Idris Elba Speaks On Thor Character Race Change

Idris Elba Speaks On Thor Character Race Change

Elba, who you can see in theaters now in The Losers, has spoken up on the controversy among the fan community on the changing of the character Heimdall in the upcoming Thor movie from white to black...

Scoop
By MarkCassidy - Apr 27, 2010 06:04 AM EST
Filed Under: Thor
Source: Coventry Telegraph

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.
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lc
lc - 4/27/2010, 6:39 AM
damn you do work hard on everything you do ror.
um pitty he wasnt more good looking tho lol
but but but lol i give you a thumbs up just coz i can lol
nice work :)
JoshWilding
JoshWilding - 4/27/2010, 6:41 AM
Great find ROR! :)

Personally, it doesnt bother me all that much that they changed the characters race because Elba is an awesome actor (and I cant wait until Luthor comes on) but it just feels like a token casting in what would have otherwise mainly been a completely "white" movie, which to me is pointless. Still, as I said before he's a great actor and as long as he does a good job I couldnt care less about him not looking exactly as Heimdall does in the comic books!
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 4/27/2010, 6:53 AM
Grif, Elba's point is that people shouldn't see a white guy or a black guy..they should just see a guy, an actor. And the best actor should get the role. And he's dead right, ..in a perfect world that is how these things would be. But the other side to the coin is of course the people like yourself that just want to see the character on screen as he is depicted in the comic. You can go back and forth forever with it. Bottom line is he is cast in the role and lets hope he delivers.

Cheers guys..and LC:)
ScorpioEagle1
ScorpioEagle1 - 4/27/2010, 6:58 AM
I agree with JoshW this is a token casting and Elba likely wouldn't have accepted it if Kenneth Branaugh wasn't directing. Elba is a great actor and him accepting such a small role he likely wouldn't be able to sink his teeth into speaks volumes for the respect he has for the director.

We live ina multicultural patchwork and we all have freinds of all walks of life and I think the studio understands that so they want to inject more variety. It is what it is.. It's pointless to me as well but as long as Elba's o.k. with it then so am I..
superdog
superdog - 4/27/2010, 7:06 AM
im not really up on my icelandic cultures, and forgive me for being ignorant but were there black norse people? if so then its not a problem. but if all the vikings were of white decent then from a historical standpoint it makes no sense. it would be like putting a white guy in an african village, or an asian temple or something. and guesse what, i bet if there was a black character that they made white i bet he would have a different opinion.
BigbyBadWolf
BigbyBadWolf - 4/27/2010, 7:08 AM
I would have to agree with Elba to some degree. The characters skin color isn't that big of an issue. Besides, aren't these guys "gods"? Loki has changed gender, for crying out loud! Heimdall can decide to change his skin tone? And besides, Heimdall isn't exactly the iconic character that Thor or Captain America is. This slightly reminds me of the debate about a black man playing Cap. I don't think that would work only because of the way the character is ingrained in our society. I mean, I couldn't see an oriental actor playing Luke Cage. But for a lesser known character like Heimdall, there is no reason for it not to work. That being said, I would have to agree with JoshW that it does seem a bit like token casting, but maybe not. I can't fully say because Elba is a good actor and he probably was the best one for the role. I am still looking forward to the film and I think Branaugh will do an amazing job.
Hawksblueyes
Hawksblueyes - 4/27/2010, 7:11 AM
I agree with superdog. I don't consider myself racist by any means and Elba, I'm sure, will do the role justice but cast Russel Crowe in a remake of Shaft and watch what kind of response you would get.
gorgeousgeeks
gorgeousgeeks - 4/27/2010, 7:12 AM
It's not like he's playing Thor. Heimdall is an important character, but not a main character. I don't think his race change is a big deal. As long as he looks epic on screen. I can't wait until I see a trailer for this film.
jazzman
jazzman - 4/27/2010, 7:13 AM
@superdog

u know that happen in Spawn. Terry Fitzgerald is black in the comics but in the movie they made him white and no one said anything. i dont know whats the big deal here cause his playing a supporting character not the main character at all.

@Hawksblueyes

"cast Russel Crowe in a remake of Shaft and watch what kind of response you would get"

Elba is not even playing Thor, his playing supporting character. if he played Thor then you can really complain but his not at all.

longbowhunter
longbowhunter - 4/27/2010, 7:16 AM
This isnt the first time we've seen a character change race. I'll admit it seems a bit odd to have a black Asgardian, but I'm sure Elba will do fine. Its hard to believe theres really a controversy over this.
Actlete
Actlete - 4/27/2010, 7:19 AM
Wait a second. Did I just read that the doorman to Asgard is going to be black? The guy that has the all important line, "Welcome to Asgard," in every appearance is going to be black? But, his whole motivation is "I'm a white guy standing on a rainbow." How can a black actor possibly pull that off? How can they justify a god who can take any form taking the form of a black man?

What's next? Thor being blond instead of a redhead as he was portrayed for centuries?
jazzman
jazzman - 4/27/2010, 7:20 AM
i believe some people here must of been mad when Morgan freeman played President and God in Deep Impact and Bruce Almighty
TheSkindo
TheSkindo - 4/27/2010, 7:26 AM
Racial aside (I have a tan myself), we are talkin about NORSE gods...who (as far as I know) have always been "white". These are characters that have been around a long time.....even before the comics. Plus I believe that Heimdall is also called "whitest of the gods"?

See, I didnt mind Fury to be Black...it was a bit of a stretch..but I was ok with it. Neither did I mind the Kingpin in Daredevil to be Black. But they are human beings...not Norse gods. How would it look like if I made a movie about African gods and made one of them white? Plus I wonder how people would react to a white Black Panther...or a Bishop...or Luke Cage. So why did they made him black? This is a delicate question, but I think fans have a right to question a decision like that.

selinakyle
selinakyle - 4/27/2010, 7:27 AM
Lol @ Jazzman...aint that the truth! And i am soo feeling his point about black detective...what da hell does black have to do with being a detective. Always try to put people in a box. Ki ni big deal?
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 4/27/2010, 7:27 AM
LMAO!!!

People moan about this but not ULTIMATE FURY lol! : D

I'm cool with him in THOR, hell its not a major character anyways!!!

Very cool actor though he was born to play...

BISHOP!

selinakyle
selinakyle - 4/27/2010, 7:31 AM
Hey Leee.lol
jazzman
jazzman - 4/27/2010, 7:34 AM
@MultiPurposePoni

how can he keep his mouth shut when he was asked a question about race of the character.

@TheSkindo

yes his playing a Norse God so he cant play a Norse God cause his black. so i guess our Christian God is white aswell. we dont know how these God's actually look like they can be of any race or sex.

Heimdall "whitest of the gods" its not a reference of his skin colour. the phrase "whitest of the gods" is a reference that Heimdall was the god of light as well as being the watchman. His wisdom was probably connected with his sleepless watching over all the worlds.

this is taken from Poetic Edda a Old Norse poems "The Lay of Thrym"

http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/poe/poe11.htm
Shaman
Shaman - 4/27/2010, 7:36 AM
jazzman- I would have been a bit more pissed if Spawn himself would have been white. But i'm of the opinion that it doesn't spoil the film for me if they change non important characters' skin colors like Heimdall, King Pin and Terry Fitzgerald. The only weird thing about this is, when it comes to a specific mythology, shouldn't they stick with that mythology's culture & perception? Like Superdog said, i personally don't know if there ever were any black nordic gods but i can't see the logic in deliberately changing peoples established perceptions of certain characters just for the heck of it or just so activists could sleep at night. If it was just to make a token casting, couldn't they have made a black supporting role on Earth instead of Asgard? Anyhoo, i'll still enjoy this greatly :)

Multi- I did not know that, pitty Branaugh doesn't either.
selinakyle
selinakyle - 4/27/2010, 7:39 AM
Our Christian God isn't white but he isn't a work of fiction either so that comparison is off.
selinakyle
selinakyle - 4/27/2010, 7:42 AM
They were adopted...anybody seen the Jolie-Pitt household? lmao.
CaptainOtter
CaptainOtter - 4/27/2010, 7:42 AM
I'm fine with Ebla as Heimdall. I think they're portaying Asgard as more of a traditional fantasy setting rather then a pure Norse legend (although it still is clearly Norse). And hey, he's a great actor who I think can make the part work.

Still, his logic doesn't work. Fans are arguing with this decision because they see Asgard from the mythological perspective, where these are the Norse gods and it only really works when the gods themselves are Norse as well. Saying there is magic is one thing, since I'm willing to suspend my disbelief in magic once gods are involved. Magic and gods are logically cohesive. But a Norse God who doesn't look Norse doesn't fit, so its not a good comparison.
Hawksblueyes
Hawksblueyes - 4/27/2010, 7:44 AM
jazzman: Shaman's response to you is about what I would have said to your comment. (Albeit way more eloquently)

What he said covers my point moreso than I could have.
TheSkindo
TheSkindo - 4/27/2010, 7:46 AM
@jazzman

I think that if he had been a black person there would be some sort of referance in Norse myths as to them it would be quite weird having a dark skinned god. Hell, It would be a bit strange to assume that he wouldnt be white, nevertheless in the comics he IS white. And as for the christian god being white, I dont want to get to much into that.
selinakyle
selinakyle - 4/27/2010, 7:49 AM
This is shaping up to be a very long thread.
jazzman
jazzman - 4/27/2010, 7:57 AM
@Shaman

how they can stick with that mythology culture since Marvel changed everything about each characters story in Norse mythology. plus Thor is been played by a Australian yes his white but he does have a different culture coming from Australia.

heres something didnt Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief had Rosario Dawson playing a Greek Goddess Persephone.
selinakyle
selinakyle - 4/27/2010, 7:59 AM
lol...Hey Tea.
BIGBMH
BIGBMH - 4/27/2010, 7:59 AM
I don't read Thor comics. It seems like strange casting, and I think they probably should have casted someone who looks more like the character. However, I don't think it's a big deal. In regards to him being Sif brother, they'll probably do the same thing X-men did with Nightcrawler not being Mystique's son.
selinakyle
selinakyle - 4/27/2010, 8:04 AM
lol @ tea. I'm good. Sup with u? I see the website has gone into Iron Man overload.lol.
Hawksblueyes
Hawksblueyes - 4/27/2010, 8:04 AM
tea: I've never higged a tree. How do you go about it and is it worth the experience?
superdog
superdog - 4/27/2010, 8:05 AM
again, my only point is they are NORSE gods. we wouldnt have a white guy playing african gods, or hindu gods. it has nothing to do with race it has to do with historical and ethnical accuracy. yes, it is a comicbook with magical gods, but there still needs to be some realistic accuracy. to me its not about changing the character's skin color like fitzgerald in spawn. its about realistically portraying the time and setting. as poni points out the logic just doesnt make sense. and even in mythical comicbook movies, there is still logic.
Shaman
Shaman - 4/27/2010, 8:05 AM
Hawksblueyes- Oh come now, you know you're eloquent too ;P *tee hee* *grabs the praise and puts it in his pocket while grinning ear to ear*

jazzman- Superdog explains this perfectly here; "it has nothing to do with race it has to do with historical and ethnical accuracy". Marvel might have changed the Norse mythology but i have yet to see them change the norse gods' "ethnical accuracy". And since this is a film about Marvel's comic norse mythology, why change that? Give me one good reason. And "why not?" isn't a good one.

*Grabs praise from pocket and throws it to Superdog*
selinakyle
selinakyle - 4/27/2010, 8:08 AM
Honestly those who have an issue with the casting are well within their rights...cos i know im gonna be chopping off some heads if all of a sudden some white guy was cast as T'Challa.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 4/27/2010, 8:10 AM
Like I said, back and forth forever. Its an interesting debate though. For me the bottom line is, I would much rather a convincing black actor play a white dude than a rubbish white actor, and vice versa. If Elba screen tested and he was the best choice, cool, lets hope he proves it.
selinakyle
selinakyle - 4/27/2010, 8:12 AM
lol...thats why i have that pic up...its all for u luv. You wanna help me destress? Make a vid dancing to Too Short's Blow The whistle. If this guy can do it, i know u can.

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