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.
There have been three different incarnations of Frank Castle, aka The Punisher. His trademark skull has been worn by Dolph Lundgren, Thomas Jane and most recently Ray Stevenson.
Superman is argubably the most iconic superhero of all time. Yet the Man of Steel has never been portrayed as any other race in comics, on television or the big screen, despite his other-worldly origins.
The Caped Crusader and Boy Wonder have had more opportunity than any to switch it up. A total of seven films have featured a white Batman, possibly the whitest superhero franchise to date.
In recent comics, the identity of Spider-Man belongs to a half African-American, half-Latino character named Miles Morales. Still, the films have always stuck with the most famous depiction of the character, Peter Parker.
The Green Lantern is another superhero who has had the mantle worn by characters of different ethnicities. But when it came to the big budget extravaganza, the studio opted for Hal Jordan, and cast Ryan Reynolds.
He's rich, snarky, lives in a Malibu play house, and people can't get enough of him. Robert Downey Jr. has made Iron Man one of the trademark superhero franchises. The highly anticipated hird installment that hits theaters May 3 in the U.S.
Nicolas Cage is one of the more baffling castings in a superhero movie. Both "Ghost Rider" and its sequel were considered critical and commercial disappointments. Another white dude.
The 1996 release of "The Phantom" is filled with tongue and cheek humor and enough ham from Billy Zane for an Easter feast.
Out of all the X-Men, the only major character that is a minority is Halle Berry's Storm. She played a pivotal role in the original installment of the trilogy and the actress will be returning for the latest, "X-Men: Days of Future Past."
Marvel's greatest superheroes "The Avengers," killed at the box-office last year, but stuck to usual superhero casting trends outside of Samuel L. Jackson. Marvel's Phase Two, however, is already looking to be more diverse with Anthony Mackie and Zoe Saldana joining the next line-up.
Apparently, even superhero movies have their own tokenism. To this day, the only superhero franchise to star a minority actor is 1998's "Blade" starring Wesley Snipes.
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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.
