Rainbow Bridge For Whites Only, Say 'Thor' Fans
There is controversy over the casting of actor Idris Elba to play the Norse god Heimdall in Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of the Marvel comic book Thor. Elba, you see, is black, while Heimdall is white (and completely fictional). "Norse deities are not of an African ethnicity! … It's the principle of the matter. It's about respecting the integrity of the source material, both comics and Norse mythologies," says one disgruntled ethnographer. "At the risk of sounding like a bigot," adds another, "I think this is nuts! Asgard is home to the Norse Gods!!! Not too many un-fair complexion types roaming the frigid waste lands up there. I wouldn't expect to see many Brad Pitt types walking around in the Black Panther's Wakanda Palace!" Now, I can understand how aficionados might want to see a certain degree of faithfulness to the source material (a cartoon) here, and I suppose arguing that one of the more interesting actors of the day should not be allowed to play a certain role because your associations with it (which come from a comic book) make it difficult for you to see past the character's skin color does put you at risk of seeming intolerant, but I'll be charitable. It doesn't make you a bigot. It makes you a cretin. Take comfort in that distinction.
That comment on Brad Pitt is way outta line. Exhibit A: His wife Angie butchering that role as a french woman of mixed race.
This whole thing is as dumb as saying that men should never play women, vice versa. Literalist must DIE!
I read that quickly as "Rainbow Brite." I am horribly disappointed.
Me too!
Watch out! To say Heimdall is fictional may be offend the neo-Norse god believers! I think one is a city councilman from Queens? There was a piece about these people in the last year or two.
I'm pleasantly surprised by the quaint 19th century pop style theme song. I thought it was going to be all blaring trumpets suggesting Norse god valor.
According to Wikipedia, Heimdall was "called the 'whitest of the gods' (O[ld] N[orse] HvÃtastr-Ãsa)."
He is also "the son of nine different mothers."
Nordic-lover.
NILFs
Adrian Peterson would tend to disagree.
If he weren't busy chasing around that football that he dropped. Again.
On the one hand, I can see how people would feel a sort of cognitive disconnect when they're looking to see figures inspired by Norse mythology. At the same time, within that mythology wouldn't the gods predate the Nordic people themselves? So…maybe he's just been around since before there were white people? I dunno. I'll have to refine this argument before I take it to THE FANS, I think.
I'm surprised they haven't gone after Flavor Flav for wearing that Viking helmet all the time.
Can you imagine the American reaction if a movie came out with a black Jesus?
The real problem is, I'm sure Stringer will outshine whoever plays the title role of Thor.
To be sure, the American reaction hasn't ever favored anyone playing Jesus except WASPs. Though that may have something to do with the fact that The Greatest Story Ever Told wasn't based on a comic book.
Since Heimdall's main job is working the door of Valhalla, maybe they're thinking "bouncer."
Can't he do it in white face with a blond wig?
*out of my mouth
Wait, does s/he think the Black Panthers are mythological?
Sigh, I guess I'm the only one nerdy enough to point out that the commenter was talking about the super hero Black Panther, ruler of the mythical land of Wakanda.
I must admit, I think these disgruntled ethnogrophers have a point. While you try and make their arguments sound ridiculous by pointing to the source material as a cartoon/comic, its not as absurd when you look at it as mythology/religion, which it first was. While you may not know it, Heimdall was one of the most important Norse Gods. How about an Asian Hercules or black Joseph Smith? Call me a cretin but I remember how painful it was watching Keanu Reeves as Siddhartha.
Oho, Keanu Reeves as Siddhartha?
Whoa, dude. Whoa.
One of the most annoying instances of miscasting– for me at least– will always be The Prince of Egypt. A story of Jewy triumph populated by a bunch of badass Jews, the only character to get an actual Jewish voice actor was Jeff Goldblum's Aaron, aka the dude who's portrayed as a sniveling spineless dweeb. At the time it was quite a boner killer.
As much fun as it is to ridicule whiny whitey, I think they have a point here. I remember when Ursula K. LeGuin got royally pissed at the Syphilis Network for turning the dark-skinned ensemble cast of one of her books into six white people and Danny Glover the Magical Black Person, I was right with her (even though I've never read the books).
So it seems a bit hypocritical not to point out that the Norse were definitely white guys with white gods. I'd be pissed if a movie cast a white guy as Anansi or Quetzalcoatl, so I can't with good conscience deign not to oppose the reverse.
Did fans have a problem when Michael Clarke Duncan played the Kingpin in the Daredevil flick? Did I just break protocol by acknowledging that movie even happened?
Yes and Yes.
actually, no and yes
One more for no and yes. A better example is Sam Jackson as Nick Fury. That doesn't bother anybody at all.
So this bothers them but the fact that Kenneth Branagh is directing is ok?
His 'Hamlet' is negated by 'everything else' (esp. Frankenstein)
Where's Loki, String? Where's Loki?
It's not really the same thing, though, is it? Hollywood's got a grand tradition of whitewashing roles from West Side Story to the Last Airbender. There aren't exactly loads of examples where actors of color have taken on white roles. Not so much a pandemic.