Black MJ? No problem. Black Flash and Liz Allen? Oh brother!
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Marvel/DC
HarveyManfredSinJohn — 9 years ago(October 07, 2016 01:50 PM)
It seems that the character being played by Zendaya is still called Michelle, and is a bookish character (although that might imply she's the 'Ultimate' version of MJ). But I see no issue with casting MJ with a black or other ethnic minority actress considering the character is a working-class woman who isn't defined by her race.
However, the casting of Flash and Liz Allen, who are traditionally portrayed as the popular kids and stuck-up bullies in the comics, is more problematic since these characters, although redeemable, start off as Peter's nemeses and are far from positive role-models.
I don't see how progressive it is to cast black and ethnic minority actors as the bad, nasty, bullying kids. Moreover, casting a goofy 5'8" wimp as a star athlete just seems bizarre irrespective of Tony Revolori's race. He may wish to do justice to the role, but sometimes race and build are insurmountable issues.
Surely it would have made more sense to cast Revolori and Laura Harrier as new or alternative characters, and thus maintain the filmmakers' desire to present a racially mixed Brooklyn, and then introduce Flash and Liz as richer white kids who end up attending the same college as Peter later on in the franchise.
Unfortunately, it seems the MCU may have hit its first stumbling block because everything about this film indicates a mess, including the unnecessary involvement of Tony Stark as dirt-poor and struggling Peter Parker's patron. It's hard to effectively portray a key element of Parker's life, his constant financial woes, if he's got Stark looking out for him. -
Hassan_Scarborough — 9 years ago(October 08, 2016 07:13 AM)
Yeah just what we need another "bully"
A) Stop calling Zendaya "Black"
B) If it okay to deviate then it's okay to change the characters completely.
Flash doesn't have to be a jock or a bully.
Parker is already Spider-man and knows with great power, comes grew responsibility. -
Thenewnexus — 9 years ago(October 08, 2016 08:01 AM)
Flash and Liz may be throw away characters in this same thing with Ned leeds and Betty Brandt
As in this may be the only movie we see them or if they are in sequels we all see less of them, That's what happened with Flash in the last two seres.
Class is Pain 101. Your instructor is Casey Jones -
HarveyManfredSinJohn — 9 years ago(October 08, 2016 03:20 PM)
Flash and Liz may be throw away characters in this same thing with Ned leeds and Betty Brandt
This will be the first time Liz will be depicted in live-action, and yet here she is as a throwaway character.
Plus, rich girl characters are sexy in comic-books, but so far all the women in the Marvel films have either been scientists or spies. [yawn] Unfortunately, White Queen/Emma Frost belongs to Fox (and they screwed up and wasted that character in 'X-Men: First Class'), and thanks to Edgar Wright, we never got to see Wasp/Janet Van Dyne in 'Ant-Man', and if she does appear in the sequel, she likely won't be the happy-go-lucky heiress-socialite she was in the comics, but a heavily traumatised victim of the quantum zone.
What about having some sexy fun-loving women in these films? -
ItsEddieHaskellBeyotch — 9 years ago(October 10, 2016 05:41 PM)
I get it. You don't get the attention you beg for in the politics forum(which is ground zero for most IMDB racistsI don't even have to check to know that's where else you probably post), go stir up the ol' racism on the Spider-Man message board
You attention starved pussy.
When there's no more room in Hollywood, remakes shall walk the Earth. -
HarveyManfredSinJohn — 9 years ago(October 11, 2016 07:14 AM)
What racism?
I'm actually calling on Marvel to present Flash and Liz Allen as representatives of 'white privilege', which is how they come across in the comic-books.
Time and time again, comic-book movies have had the opportunity to skewer white privilege, and time and time again, they've failed.
This year's Batman v Superman had the perfect opportunity to present Lex Luthor as a bigoted, demagogic, middle-aged businessman running for President, and thus do a commentary on one of the most significant events occurring in the US right now, but instead they decided to present Lex as a geeky, jittery Mark Zuckerberg clone apropos of nothing. And the character thus turned into an epic fail when it could have potentially gone into the history books as a brilliant takedown on a certain would-be President.
Sadly, modern comic-book movies don't seem to engage with the world and social issues of the day, the way that past Batman movies (for instance the Burton and Nolan Batman films) did.
Marvel had the perfect opportunity to present Parker's tormentors as the representatives of white know-nothing privilege. Instead Flash will be portrayed by an ethnic minority actor who looks even geekier and more physically unassuming than the guy playing Peter Parker.
So, no, I am not a racist. I just have a much more complex and intelligent understanding of racism and how to depict it than someone who thinks the only way one deals with racism is simply by casting more black and ethnic minority actors in roles, irrespective of whether those roles offer positive role-models or in fact present minorities in a negative light. -
christiem — 9 years ago(October 22, 2016 11:19 AM)
Liz being black makes no difference to me. She was Hispanic in Spectacular Spider-Man and that was a great adaption.
I'm very unhappy with the casting of Flash though. His race aside he should be a jock and a bully otherwise what's the point of having him there?
As far as I know Flash was never a spoiled rich kid in the comics. His dad was an alcoholic who was never proud of his son. He might even have been beating him. That's why he acted out in school by bullying Peter. -
RoyWilliamsbeatsCoachK — 9 years ago(October 23, 2016 01:38 AM)
People really need to move past something as stupid as skin color. You are stuck in a much worse time for human rights in our history when you focus endlessly on race. People literally fought and died so race wouldn't be an issue anymore. Please quit bringing up race when talking about a comic book movie.
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calamb — 9 years ago(November 04, 2016 12:29 PM)
I have no problem with black versions of these characters. I do wish Flash was a bit larger in comparison to Peter, but what are ya gonna do?
I will say this, though. While black versions of Spidey characters makes very little difference to me, I will be a bit bummed if MJ isn't a ginger. She's one of the few characters in this universe whose appearance is a large part of who she is. She's the hot, fiery redhead. If Zendaya does turn out to be MJ, then she better have red hair. -
AndrewGS — 9 years ago(November 24, 2016 12:26 AM)
In the comics Liz wasn't very stuck-up, at least not a nemesis or bully.
But in the comics none of Peter's classmates/contemporaries were very friendly (aside from eventually Liz and Betty and, in revamps, Mary Jane, Harry and Sally) or positive role models so to increase the ethnic diversity of the cast at all would involve playing somewhat unpleasant and non-role model characters. But the movie will probably make the high school cast more likeable and friendly, at least by the end.