‘Fantastic Four’ Star Michael B. Jordan on Black Human Torch Backlash: ‘It Used to Bother Me, But It Doesn’t Anymore’
The actor finally fires back at the “trolls on the internet” who complained a black man playing a white superhero is not true to the source material
Greg Gilman | May 22, 2015 @ 2:26 PM
Last Updated: May 22, 2015 @ 9:31 PM
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Michael B. Jordan was initially bothered by angry internet “trolls” upset by Fox’s decision to cast a black actor to play Marvel superhero Human Torch in the upcoming “Fantastic Four” reboot, but he’s over it now.
In an Entertainment Weekly op-ed published on Friday, Jordan admits “you’re not supposed to go on the internet when you’re cast as a superhero,” but he couldn’t resist after it was announced he’d be playing Johnny Storm, the brother of fellow Fantastic Four member Susan Storm, who is being played by Kate Mara (“House of Cards”).
“I didn’t want to be ignorant about what people were saying. Turns out this is what they were saying: ‘A black guy? I don’t like it. They must be doing it because Obama’s president’ and ‘It’s not true to the comic.” Or even, ‘They’ve destroyed it!'” Jordan said. “It used to bother me, but it doesn’t anymore.”
That’s good, because TheWrap broke the casting news over two years ago. But “Fantastic Four” hits theaters on Aug. 7, which perhaps explains why Jordan has waited so long to address fans of the franchise focusing on the color of his skin.
Still, Jordan hopes race won’t be a as much of a talking point in the future, and his performance will make more studios consider casting “more people of color in other prominent roles.”
“And maybe we can reach the people who are stuck in the mindset that ‘it has to be true to the comic book.’ Or maybe we have to reach past them,” Jordan wrote. “To the trolls on the internet, I want to say: Get your head out of the computer. Go outside and walk around. Look at the people walking next to you. Look at your friends’ friends and who they’re interacting with. And just understand this is the world we live in. It’s OK to like it.”
12 of the Whitest Superheroes in the Universe (Photos)
Marvel's initial go-around with "The Fantastic Four" franchise consisted of Loan Gruffudd, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis. Jessica Alba, who's part Hispanic, was the only deviation from the all-white male cast.
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Marvel's initial go-around with "The Fantastic Four" franchise consisted of Loan Gruffudd, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis. Jessica Alba, who's part Hispanic, was the only deviation from the all-white male cast.
