As many fans know, Heimdall guards the rainbow bridge linking the gods' realm Asgard to Earth, and he is white as rice! But in Kenneth Branagh's upcoming adap of Thor Elba has been cast as the character.
Elba has already said that he didn't see it as such a big deal and pretty much left it at that, but speaking to The TV Times(via Coventry Telegraph) he elaborated and hit back at his detractors saying..
"There has been a big debate about it: can a black man play a Nordic character?" said Elba.
"Hang about, Thor's mythical, right? Thor has a hammer that flies to him when he clicks his fingers. That's OK, but the colour of my skin is wrong?"
He also said, of his character in the new TV show
Luthor being described as "a black detective"
"I think we'll put ourselves in a corner if we just describe Luther as a black detective.
"There haven't been many in the past, but the fact that he's black is neither here nor there.
"We all know someone from a different ethnic background, we all mix, so it's great to have a character who happens to be black in the central position.
"He still bleeds, just like anyone else."
I can see where Elba is coming from of course, but I think he might be misinterpreting some of the fans anger in him playing Heimdall. Some of it could well be racially motivated of course, but I think most people on here just want to see the character portrayed as he is drawn..that simple. Personally I don't mind as long as the best actor gets the part. I'm a fan of Elba so until he proves me wrong, I'm happy he is a part of
Thor.
About The Author:
Mark Cassidy is a writer, photographer, amateur filmmaker, and Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic from Dublin, Ireland.