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1. Non-white geek franchises « FemBot on 25 Jan 2010 at 5:44 pm

   [...] 25, 2010 This is pretty cool, but the coolest part is imagining Diego Luna as a pyrotechnic [...]

2. Saturday Link Roundup (1/30/10) :: The Last Airbender Movie Casting | Activism at Racebending.com on 30 Jan 2010 at 4:04 am

   [...] Picture This: Chromatic Comics Remixes Your Fandoms – by Arturo R. García of Racialicious Racialicious spotlights Chromatic Comics, which re-imagines media casting using people of color. Featuring Vanessa Williams as Emma Frost and John Cho as Multiple Man – definitely check it out for an entertaining look at what casting could be like… and as fine examples of talented and capable actors of color. [...]

Comments

1. Juan wrote:

   Ultimate love to the Fantastic Fangirls!!

   Posted 25 Jan 2010 at 10:36 am ¶

2. Deaf Indian Muslim Anarchist wrote:

   good to see Takeshi Kaneshiro here!!! He is HOT and FINE and plus to boot, he’s a GREAT actor…

   Posted 25 Jan 2010 at 11:22 am ¶

3. RCHOUDH wrote:

   These are great! The Vanessa Williams pic reminds me of a conversation I had way back in high school with an Asian American classmate. This was in the early 90’s back when Williams hit it big with her song “Save the Best for Last”. He was telling me that he had a weakness for “blue eyed brunettes” to which I replied, “Oh so you like Vanessa Williams” knowing full well he was actually implying he liked a certain type of white women. I just wanted to see what his reaction to my reply would be, which basically consisted of getting caught off guard because like many people around, he only equated white people as being light eyed brunettees/sarcasm!

   Posted 25 Jan 2010 at 11:45 am ¶

4. Shannon wrote:

   I love that they chose Gina Torres as wonder woman!! She is another beautiful afro latina, I wish she would get more roles in film . It would be really great if some of the well known films were remade with an all POC cast.

   Posted 25 Jan 2010 at 1:06 pm ¶

5. Jenny wrote:

   Percy Daggs is, I think, inherently too cool to play a character like Xander. But I’d certainly watch a remake with him in it!

   It’s fair to say I would watch any of these people in anything.

   And Wanda as Leonard (Leona?) McCoy is inspired. That would kill. This is inspiring me to come up with a reimagined Trek cast a la Battlestar Galactica (where Boomer and Starbuck, and two men, were recast as women).

   Posted 25 Jan 2010 at 1:13 pm ¶

6. Red wrote:

   love to see that Trascendenza recast with mostly *women* of color.

   Posted 25 Jan 2010 at 1:14 pm ¶

7. jen* wrote:

   @Jenny – I can *totally* see Percy as Xander. 100%. Maybe he is a lil cool…but – I have no doubt he’d be excellent.

   I’m having one of those why-didn’t-I-think-of-that?! moments.

   Posted 25 Jan 2010 at 1:53 pm ¶

8. Nick wrote:

   would love to see someone apply this creativity to Star Wars.

   Posted 25 Jan 2010 at 2:20 pm ¶

9. Tony wrote:

   I’ve never seen Diego Luna in anything, but he does look like he’d be a good Gambit.

   Of course with Gambit, I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if they had a ‘reveal’ in the comics that he was mixed race, I think he usually is drawn a bit darker than the other ‘white’ members of the team.

   Of course I’d still demand an attempt at a Cajun accent.

   Posted 25 Jan 2010 at 2:46 pm ¶

10. ourname wrote:

    Takeshi Kaneshiro as Angel? Brilliant!
    Gina Torres as Wonder WOman? Genius.

    Posted 25 Jan 2010 at 2:51 pm ¶

11. ourname wrote:

    Oh, but after checking out Entwasian’s Chromatic Buffy, I do have one problem with it. They’ve cast Dania Ramirez as Cordelia Chase. I’ve seen an interview with Charisma Carpenter (the Cordy I know and love) where she states that she grew up in Baja California and that she identifies as mixed race, Native American and as a Latina. So I don’t think her part needs to be recast necessarily.

    Posted 25 Jan 2010 at 2:57 pm ¶

12. Just A Thought wrote:

    The recasting of Wanda Sykes as McCoy made me laugh out loud. I would DEFINITELY pay to see that!

    I’m off to go look up Takeshi Kaneshiro’s work, because I have no clue who he is.

    Posted 25 Jan 2010 at 2:59 pm ¶

13. Rice wrote:

    Multiple John Cho’s? Yes, please!

    Posted 25 Jan 2010 at 3:01 pm ¶

14. Sobia wrote:

    Great to see Aamir Khan on there too! Brilliant actor.

    Posted 25 Jan 2010 at 3:16 pm ¶

15. Elton wrote:

    The Spider-Man franchise is getting a reboot http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/01/marc_webb_new_director_of_spid.html and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to cast a young Asian American actor in the role of Peter Parker. This character, particularly the teenage Peter this reboot will focus on, would take on a fresher, deeper, more interesting meaning if he were Asian American.

    Peter is from Queens, which has a huge Asian American population. From Wikipedia: “Queens is home to 49.6% of NYC’s Asian population. Among the five boroughs, Queens has the largest population of Chinese-, Asian Indian-, Korean-, Filipino-, Bangladeshi- and Pakistani-Americans. Queens has the largest Asian American population-by-county outside of the Western United States: According to the 2006 American Community Survey, Queens ranks 5th among US counties with 477,772 (21.18%) Asian Americans.”

    Peter is into science and photography. Those may be stereotypical Asian pursuits, but they’re integral to his story (he invents mechanical web shooters in the original story, and his camera work gets him gainfully employed at the Daily Bugle, as well as providing cover for his secret identity). In other words, an Asian Spidey would turn the stereotype on its head.

    Peter is a nerdy, socially awkward outsider, but becomes witty, charming, and funny as Spider-Man. His dual identity would take on a distinctive poignancy if he were Asian American, as we particularly struggle with being accepted by a dominant culture that sees us as outsiders, and struggle within ourselves with who we really are and where we fit in.

    Peter is a nice guy who is enamored of the most popular girl in school, Mary Jane Watson, but just can’t seem to be more than “just friends” with her. As Asian guys are underdogs of the dating world, to have that theme represented by an Asian American guy would tap into the empathy and self-recognition that so many of Spidey’s core fans have for the character, whether or not they are Asian, but especially so for us.

    There are a lot of interesting possibilities to be explored with an Asian American Peter Parker’s backstory. Perhaps his aunt and uncle could run a Chinese takeout, and Uncle Ben is killed while out on a delivery. Peter would have to struggle with his family obligations while trying to develop his own individuality. He could get picked on by racist bullies for being Asian. Even Spidey’s body type and fighting style would fit better with a smaller, lighter Asian guy, who might be studying wushu/kung fu/acrobatics as part of trying to understand his cultural heritage.
    I think the time is right for a talented young Asian American actor who has the acting chops and athletic ability to fill those red and blue tights. It would make for a much more interesting and original story and mean so much for fans if Spidey was Asian.

    I would like to put together a petition for this. Let me know what you think.

    Posted 25 Jan 2010 at 3:53 pm ¶

16. jmn wrote:

    This post is made of so much win. Takeshi Kaneshiro could also be Marvel’s Angel (aka Warren Worthington III). Somebody should photoshop wings on him. =)

    Posted 25 Jan 2010 at 3:53 pm ¶

17. AMarie wrote:

    I heartily agree with all of these!

    Posted 25 Jan 2010 at 4:25 pm ¶

18. jvansteppes wrote:

    Michelle Rodriguez as Wolverine!

    Posted 25 Jan 2010 at 6:03 pm ¶

19. Bcbgrl33 wrote:

    @Just A Thought
    Totally see Red Cliff. He is such a badass in that movie and so fine. My friends and I were totally fan-girling over him at the end.

    This is so great and in good conjunction with the NOC article.

    Posted 25 Jan 2010 at 6:35 pm ¶

20. sweeterjuice wrote:

    Those mixes were Filet of Awesome sauteed in awesome on medium heat, then serves with a side of awesome sauce.

    I will pay any amount of money you care to name to see Wanda Sykes as Bones. I will pay twice that to see Gina Torres as Wonder Woman.

    Posted 25 Jan 2010 at 6:48 pm ¶

21. B. Durbin wrote:

    “I love that they chose Gina Torres as wonder woman!! She is another beautiful afro latina, I wish she would get more roles in film.”

    I agree— but I will quibble with one thing. She is not just a beautiful afro latina— she is a beautiful WOMAN from any race. Has she wound up on any of those “beautiful people” lists? She ought to…

    Posted 25 Jan 2010 at 8:09 pm ¶

22. handyhunter wrote:

    . Takeshi Kaneshiro could also be Marvel’s Angel (aka Warren Worthington III)

    That’s who I cast him as in the first picspam I did (where there’s no one in their swimsuits), though I don’t know how to photoshop wings on him (or anyone else). Also John Cho as Tony Stark, but the idea of Multiple John Chos is very appealing!

    Posted 25 Jan 2010 at 8:39 pm ¶

23. Martina wrote:

    See, I don’t appreciate this at all, because you got my fangirlish hopes and dreams up for an odd second and crushed them. I’m interested in this meme though (and the fun/awesome things that come with it).

    That would be a fun reality. Except I don’t think Wanda would make a good Leonard (but it’d be funny). Her snark is of a different level and she has a different kind of humor. (She’s actually more of a TOS Chekov to me.)

    Posted 25 Jan 2010 at 9:30 pm ¶

24. urban Suburbinite wrote:

    @ Elton
    It sounds good to me. I say get Rain to be the new Spiderman. Or change it to a girl and get the actress from Chocolate.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwg-w1_glT0

    Posted 25 Jan 2010 at 9:32 pm ¶

25. Ginsu Shark wrote:

    “Of course with Gambit, I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if they had a ‘reveal’ in the comics that he was mixed race, I think he usually is drawn a bit darker than the other ‘white’ members of the team.”
    You mean he isn’t?

    Posted 25 Jan 2010 at 10:05 pm ¶

26. Alston Adams wrote:

    I wonder about the implications of a First Nations Wolverine or Captain America. Imagine the origin story of the former considering Canada’s treatment of FN peoples.

    Surprised I haven’t seen any casting of Cap, either, especially with the Black Cap storylines of a few years ago.

    Posted 26 Jan 2010 at 2:20 am ¶

27. C wrote:

    I never comment on posts. But thank you Racialicious for introducing me to this meme- I would watch the SHIT out of the Buffy show. Holy crap.

    Posted 26 Jan 2010 at 2:22 am ¶

28. Bagelsan wrote:

    I wonder about the implications of a First Nations Wolverine or Captain America.

    I *totally* see First Nations/Canadian for Wolverine!

    What about indigenous (I don’t know if that’s the right term?) South American for Captain America? A flip of the bird to the fact that USA-nians like to pretend we’re the only “Americans” out there, and a *big* flip to all that illegal immigrant bullshit.

    Pretty much, I would love to see two of the USA’s favorites be not-at-all from the US or white, and still be balls to the wall American. (Or ovaries to the wall. Wolverina ftw. :p) It would be schadenfreude-licious.

    Posted 26 Jan 2010 at 4:38 am ¶

29. Tony wrote:

    @Ginsu Shark

    Really no one knows what race Gambit is.

    He was supposedly born in New Orleans, but kidnapped from whatever Hospital he was born at.
    He was then found, adopted, and raised by the LeBeau family (Hence his Cajun speech/culture and name)

    So while it’s not explicitly stated Gambit’s not white, it’s also not explicitly stated he is.

    About the only thing that comes close to saying he’s white is that he was called “Le Diable Blanc” as a child, due to his red eyes.

    But IMO, that really just means “light skinned enough to not be automatically recognized as non-white”

    Posted 26 Jan 2010 at 8:21 am ¶

30. Valkyrie607 wrote:

    Wow, Gina Torres as Wonder Woman? Lord have mercy–I think I may leave a wet spot on my office chair thinking about that. Plus, I’ve been waiting for YEARS for someone to finally do a Wonder Woman movie.

    I don’t know who Takeshi Kaneshiro is, but he definitely looks the part of Angel in that photo. My Boreanaz-love notwithstanding.

    How about a Superman remake with Djimon Hounsou? That would rock my world.

    Posted 26 Jan 2010 at 2:08 pm ¶

31. Alison Y. wrote:

    This completely reminds me of a Harry Potter forum where it was discussed that as it was never stated that Hermione was white; they’ve never explicitly stated her race at all, so many have taken a liking to the idea that Hermione could be a black girl. Admittedly, I like the idea too.

    Also Wanda Sykes as Bones? Pretty cool. It would be cool if they pulled a Battlestar Galactica on Star Trek and recast the males as women. Totally like this: http://liviapenn.livejournal.com/555204.html

    Posted 26 Jan 2010 at 9:31 pm ¶

32. miga wrote:

    Gina Torres should totally be Wonder Woman. Couldn’t think of a better person. Certainly not Megan Fox, who was rumored to have the part for a hot second.

    Posted 27 Jan 2010 at 10:42 am ¶

33. nwhepcat wrote:

    I love this! So many great casting choices — and I love the Peter Parker idea.

    Many many years ago, during the first year of ST:TNG, it bugged me that most if not all actors of color had some kind of heavy-duty latex appliances on their faces. So a favorite riff my friends and I had was the ongoing work on the ST:TNG all-POC cast. It’s so long ago I’ve forgotten most of our choices, but our captain was Geoffrey Holder (because we could hear the ST:TOS opening credits thing in his voice, due to his 7UP ads). They kinda sorta almost did that, later in the franchise.

    Posted 27 Jan 2010 at 9:55 pm ¶

34. David S. wrote:

    I’d like to present a counterpoint:

    Cheryl Lynn of Digital Femme says that replacing these characters with actors of color isn’t the answer. There’s a history behind each character can’t just be replaced. Instead of replacing these characters with a person of color, how about they better promote characters who are already characters of color?

    “How about making Aquagirl and Misty Knight not suck? How about Jubilee getting some time to shine instead of shoving Emma Frost down my throat? It’s not just about seeing POC faces. There are histories and myths that come along with POC characters that deserve to be heard.”

    Read more here:
    http://digitalfemme.com/journal/index.php?itemid=1240

    David Brothers’ of 4th Letter also puts it eloquently here:
    http://www.4thletter.net/2010/01/colorblind-casting-school/

    Posted 27 Jan 2010 at 11:00 pm ¶

35. karak wrote:

    Oooh.. I’m such a nerd, but…
    Takeshi Kaneshiro as Angel is something I can’t support. Angel is over 200 years old, and to make him non-Irish or nonwhite would completely throw off the cannon in the Buffyverse. (Because it meant that white Darla was in Asia, and that makes no sense, and so on and blah blah blah).

    Gina Torres as Wonder Woman is brilliant, though. Now that you pointed it out to me, that would made PERFECT sense in comic cannon (actually, more than the blue eyed/brunette version of WW) and she is so hardcore awesome that I would girl-crush on her like mad.

    Posted 28 Jan 2010 at 2:10 am ¶

36. David S. wrote:

    Karak, it’s weird you bring up making Angel Asian would mess up Buffy canon, but it wouldn’t do the same for Wonder Woman if they made her black.

    Plain and simple: Wonder Woman is of Greek origin, and it would mess with her canon as well.

    I say keep the white characters white, but let’s give more attention to the POC characters that already exist!

    Posted 28 Jan 2010 at 8:08 pm ¶

37. Wren wrote:

    Oh my god, Gina Torres as Wonder Woman. I want to see that movie NOW! Can someone please make this?

    Posted 30 Jan 2010 at 3:40 pm ¶

38. napthia9 wrote:

    Karak- but why keep Darla white?

    I am not familiar with Judith Scott, but that picture? Completely sold me as Spock.

    Gina Torres always comes up when my mother and I discuss Wonder Woman. To the point where we must now preface any discussion with “Besides Gina Torres” and will both be dreadfully disappointed if they make that movie in the next 10 years and she’s not cast.

    Posted 06 Feb 2010 at 2:03 am ¶