I Hate The Actor/Actress!
The Usual Statements
“The actor does not match the character”
“The actor is bad!”
“The actor changed the interpretation of the character”
“The actor doesn’t know anything about the character or the comic”
“The actor is not bad, but he/she doesn’t have the chops to play this role”
“What! But Heimdall is a Viking, and he’s supposed to be white WTF!”
What? Why? Who The F*** Cares!?
These are some of the comments I’ve seen over the years (there are many), in virtually every comic book movie ever made. There is always someone that argues, or losses their mind, over a casting choice. Point in fact, Heath Ledger, Anne Hathaway, and Michael Keaton (to name only a few) all experienced fandom explosions, over their casting announcements in respective Batfilms. All of these, went on to create extremely successful films, and portrayed their characters exceptionally well. Showing the negative fandom explosion crowd their outcry was pointless. Of course, these are just some examples, I’m sure (in comments) many folks will point out other versions of fandom outcries that were accurate. We also have to wait to see what the current fandom explosion reveals over Ben Affleck in the current set of upcoming Batfilms. I’m enthusiastic, and others; well, not so much.
Usually what we see written on the internet, or even in professional critiques, are arguments as to the “why” their reasons are given to say this actor “Sucks”. I myself am guilty of arguing against a variety of past choices. But usually, I’m in the “wait and see” category, and I try to exercise my youthful optimism. I have a strong opinion about casting because it’s part of the tasks I take working on independent film, and I get the same mentality most fans have as well. That I have the best choice for what I want to see, not necessarily for what everyone should see; that’s always based on bias, and I’m aware of it. Comic book fans (me included) need to learn that our sensibilities will (sometimes) get the best of us. Especially when we presume to know what is best for a film, by arguing so emphatically, over a casting choice. If recent years are to be used as a barometer, studios have been on the money on most major film releases, a few misses sure, but more successes then failures, in terms of casting. If numbers and statistics are to be used, the studios fail miserably when they trust the fan communities hardcore opinions, and succeed when they focus on the mainstream. This is an over-simplification; don’t go all nerd-rage on me for a simple statement that is editorial (yes), but backed by
box office numbers. Because, yes I know, studios do fail on the opposite end of that coin too, Green Lantern is one of those examples, but not for the reasons stated in this article.
You are, of course, all welcome to debate that!
Hysterically, I mean historically, some of the craziest fandom explosions were completely irrational & prejudiced ravings. This was brought on by a studio casting re-imagined characters swapping ethnicity, color, or gender.
Re-imagined castings you hated, that you ended up loving
Michael Clark Duncan – The Kingpin
Samuel L. Jackson - Nick Fury
Idris Elba - Heimdall
Lawrence Fishburne - Perry White
Katee Sackoff – Starbuck (Battlestar Galactica – I had to throw her in there!)
How it all turned out. Well, not all of it.
Comic book fans are always going to be extremely passionate, and extremely opinionated about their fantasy castings for a film. Especially if a studio hints at someone that the fans fall in love with over a small period of time, as productions build buzz. Sometimes, when no is yet selected, as a movie is being promoted, the fan community tends to run rampant with its own casting speculations. Sometimes this period can run so long, waiting on the studio to announce their casting, it becomes harder to give up the fantasy. Especially if it has taken on a life of its own on the rumor mill, fueled by modern internet social media.
As long as there are comic book films, there will always be arguments for and against the actors playing our beloved characters. Even if they end up being as successful as most of the examples in this article. In the end, fans will have to remember: Studios are driven by profits gained from the most ticket sales, from the largest possible mainstream audience said studio can gain. Not from sticking to exact comic book interpretations to satisfy the minority of hardcore fans.
Were you among those that hated a casting selection when announced? Were you among those to complain, or still are complaining? Every day this week a new common complaint fans make will be posted.
Comment, tweet, share, bitch, moan, praise, adore, flame, complain about a typo, or add to the conversation however you please. You’re comic book fans, it’s your right!
@emanuelfcamacho