First the Karate Kid, Next Spiderman? - The Orange Mane

TheReverend · 06-01-2010, 05:38 PM

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/movi...pider-man.html

Twitter Campaign Wants 'Community' Actor to Be First Non-White Spider-Man
by Lindsay Robertson · June 1, 2010
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse'

Could the movies soon have the first African American Spider-Man?

If thousands of Twitter users get their way, the star of Sony's upcoming reboot of the franchise will be Donald Glover, best known from his role on NBC's "Community." This weekend the Twitter hashtag "donald4spiderman" became the #3 trending topic in the U.S., and the campaign is still gaining steam.

The origins of this latest attempt by social media users to influence casting decisions occurred last week. After surveying the five mostly unknown white actors said to be vying for the role, Marc Bernadin, a writer for the sci-fi site io9.com, called the choices "bland" and asked, "In this day and age, why does Spidey have to be a white guy?" In response, commenters threw out Donald Glover's name as a possible contender, and a Twitter campaign was born.

A unique aspect of this latest fan campaign is its wholehearted support by the subject in question. Glover seems to like the idea (though he makes it clear on his Twitter page that he's interested in auditioning, not just being handed the role without first having to prove his worthiness). While he had nothing to do with its inception, Glover himself has been promoting the campaign, instructing fans to tweet the #donald4spiderman hash tag at strategic times to keep it trending.

In years past, an Internet petition of this kind might not be given much credence, but given the overwhelming success of the recent social-media uprising to get Betty White a hosting gig on "Saturday Night Live," this could be Glover's ticket to director Marc Webb's tryout room. He and his fans will have to act fast, though: The Hollywood Reporter is already forecasting the five most likely contenders for the role, and Glover is not on the list

Glover, a comedian and former writer for "30 Rock," has starred in only one movie so far: "Mystery Team," a comedy he co-created with his sketch comedy team, Derrick Comedy, which came out in 2009.

One hurdle Glover's fans will have is in his presumed bankability as a movie star: "Mystery Team" brought in a meager $89.4 thousand in domestic box-office sales.

TheReverend · 06-01-2010, 05:40 PM

I'm ridiculously pro equal rights... but this is ridiculous.

The character is white. Comic fans like me throw a **** fit if any of the story line is messed with or poorly portrayed. Intentionally changing a major part of the character was forgivable for a small role like Nick Fury and the Kingpin in the B movie "Daredevil"... but Spiderman? Get the **** out.

sirhcyennek81 · 06-01-2010, 05:41 PM

What next? A white Shaft?

TheReverend · 06-01-2010, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirhcyennek81

What next? A white Shaft?

Great joke. Where'd you get it from?

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheReverend

Anyone else mad the new karate kid is black?

In b4 "that's racist"

Sorry, but it changes the brand. It'd be like if Marlon Wayans had played Duke in GI Joe (not that the guy they picked was any better... angry face insert here), or Hasselhof starring in a remake of Shaft, or a black Dread Pirate Roberts in a Princess Bride remake, or if they made Optimus Prime a jet.

It's on par with the "Wtf?" I'm still getting forced down my throat that Hollywood Nick Fury is Sam Jackson. Someone like Mel Gibson would've been perfect... just let him throw in an obscure Jew hating reference and he totally would've been on board.

sirhcyennek81 · 06-01-2010, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheReverend

Great joke. Where'd you get it from?

Actually I pulled that out of my ass. But apparently GMTA.

cmhargrove · 06-01-2010, 05:50 PM

I heard they're already working on the next Blade film starring Jean Claude Van Damme. Here's a sneak preview (still in production):

- The most amazing home videos are here

Dagmar · 06-01-2010, 05:48 PM

Why does his race make a difference to the character of Spiderman?

sirhcyennek81 · 06-01-2010, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dagmar

Why does his race make a difference to the character of Spiderman?

Because Peter Parker has never been portrayed as black. Its not about being upset that they want a black spider man, but the source material has him being white. It would actually hurt the flick to change the race of the character despite the source material.

Would you make a movie of Huck Finn and make Jim a white guy?

Dagmar · 06-01-2010, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirhcyennek81

Because Peter Parker has never been portrayed as black. Its not about being upset that they want a black spider man, but the source material has him being white. It would actually hurt the flick to change the race of the character despite the source material.

Would you make a movie of Huck Finn and make Jim a white guy?

But that has themes of race. Spiderman should not.

sirhcyennek81 · 06-01-2010, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dagmar

But that has themes of race. Spiderman should not.

Spiderman is white, not black. It makes zero sense to the story to change the character to fulfill some BS political correctness. There are black superheros. Spiderman is not one of them.

Gcver2ver3 · 06-01-2010, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirhcyennek81

Spiderman is white, not black. It makes zero sense to the story to change the character to fulfill some BS political correctness. There are black superheros. Spiderman is not one of them.

saying there are black superheroes is like saying there are white rappers...

but it doesn't matter to me...i'm used to spidey being white myself...

TheReverend · 06-01-2010, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dagmar

But that has themes of race. Spiderman should not.

Spiderman is one of the most entrenched American characters/icons in history.

Period.

GoBroncos84 · 06-01-2010, 06:47 PM

As a fellow comic book nerd, I guess I should weigh in on this. I agree that it can be very upsetting when they make significant changes to the source material, which is solid enough to remain constant and could be relayed through the film medium without significant change. Most comic book movies suck, big time. So many classic storylines are butchered (phoenix saga in X3, wolverine's origin story, etc) and turned into P.O.S. films. I can rant and rant about all of the issues I had with the movies I mentioned, but that is for another time.

A big question that needs to be asked is this: Does a physical characteristic like race really matter in terms of story? Is it any different than a 6'3" Hugh Jackman playing a 5'3" Wolverine? Famke Jansen not having green eyes despite the fact Jean Grey is notorious for having them? Maybe those things are less noticeable, but none the less a shift from the source material. I'd like for the filmmakers to have that attention to detail, but I have a much bigger problem with story changes than those kinds of things. Ultimately, spiderman being white or black shouldn't really impact his story at all. His skin color, to my knowledge, has never been a topic or focus of story in any of the comics.

I have no issue with black nick fury or kingpin. I think Sam and Michael do a decent job with those characters. I don't think you should make a "black spiderman" just to have one. That's stupid. However, if you are holding auditions for the character of spiderman and the person who does the best job at bringing the character to life is something other than white, so be it. Tobey Maguire was a HORRIBLE spiderman. Reading the comics, spidey is a major smartass. Constantly joking around. He isn't emo. He isn't flat and boring. He isn't as funny as deadpool, but possibly ranks number 2 in the comedy department. Give me a true to comic spiderman character and I couldn't care less what color he is. Don't give someone the part because he is a token, that is actually more racist. Give it to whoever will be the best at performing the role

Houshyamama · 12-20-2010, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dagmar

But that has themes of race. Spiderman should not.

So it is politically incorrect for a little white kid to relate to a white superhero?

Is it politically incorrect for a little black kid to relate to a black superhero?

As whites, apparently we're not allowed to derive pride from being white or to associate with white icons.

We're just supposed to feel bad about all the naughty things we've done.

Fedaykin · 06-03-2010, 04:17 PM

Spiderman's ethnicity is not a central part of his character. There are no story elements which necessitate him being white. They already made huge changes to his character and back story, but his skin color doesn't matter -- except to the bigots.

TheReverend · 06-03-2010, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fedaykin

Spiderman's ethnicity is not a central part of his character. There are no story elements which necessitate him being white. They already made huge changes to his character and back story, but his skin color doesn't matter -- except to the bigots.

b**** please

TheReverend · 06-01-2010, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dagmar

Why does his race make a difference to the character of Spiderman?

Because it's Spiderman.

I'm all for getting more black characters in movies. That's fantastic. Just make a new character then and leave childhood/American icons alone.

I'd be just as pissed if they cast a white chick to play storm in X-Men.

Are we going to cast a Latino to play Captain America?

Houshyamama · 12-20-2010, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dagmar

Why does his race make a difference to the character of Spiderman?

Because Spiderman is white.

Personally, I think Liam Neeson would make a great Gandhi.

El Minion · 12-20-2010, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Houshyamama

Because Spiderman is white.

Personally, I think Liam Neeson would make a great Gandhi.

That hasn't stop Hollywood from putting white actors in non-white roles. John Wayne as Genghis Khan or Mickey Rooney as Japanese neighbor in Breakfast at Tiffany's. And most recently with Angelina Jolie playing the real life Afro-Chinese-Cuban, Mariane Pearl. If white actors can play real life people of color, why can't non-whites play fictional white characters?

Casper Van Dien will never be confused for being Filipino, yet he played the protagonist role as the Filipino Juan Rico in Starship Troopers adaptation.

I think the people that that complain if it ain't white it ain't right, doth protest too much.

ohiobronco2 · 12-20-2010, 03:29 PM

Houshyamama · 12-20-2010, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Minion

That hasn't stop Hollywood from putting white actors in non-white roles. John Wayne as Genghis Khan or Mickey Rooney as Japanese neighbor in Breakfast at Tiffany's. And most recently with Angelina Jolie playing the real life Afro-Chinese-Cuban, Mariane Pearl. If white actors can play real life people of color, why can't non-whites play fictional white characters?

Casper Van Dien will never be confused for being Filipino, yet he played the protagonist role as the Filipino Juan Rico in Starship Troopers adaptation.

I think the people that that complain if it ain't white it ain't right, doth protest too much.

Those are white people pretending to be other races. John Wayne wasn't trying to be a white Genghis Khan... completely different situation.

I've read Starship Troopers, great book.

But an iconic Filipino character he is not.

El Minion · 12-21-2010, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Houshyamama

Those are white people pretending to be other races. John Wayne wasn't trying to be a white Genghis Khan... completely different situation.

I've read Starship Troopers, great book.

But an iconic Filipino character he is not.

Wait so it would less of a farce if a black actor in white face played Peter Parker then just having a black actor play Spiderman straight

Al Jolson approves

broncocalijohn · 12-20-2010, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dagmar

Why does his race make a difference to the character of Spiderman?

Because the white guy Spiderman says, "Im SpiderMan."
The black Spiderman would say, "Who the **** asked you honky?"
It would just be too much of a change and scare the living daylights of tweeners. While going for the PG 13 label, black spiderman would have it at R without a fight from the studios.

cutthemdown · 08-02-2011, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dagmar

Why does his race make a difference to the character of Spiderman?

Because black people can already do all that stuff. White boys need to get bitten by a spider to fly like Jordan.

FADERPROOF · 06-01-2010, 05:52 PM

Does black spiderman still have a white girlfriend? Or do they change all chracter protrayals?

06-01-2010, 05:38 PM	#1
TheReverend www.PatrickTurley.org ^ buy this... twice Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 33,020 Adopt-a-Bronco: Mike Shanahan	First the Karate Kid, Next Spiderman? http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/movi...pider-man.html Twitter Campaign Wants 'Community' Actor to Be First Non-White Spider-Man by Lindsay Robertson · June 1, 2010 Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' Could the movies soon have the first African American Spider-Man? If thousands of Twitter users get their way, the star of Sony's upcoming reboot of the franchise will be Donald Glover, best known from his role on NBC's "Community." This weekend the Twitter hashtag "donald4spiderman" became the #3 trending topic in the U.S., and the campaign is still gaining steam. The origins of this latest attempt by social media users to influence casting decisions occurred last week. After surveying the five mostly unknown white actors said to be vying for the role, Marc Bernadin, a writer for the sci-fi site io9.com, called the choices "bland" and asked, "In this day and age, why does Spidey have to be a white guy?" In response, commenters threw out Donald Glover's name as a possible contender, and a Twitter campaign was born. A unique aspect of this latest fan campaign is its wholehearted support by the subject in question. Glover seems to like the idea (though he makes it clear on his Twitter page that he's interested in auditioning, not just being handed the role without first having to prove his worthiness). While he had nothing to do with its inception, Glover himself has been promoting the campaign, instructing fans to tweet the #donald4spiderman hash tag at strategic times to keep it trending. In years past, an Internet petition of this kind might not be given much credence, but given the overwhelming success of the recent social-media uprising to get Betty White a hosting gig on "Saturday Night Live," this could be Glover's ticket to director Marc Webb's tryout room. He and his fans will have to act fast, though: The Hollywood Reporter is already forecasting the five most likely contenders for the role, and Glover is not on the list Glover, a comedian and former writer for "30 Rock," has starred in only one movie so far: "Mystery Team," a comedy he co-created with his sketch comedy team, Derrick Comedy, which came out in 2009. One hurdle Glover's fans will have is in his presumed bankability as a movie star: "Mystery Team" brought in a meager $89.4 thousand in domestic box-office sales.

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06-01-2010, 05:40 PM	#2
TheReverend www.PatrickTurley.org ^ buy this... twice Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 33,020 Adopt-a-Bronco: Mike Shanahan	I'm ridiculously pro equal rights... but this is ridiculous. The character is white. Comic fans like me throw a ** fit if any of the story line is messed with or poorly portrayed. Intentionally changing a major part of the character was forgivable for a small role like Nick Fury and the Kingpin in the B movie "Daredevil"... but Spiderman? Get the ** out.

06-01-2010, 05:41 PM	#3
sirhcyennek81 Yes...swooping is bad... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florence, Colorado Posts: 20,681 Adopt-a-Bronco: All of them.	What next? A white Shaft?

06-01-2010, 05:50 PM	#6
cmhargrove Is this thing on??? Travis Henry's love child... Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 6,411 Adopt-a-Bronco: Peyton Hillis	I heard they're already working on the next Blade film starring Jean Claude Van Damme. Here's a sneak preview (still in production): - The most amazing home videos are here

06-01-2010, 05:48 PM	#7
Dagmar ...there ain't no devil ..there's just God when he's drunk. Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Morrison Posts: 17,132 Adopt-a-Bronco: Tim Tebow	Why does his race make a difference to the character of Spiderman?

06-01-2010, 06:47 PM	#13
GoBroncos84 Perennial Pro-bowler Crucify the Ego Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 758 Adopt-a-Bronco: Von Miller	As a fellow comic book nerd, I guess I should weigh in on this. I agree that it can be very upsetting when they make significant changes to the source material, which is solid enough to remain constant and could be relayed through the film medium without significant change. Most comic book movies suck, big time. So many classic storylines are butchered (phoenix saga in X3, wolverine's origin story, etc) and turned into P.O.S. films. I can rant and rant about all of the issues I had with the movies I mentioned, but that is for another time. A big question that needs to be asked is this: Does a physical characteristic like race really matter in terms of story? Is it any different than a 6'3" Hugh Jackman playing a 5'3" Wolverine? Famke Jansen not having green eyes despite the fact Jean Grey is notorious for having them? Maybe those things are less noticeable, but none the less a shift from the source material. I'd like for the filmmakers to have that attention to detail, but I have a much bigger problem with story changes than those kinds of things. Ultimately, spiderman being white or black shouldn't really impact his story at all. His skin color, to my knowledge, has never been a topic or focus of story in any of the comics. I have no issue with black nick fury or kingpin. I think Sam and Michael do a decent job with those characters. I don't think you should make a "black spiderman" just to have one. That's stupid. However, if you are holding auditions for the character of spiderman and the person who does the best job at bringing the character to life is something other than white, so be it. Tobey Maguire was a HORRIBLE spiderman. Reading the comics, spidey is a major smartass. Constantly joking around. He isn't emo. He isn't flat and boring. He isn't as funny as deadpool, but possibly ranks number 2 in the comedy department. Give me a true to comic spiderman character and I couldn't care less what color he is. Don't give someone the part because he is a token, that is actually more racist. Give it to whoever will be the best at performing the role

06-03-2010, 04:17 PM	#15
Fedaykin Ring of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,839 Adopt-a-Bronco: None	Spiderman's ethnicity is not a central part of his character. There are no story elements which necessitate him being white. They already made huge changes to his character and back story, but his skin color doesn't matter -- except to the bigots.

12-20-2010, 03:29 PM	#20
ohiobronco2 Ring of Famer Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,739	.

06-01-2010, 05:52 PM	#25
FADERPROOF Bucknuts Colossus Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Eastlake OH Posts: 17,338	Does black spiderman still have a white girlfriend? Or do they change all chracter protrayals?