Stan Lee Gives His Thoughts On Michael B. Jordan As The 'Human Torch' In FANTASTIC FOUR

Stan Lee Gives His Thoughts On Michael B. Jordan As The 'Human Torch' In FANTASTIC FOUR

Michael B. Jordan's casting as the 'Human Torch' in Josh Trank's Fantastic Four was viewed as controversial by some. With the movie now less than two weeks away, the character's creator has weighed in on the decision. So... was Stan a fan?

News
By Minty - Jul 27, 2015 09:07 AM EST
Filed Under: Fantastic Four
Source: EW

Michael B. Jordan's casting as the 'Human Torch' in Josh Trank's upcoming Fantastic Four reboot caused quite a stir in the fanboy community. While many praised Fox for their efforts to increase diversity onscreen, a few complained about the drastic deviation from the character's appearance in source material. Jordan himself recently weighed in on the controversy in the form of a heartfelt letter. In it, he added that "if Stan Lee writes an email to my director saying, “You’re good. I’m okay with this,” who am I to go against that?".

EW have since contacted the legendary comic book writer for his own thoughts on the matter - and it seems like he's a huge fan of Jordan's casting. However, he was also able to empathize with those who weren't quite on board with the casting yet - claiming that the majority of the criticism has not come out of racial prejudice, but because lots of comic book fans are very wary of change.

“It was more than okay, I thought it was a great idea! They’re outraged not because of any personal prejudice. They’re outraged because they hate to see any change made on a series and characters they had gotten familiar with. In Spider-Man, when they got a new actor, that bothered them, even though it was a white actor. I don’t think it had to do with racial prejudice as much as they don’t like things changed.”

“But I think they’re gonna get to love this character. So I’m not the least bit worried about it. I always tried to pepper these groups with as much racial diversity as possible because that’s the way the world is.” 



Hopefully with Mr. Lee's glowing endorsement, those fans on the fence will finally be able to embrace the change. Are you excited for Fantastic Four? You can catch Jordan suiting up with the rest of his teammates when the movie opens in theatres August 7.


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speedyg33
speedyg33 - 7/27/2015, 8:51 AM
I'm really hoping the Michael B. Jordan casting doesn't become a talking point on MSNBC and FOX News.
JamesMann
JamesMann - 7/27/2015, 9:09 AM
Oh this is going to be fun.
TheRationalNerd
TheRationalNerd - 7/27/2015, 9:11 AM
Shooooot, after the many discriminative comments I've seen you would think so. But it's all good, all I ask is that the guy gave the role his most truest efforts. If not, I'll remain critical of those efforts as well. But yeah, he's got a point, but the F4 universe is filled with so many different interpretations of the team. So for me this is one of those alternative approaches towards the team and I'm fine with it. Torch has a witty white attitude that I liked about him in the Ultimate comics and I'm sure everyone will get their beloved blonde hair and blue eyed character they love in the near future, for this reboot won't be a solid franchise to last us over 10-15 years but I do think it'll reamin here for sometime. Unil that time comes I'm cool with Michael doing his thing...
DR3D
DR3D - 7/27/2015, 9:20 AM
Where's Wallace
sKeemAn
sKeemAn - 7/27/2015, 9:21 AM
His casting I was the most excited about. it feels like they dumbed down his character in the trailer
MoodyMax
MoodyMax - 7/27/2015, 9:22 AM
Sure. That "spontaneous reaction" from those children. Not at all prompted by their father to prove some sort of idiotic point. Yep. Genuine, legitimate reaction. Not at all transparent and blatant. And my problem with Michael B. Jordan is that he has added nothing to the character by being Black. He's so...just..bleh in the role.
MercwithMouth
MercwithMouth - 7/27/2015, 9:23 AM
Great actor, great casting. This movie is shaping up nicely. Less than 2 weeks to go!
BodieBroadus
BodieBroadus - 7/27/2015, 9:25 AM
@DR3D

I had to cap his ass. It's all in the game man.
Pasto
Pasto - 7/27/2015, 9:25 AM
B-But he's one of THOSE people....
YeezusWept
YeezusWept - 7/27/2015, 9:26 AM
TheRationalNerd
TheRationalNerd - 7/27/2015, 9:26 AM
@Blanka1212

You don't even have to use those kids as an example. There's dozens of trailer reaction videos on youtube from all children and families of multiple ethnicities who are pretty excited. You can even take the theater standee posters and see how many kids of multiple skin tones/genders are seen modeling/ standing in front of MBJ's Human Torch. The simple fact that hs casting isn't just celebrated by members of the Afro-Amrican crowd is what I like to see. But again, all people of different races acclaimed Evans as torch before the previous series ended.
Triptheorist
Triptheorist - 7/27/2015, 9:27 AM
Did anyone really expect Stan Lee to say anything negative?
TheDarkPassenger
TheDarkPassenger - 7/27/2015, 9:27 AM
“But I think they’re gonna get to love this character. So I’m not the least bit worried about it."

No they're not Stan. People have already made up their minds before seeing the movie. As is the way with everything.
BodieBroadus
BodieBroadus - 7/27/2015, 9:28 AM
He is my favourite actor out of the 5 main cast members, but going off the trailers he seems like the least interesting character (I'm liking the little we've seen of Kate Mara, and all of Miles Teller as Reed).

Of course, trailers aren't the final product, a fact that a lot of people here are unable to grasp.
DallasAvenger
DallasAvenger - 7/27/2015, 9:29 AM
Nope, still not seeing it.
LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 7/27/2015, 9:29 AM
I don't have a problem with Jordan. Or any of the cast really.

People here need to understand casting means nothing. It's not about casting but direction the director wants to go.

If castings meant something, George Clooney would be seen as a better Batman than Keaton since he does fit Batman better than Keaton. Hell, I'll say I think Garfield is a better actor and fit for Spidey than Tobey. Tobey's still a great actor. Loved him in Brothers but the way Tobey and Andrew's Spideys were written, Tobey is seen by the GA as a more favorable Spider-Man.

Hell I do think Arnold would have been a perfect Mr. Freeze. If you don't believe me, go watch the Terminator films then watch Heart of Ice. Terminator and Freeze both come of as cold and emotionless. Arnold could have nailed that with Freeze if WB wasn't set on making films to sell toys.

Whenever someone is cast, I generally don't care because it means nothing. All that matters is what direction the director, studio, and writers wish to take the character that was cast.

There aren't bad castings, just bad directions. Ok some bad castings but most of the bad casting complaints come aren't bad casting but bad directions.
AlexSummers812
AlexSummers812 - 7/27/2015, 9:30 AM
Didn't Stan Lee say that he wasn't in favor of changing Peter Parker's race?
Deonox
Deonox - 7/27/2015, 9:30 AM
@blanka1212 "he has added nothing to the character by being Black"

Oh really now? please enlighten the class by elaborating on that. I'm curious what IS a black character suppose to add
YeezusWept
YeezusWept - 7/27/2015, 9:33 AM
Better keep this handy.
THEDARKKNIGHT1939
THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 7/27/2015, 9:35 AM
"They’re outraged not because of any personal prejudice. They’re outraged because they hate to see any change made on a series and characters they had gotten familiar with."

Summed it up perfectly.
THEDARKKNIGHT1939
THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 7/27/2015, 9:36 AM
At this point though, I thought everyone was over it.
McGee
McGee - 7/27/2015, 9:39 AM


SuperSpiderMan5778
SuperSpiderMan5778 - 7/27/2015, 9:41 AM
this movie will be shit. it's not just the michael b. jordan casting but all of the casting is shit. the story is shit. the fact they had to go out of their way to be diverse by having sue storm as an adopted sister is shit and mr. fantastic is 28? really? shit shit shit this movie will be shit.
blackandyellow
blackandyellow - 7/27/2015, 9:42 AM
Pffft, what does this old [frick] know about the Fantastic Four?
KevinFeigePGA
KevinFeigePGA - 7/27/2015, 9:42 AM
That's right ,Stan. Pepper. Not too much racial diversity.
YeezusWept
YeezusWept - 7/27/2015, 9:42 AM
@mcgee
JamesMann
JamesMann - 7/27/2015, 9:46 AM
McGee
McGee - 7/27/2015, 9:50 AM
@YeezusWept

LMAO!!! How do these things get approved?
McGee
McGee - 7/27/2015, 9:51 AM
I mean... SuperCat can only be in so many positions of power, right?
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