the case of the Honeymooners it made it much worse.
However, I do think it would be harder to make Jane black. That’s because Jane has no personality other than her red hair. And if you get rid of that then you’re getting rid of the character.