Online anger erupts over "racelifting"

[Ginger Tea]

"I would do it, but I don't want to be called the first black James Bond. Do you understand what I'm saying? Sean Connery wasn't the Scottish James Bond and Daniel Craig wasn't the blue-eyed James Bond. So if I played him, I don't want to be called the black James Bond."

But he would be called the first black bond/dr who/franchise actor who has had many recasts.
Same as Barac is called the first black president of America (the 7th won't be hell maybe not even the 2nd), or a woman being the first x y or z in a field dominated by men.

I don't have a TV and at the time read brief snippets on very basic mobile websites on Lewis Hamilton's debut year, I had not seen a photo of him sans helmet, so although I knew he was having a steller year till the last few races where he fluffed, I put it down as the media telling us that a rookie racer was having a very great debut, probably unprecedented in F1 history, now knowing what he looks like, I wonder how much attention would have been given if it was a white guy having a great year, granted either way to almost win the season on your first year was afaik unheard of, not what he was achieving but who was achieving it.

Yes, I did just assume under the helmet that he was yet another white guy in a predominantly white european sport with the odd Japanese racer, which no one really paid any heed to, there had been quite a few over the years so none were 'the first' and tbh I don't recall any being meantioned save for being listed as back markers about to be lapped by whomever was in the lead.

Back to bond, would I have a beef with him?
No as 007 or 008 or any other number, a 00x and working in the secret service is attainable by any one in the UK with the 'right stuff'.
Edit:
Well I can not comment on the actor himself as I don't recall ever watching anything he is listed in, he might be as wooden as a soap actor or as film saving as Nicholas Cage, but the concept of any actor being up for bond, not just white guys.


I thought the rock was white just heavily tanned, but then again I never really watched WWF and his movies can be passable to down right avoidable, so I have to admit I wasn't paying that much attention.

[crashhelmet]

Back to bond, would I have a beef with him?
No as 007 or 008 or any other number, a 00x and working in the secret service is attainable by any one in the UK with the 'right stuff'.
Edit:
Well I can not comment on the actor himself as I don't recall ever watching anything he is listed in, he might be as wooden as a soap actor or as film saving as Nicholas Cage, but the concept of any actor being up for bond, not just white guys.


I thought the rock was white just heavily tanned, but then again I never really watched WWF and his movies can be passable to down right avoidable, so I have to admit I wasn't paying that much attention.

The problem on the Bond issue is that there are two different schools of thought. One side says 007 is James Bond. One person and the many books/movies are the missions in his career. The other school of thought is that 007 and "James Bond" are designations. This would allow the name and the mythos of him to carry on, a la the Dread Pirate Roberts. The second would actually support Idris Elba or anyone else as Bond.

The Rock is half Black (his father) and half Samoan (his mother)

[Hyena Dandy]

That's a pretty narrow viewpoint on it. Batman (of any ethnicity) could be rewritten as some sort of technical genius who invented his way into millions, lifting himself out of poverty. His backstory of having rich parents is just a handwave-y way to avoid having to deal with one aspect of reality (lifestyle expenses and costs).

I always felt that the rich parents thing was kind of important to the character... That is, that not only did he have the survivor's guilt about living when his parents died, he also had survivor's guilt about living because he was rich and another kid who had that happen to him wouldn't.

[Gravekeeper]

Another that came to mind last night was the movie "The Gridiron Gang." In it, they cast Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to play the role of Sean Porter, a juvenile detention officer that gets a bunch of gang members to form a football team and learn to coexist and do things with their lives.

Side by side.. Obviously the guy approved. But then, if they told me they got The Rock to play me in a movie I'd be "Fuck yes!" too.

Though in fairness, the Rock leans more towards looking Polynesian like his mother than black.

The problem on the Bond issue is that there are two different schools of thought. One side says 007 is James Bond. One person and the many books/movies are the missions in his career. The other school of thought is that 007 and "James Bond" are designations. This would allow the name and the mythos of him to carry on, a la the Dread Pirate Roberts. The second would actually support Idris Elba or anyone else as Bond.

James Bond is one person. Per the original author and creator himself. As well as every subsequent author that has been granted the right to continue the novels by his estate. The timeline was rebooted once in the novels ( As James was getting up there and starting to grey in the books ) so James could kept on going into the 2000s. But he is still one person and still looks the same.

In fact his physical description is very specific per the original author and has been maintained as such ever since. You couldn't race swap him.

I always felt that the rich parents thing was kind of important to the character... That is, that not only did he have the survivor's guilt about living when his parents died, he also had survivor's guilt about living because he was rich and another kid who had that happen to him wouldn't.

Very true. Because that's exactly what happens to Robin and is part of the contrast between them. Both orphans, but Bruce had nothing to want for. While Robin was straight up farked with his parents death and had no other family nor any inheritence.

[Ginger Tea]

The other Casino Royal with Woody Allen had everybody even the women designated as 007 James Bond.

[Nyoibo]

I thought the Rock was fine in gridiron gang, he's got the right size, just look at the comparison pic, and he also has the background in American football.

[Gravekeeper]

I thought the Rock was fine in gridiron gang, he's got the right size, just look at the comparison pic, and he also has the background in American football.

Plus, he's the Rock.

As as I'm concerned, Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel can have any role they want. -.-

[lordlundar]

Plus, he's the Rock.

As as I'm concerned, Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel can have any role they want. -.-

And this thought just ran through my head:

Assistant: Dwayne's agent just called and said he wants the role, what do I do?
Producer: Give him the role.
Assistant: But he's the worst person for the role!
Producer: The man is 6'5", 250 lbs. and can bench press a Buick. Are you going to tell him no?
Assistant:... I'll let him know he's got the part.

[Jetfire]

So that's how that Tooth Fairy movie came about....

[Ginger Tea]

And the Pacifier ...

But I would love to see both in lead roles in a Shakespearian Movie, period piece not an updated to modern day America.

[anakhouri]

Plus, he's the Rock.

As as I'm concerned, Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel can have any role they want. -.-

So Fast 5 was pretty much your perfect film?

[BlaqueKatt]

That's a pretty narrow viewpoint on it. Batman (of any ethnicity) could be rewritten as some sort of technical genius who invented his way into millions, lifting himself out of poverty.

Or it could be written that he stepped in to fill Bruce Wayne's shoes, as happened in "batman beyond" cartoon, especially with "the dark knight rises" coming out, we all know Bruce wayne has some physical limitations after his difficulties with Bane.....

[Hyena Dandy]

Or it could be written that he stepped in to fill Bruce Wayne's shoes, as happened in "batman beyond" cartoon, especially with "the dark knight rises" coming out, we all know Bruce wayne has some physical limitations after his difficulties with Bane.....

Yeah. Except that would be a different character. When people say "Batman" they don't usually mean "Azrael" or "Dick Grayson," even though both of them took on the role.

That's Batman Beyond. There's no reason that the Batman Beyond character couldn't be black. Or that Dick Grayson can't be black.

There is a reason Bruce Wayne can't.

[Ginger Tea]

A hero 'retiring' and being replaced with a doppleganger, or a bit more blatant that it's not the same guy if you go with a different ethnicity, is totally different to the character's origin.
With all the reboots and retcons, Bruce has stepped down a few times then been afaik rewritten back into the role, either cos the fan base didn't like someone else being batman when all other superheros that are not immortal are still the same guys, Green Lantern afaik is the only one that has changed (and back again?) but I do not follow DC much.

Bruce retiring and Dick taking over, fine the next Robin being a woman fine, been done before.
Bruce retiring and someone who is not the white taking over, well every body will know it's another batman, when you the crook know this batman is not the same, you don't know if he's gonna be tougher or softer on what you are doing and he would have to establish his rep, probably as a tougher one as the 'pussy' batman would not really strike fear.
But if a white guy took over, unless you knew him well enough, you wouldn't know, hell as he never had a beard, no one knew his hair colour.

So back to my original point, a black batman written as the son of an old money family ie Bruce Wayne, not so plausable atleast not right this moment.

Batman MKII would be called 'the black batman' by fans, criminals and anyone aware there used to be a white guy doing the rounds, yes a rebooted batman origin would also be called the black batman, but only by the reader base not the characters as there would never be a white one to begin with, just as Peter Parker would never be spiderman if Mary Jane had got bitten.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Black Batman could get away with it if he wore a full face mask. Just as one of the Stigs in Top Gear was black, but no-one knew at the time cuz of the top to toe covering.