Donald Glover for Spider-Man

The Stig

The Stig

Sr Member
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http://www.iamdonald.com/post/647884473/donald4spiderman
http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/05/30/donald-for-spider-man/

I like it!
 
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Re: donald4spiderman (Donald Glover)

Hell yes, and this is why:
http://www.speechgeek.com/stephanie/wordpress/?p=257

I passed over a tweet this morning from Newsarama noting that Community star Don Glover was campaigning to play Spider-Man in the upcoming movie reboot.
Casting choices are always contentious decisions. You may not like Christian Bale’s bat-growl. You may think Ryan Reynolds is too young to play Green Lantern Hal “Highball’ Jordan. You may have thought Brandon Routh channeled the quiet ease of Christoper Reeve just fine. Patrick Stewart was a spot-on Charles Xavier. You may have even thought that Shaq was the perfect Steel.
No matter what you think about casting choices, there is a certain amount of thought that goes into why an actor is chosen to play a particular hero, villain, or supporting character. Sometimes, that choice is based purely on the star power attached to the lead. There’s one case where this has really gotten the in way.

Hallie Berry played a convincing (thought somewhat too Westernized) Storm in the X-Men franchise. Bad wigs aside, fans embraced her in the role. What Berry did not fit into was Catwoman’s leather. It didn’t make sense, it wasn’t based on comics, and it was poorly written. Simply stated: it was a flop. Surely the star power of Ms. Berry should have made it work on some level. Why not? She was Selina Kyle, but really she wasn’t the Selina Kyle. Comics fans like their stories based on the greater mythology that has been at work for–in many cases–over seventy years.
I once read an interview with one of the DC Comics executives where they discussed interpretations, legacy characters, and the immutable elements of their mythologies. He argued there are three elements in defining the way a character is represented: 1) the absolutes; 2) the negotiables; and 3) the things up for grabs. He used Superman as a prime example.
1. The Absolutes
On the doomed planet Krypton, a scientist Jor-El sends his only son to Earth. The child is adopted by kindly parents Jonathan and Martha. He grows up and becomes a reporter at the Daily Planet in Metropolis. As Superman, he fights for Truth, Justice, and the American Way. Blue tights, red cape, “S” shield on his chest. Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, Jimmy Olsen…they’re all and important part of the puzzle.
These pieces of the mythology never change. They are central to the character and everything for which he stands and is. No one in editorial is going to let you muck around with them.
2. The Negotiables
The character bibles will tell you that Superman is 6′2″, has black hair, and a spit curl. They are important parts of the representation of the character. They are familiar, yet not fixed. The various reboots over the years: The Man of Steel (1986), Birthright (2004), and Secret Origin (2010) have been used to put their unique spin on the absolutes in order to better contextualize Superman and his mythologies for the era. I spend a lot of time talking about this concept in my master’s thesis, but I won’t bore you with the details.
3. Up for Grabs
Part of any great comic book mythology is what new authors and artists add to the experience. This can include new characters and plots that can quickly become a core part of the universe. When Paul Dini contributed to Batman: The Animated Series, he added characters like Harley Quinn and Renee Montoya. Both characters are now important parts of Gotham. With Superman, kryponite was first employed in the radio series. However, can you imagine the absence of kryptonite as part of the mythos? Does Jonathan Kent die and when? Is Superman first Superboy? When does he first meet the Legion of Superheroes? What does Brainiac look like? What’s the style of the Fortress of Solitude? That’s all up for grabs. New ideas can quickly become part of the old core. That’s what allows authors to leave their stamp on the mythology.
What makes these stories different from classical mythology is that they are in a constant state of flux and evolution. They grow. They expand. The work to better suit the needs of the time.
Is it possible, then, for Donald Glover to become the movie Spider-Man without betraying the the absolutes of the mythos? I think so.
Two caveats, though. One of the greatest challenges in adapting a comic property for film is the lip-service necessary to keep fans satisfied and happy. However, one must realize that a film is an adaptation or separate creation altogether. It is possible to treat the two expressions independently. Because Sony currently owns the rights to the Spider-Man move franchise, it is not important that it fits into the Marvel Entertainment Iron Man/Hulk/Thor/Avengers movie universe. Sony could, theoretically, do whatever it wanted. Remember, there was a time in the 1990’s where we almost had a long-haired Nic Cage fighting a giant spider robot in a Superman movie. (*shudders*)

It wasn’t too long ago that there was a substantial lobby for Will Smith to play Captain America in the upcoming film. It would not make sense for blonde-hair, blue-eyed Steve Rogers to be played by Will Smith. Will Smith, however, could play Isiah Bradley, the protagonist of the Truth: Red, White, and Black miniseries (2003). In Truth, the Super Solider Serum is administered to several African American soldiers in a Tuskegee-style experiment prior to Rogers’ receiving the treatment. While first a “What If?”/Elseworlds-style story, it later became a canonical part of the Marvel Universe, with Bradley’s grandson becoming a member of the Young Avengers.
To my knowledge, no such story exists that could frame the Spider-Man mythos in that context. As such, I feel it’s best to refer back to our three-tier system for understanding the mythology.
1. The Absolutes
Teenage Peter Parker is raised by Aunt May and Uncle Ben after the death of his parents. On a field trip, he gets bitten by a radioactive spider and gains superpowers. To make money, he participates in underground wrestling matches. When the owner cheats him, he lets a robber get away. That robber later murders Uncle Ben. Feeling responsible for his uncle’s death, he realizes “with great power comes great responsibility.” Red and blue suit (though sometimes black), New York City, Daily Bugle, Mary Jane Watson, J. Jonah, Jameson, etc. are all part of the mythology. You can’t replace these parts of the story.
Though Peter Parker has always been represented as white in the comics, I think it is fully reasonable to change the character’s ethnicity without destroying the core elements of the mythos. Here’s why:
Peter grows up in the outer borough of New York City and becomes from an economically-disadvantaged background. Family is an important part of his upbringing. He works hard in school and hopes for a better life. Due to short-sightedness, he takes the easy way out and makes the quick buck. He suffers great loss due to senseless urban violence. He deals with the mistrust of society because of his identity (Spider-Man, vigilante, masked hero). Each of these elements are plausible within the context of an African-American character. They are also plausible for a white or Latino character as well. Superman might not work in the same way due to the Jewish overtropes and middle-America upbringing that are a part of the character’s creation. Spider-Man could easily be an African-American teen.
For too long, comic scholars–both professional and casual–have lamented the white, homogeneous make-up of our superheroes. Storm, Black Panther, Steel, and Green Lantern (Jon Stewart) are some of the most recognized heroes of color. I was encouraged when WB decided to use Blue Beetle Jaime Reyes as a central character in the Batman: Brave and the Bold cartoon series. For every Great Ten, Super Young Team, and Global Guardians that comics produces, you have the senseless killing of Ryan Choi (The Atom) in order to return Ray Palmer to the spotlight.
Could Spider-Man be black? Sure. Why not. There’s lot of great discourse that come from it. Is Donald Glover the right person to take up the mantle? Maybe. I’m a big fan of his comedic talents on Community. He plays a character that is confident, cocky, goofy, and at ease with himself. I think those are important things that fall under The Negotiables label. Race, in turn, could very well be Up for Grabs.
Click to expand...
 
I've been a fan of his since his days in Derrick Comedy, so if they decided to cast him I wouldn't complain. Could be interesting.
 
I'll probally get my fair share of lashing for this but NO please don't. I'm all for updating a character for the modern age or changing a back story to fit a story line. But come on... Will Smith as Capt. America? This kid as Spiderman? I get that part of the thing that makes Spiderman so universal is that he could be anyone under the mask. Not trying to get political or seem like it's about race but if Blade or Spawn or Storm wasplayed by someone white... society would be in an tizzy. Heck even Black Panther wears a full mask like Spiderman and how would it be viewed if he removed said mask and it was some white dude?
 
I've never heard of this guy, so my only reaction is "Tokenism, much?" Does his casting mean that Spiderman will now use a bunch of "blackisms" in his speech patterns? By that I mean "street slang" written by white folks to emphasize the character's blackness. "DAYUM!" "Oh no he DI'INT!" "Imma have to WHUP that dude!" and so on. Are they doing this just so they can make Spiderman "Hip for today's kids with modern hip-hop sensibilities"? 'Cause frankly, that's a load of **** if you ask me, and amounts to ****ing with the character just to appeal to marketing demographics.

Or maybe they want to leave the option open to continue the traditional spiderman series, so they use this as an "alternate reality" thing. Still, just strikes me as tokenism and/or a demographic cash grab.
 
Or maybe they can get Will Smiths' kid to do it. He's already staring in a remake that won't hold up to the original... The Karate Kid.
 
Yup SOLO nailed it.....

Just another friggin' Studio trying to be " edgy "
and cast someone outta' left field to attract
the younglings...

:lol

Oh, and on more thing.... First preview I see with this
kid where he does his FIRST jump from rooftop to rooftop
and knows what powers he has and exclaims,

DAMNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN,
that was Off the Hizzel !


That movie is DEAD TO ME !

:lol :lol :lol
 
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Yeah, that quote didn't help the case. It just seems like "Hey, Halle Berry did great as Storm...so he will be a great Spider-Man."

It's kind of like when they used Michael Clarke Duncan as King Pin in Dare Devil...A buff black guy playing the role of what who was supposed to be an extremely over-weight white guy (King Pin) just didn't cut it for me.


Maybe it's me, but I'd love to see Anton Yelchin as Peter Parker/Spider-Man.
 
Nope! Peter Parker is a scrawny, wimpy, little white dude.
If the want to change him to another ethnicity, why not try it in an alternate reality comic series? The could change all the characters that way, while not messing with the original character.
Mike
 
ItsThatGuy said:
Yeah, that quote didn't help the case. It just seems like "Hey, Halle Berry did great as Storm...so he will be a great Spider-Man."

It's kind of like when they used Michael Clarke Duncan as King Pin in Dare Devil...A buff black guy playing the role of what who was supposed to be an extremely over-weight white guy (King Pin) just didn't cut it for me.


Maybe it's me, but I'd love to see Anton Yelchin as Peter Parker/Spider-Man.
Click to expand...

I honestly didn't mind the Kingpin change, although it's not what I'd have done. I was neutral on it, really. At least they were keeping with the Kingpin's size and, to a lesser extent, demeanor. But this casting choice...it's like, "Really? Why?" And the only answer I can think of is "To shake things up, baby! It'll be great! Think of the merchandising opportunities!"
 
So a black guy can't play Spiderman? Wow. Unreal. :thumbsdown Heaven forbid they cast a black guy that can act and do a great job in the role. HEAVEN FORBID!
 
That was the stupidest idea I've read all week. I'm not racist but Spiderman is white. He was a skinny nerdy white kid from Queens. Period. Do NOT SCREW WITH THAT.


This re-boot is starting to smell like a house of ill-repute at low tide.
 
You know what cracks me up? Every time someone says something like "Catwoman is white, Spider-man is white" people go "Hmmmm that guy must be racist if he thinks that way!"

Okay, so what about we make Shaft with a white guy cast as the main character. Would it be racist against white people to say "No way man, Shaft is black!" No, no it wouldn't.

What if they make a X-Men movie and make Storm white. Would it be racist to say thats a bad idea? No.

What if they rebooted the "Steel" movie that had Shaq playing the lead and they cast a white guy in the role? Would that be a good idea? (Well, maybe remaking the movie wouldn't be a bad idea, but Steel is a black guy so he should have a black actor playing him.


What if they remade the Blade films and cast a white guy as Blade? Would it be racist to think its silly to do that? No it wouldn't. Blade is black.


So why is it instantly thought to be racist to want a white character to be played by a white actor? It's silly to me.
 
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