Superhero and science fiction films have a history of shying away from producing movies that tackle an issue much greater than an intergalactic threat to mankind -- inequality.
Movie studios typically lean toward having a male lead in their films -- a female lead from a comic book like Wonder Woman or Black Widow has yet to star on the silver screen, and movies often tweak story lines from comics that were traditionally led by a female hero to be a man to make a storyline “stronger.” While viewers may have to wait a few more years for a female superhero to take charge in a film, 2015’s science fiction flicks aren’t shying away from addressing another topic that is in the forefront of viewers’ minds today: racial diversity.
Comic books and science fiction novels feature characters of all races from all over the Universe within their pages, and, although the comics and novels usually predate their movie adaptations, in many areas they still seem to be ahead of Hollywood. Film interpretations of popular comic book series are guilty of "whitewashing" their characters.
“Whitewashing,” is when a film features an all-white or predominately white cast, or when the race of a character is changed to white to appease mainstream audiences. Some examples are when Liam Neeson played Ra’s Al Ghul, a character from the Middle East, in "Batman Begins." Bane, a Hispanic character in the comics, was played by a white, English actor in "The Dark Knight Rises." In "Avatar: The Last Airbender" the main characters are originally of Asian descent, but in the film all the heroes are white. Only the villains are of ethnic descent.
"Pan," which hits theaters this October, is another example of a film that has received backlash for its casting decisions. Tiger Lily, a Native American princess, will be played by white actress Rooney Mara. Movies like this have sparked debate over the portrayal (and lack of) diverse characters in films and have received backlash from moviegoers who are familiar with the characters from the comics.
In 2014, Marvel broke a trend of Hollywood's traditional whitewashing by staying true to the comics and casting Anthony Mackie as Falcon, Marvel Comic's first African American hero who debuted in the 1960s, in Captain America sequel "The Winter Soldier."
Star Wars and Marvel also promise a diverse cast of heroes in "The Force Awakens" and "Fantastic Four," which will be released in theaters in August and December, respectively.
The stars of Lucasfilm and Disney's newest film, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," are just as diverse as the loyal fans of the popular film franchise. By Star Wars breaking its chain of having white males as leads in the saga’s films, the franchise is opening the doors for galaxy-wide equality. The stars are Daisy Ridley, an English actress, Oscar Isaac, a Guatemalan-born American actor, and English actor John Boyega. The best part? The three actors are all Star Wars fans themselves, and recognize the importance of the series.
“In life...it’s usually a bad thing that unites people,” said Daisy Ridley, who plays Rey in the seventh Star Wars installment, in an interview at Celebration Anaheim back in April about her involvement with the franchise. “So to be part of something amazing that unites people of all genders, race, all languages--they all come together for this one thing--it’s amazing to be a part of.”
The franchise did not hesitate to add a character that they knew would procure backlash. The newest Star Wars trilogy will star 23-year-old actor John Boyega, who will be the first black lead in a Star Wars trilogy. Boyega is an English actor who Star Wars fans got their first look at in Stormtrooper armor seconds into the first "The Force Awakens" teaser when it was released last fall.
This caused controversy and sparked comments from people who do not think that a black man could portray a Stormtrooper, characters which, until now, have never been seen unmasked in a Star Wars film but who were previously assumed to be tall, middle-aged white males who enlisted to join the Empire’s regiment.
People bashed Boyega’s character on Twitter seconds after seeing the English actor appear in the first "The Force Awakens": “A black stormtrooper?! THANKS, OBAMA!” one user tweeted. Others compared the Stormtroopers to the Clones from the Prequel Trilogy: “Wtf why is there a black stormtrooper. Stormtroopers can't be black because they're clones of a white dude.”
(Some commentators noted that Han Solo and Luke Skywalker donned the armor briefly in the Original Trilogy to rescue Princess Leia, and this could very well be a similar situation with Boyega's character, Finn. Fans will have to wait to see the film in theaters to find out.)
John Boyega's social media was bombarded with negative comments from "fans," but if it phased him, he didn’t let it show. His role in "The Force Awakens" is so important because of how significant movies, especially a series like Star Wars, are to society. They shape peoples' viewpoints, venture to unexplored territory, and encourage viewers to consider new possibilities.
Star Wars plays a huge role in society today because it transcends age, gender, and race, and is welcoming to people of all ages. Since all humans in Star Wars are considered “aliens,” the franchise eliminates the concept of human racism. All humanlike “people” in Star Wars are equals, regardless of their skin color. For some, the weight that John Boyega carries in the newest Star Wars installment can bring hope for more of a sense of unification to the series and, ultimately, to future films and to society.
With Boyega as the first black actor and Isaac as the first Hispanic lead, the promise of diversity in "The Force Awakens" is what sparks interest in both skeptics and fans of the saga alike. Star Wars has always been a franchise based on diversity and, as the franchise steps into a new era through its newest trilogy, moving forward, it can continue to grow to be inclusive to all ethnicities.
The Final Frontier seems to be the perfect place to tackle racial inequality, as Marvel is working to “torch the color line,” as well. In its film "Fantastic Four," a movie about four unlikely friends who receive inhuman powers on a scientific voyage to space, Marvel is approaching a classic character from a new angle.
Last year, it was announced that Michael B. Jordan would be playing Johnny Storm, the Human Torch. The character of Johnny Storm was last seen in 20th Century Fox’s 2005 rendition of the Fantastic Four and was played by Chris Evans, who is now better known for playing Captain America by Marvel fans.
Johnny Storm first appeared in Marvel comic’s The Fantastic 4 #1 in 1961. Blonde, blue-eyed, and skilled behind the wheel, Johnny Storm was the brother of Sue Storm, who will be played by House of Cards’ Kate Mara in the upcoming film. Sue Storm was played by Jessica Alba in the original, and was made to look more like her comic book counterpart in the film.
Fans attacked 20th Century Fox and the director’s decision to not include an all-white cast for the series’ “reboot,” and, just as people were starting to get over the fact that the Human Torch wouldn’t be played by a white actor, the studios hit another roadblock with its target audience. “How can they be siblings?” Fans of the series asked.
Ah, that’s easy -- people assumed that Johnny must be adopted into Sue Storm’s family. Many people assumed that Johnny was adopted, until another trailer revealed that Johnny Storm’s father will be played by Reg E. Which means, in this version of the Fantastic 4, Sue was adopted into the Storm family, not Johnny.
People took to the internet and exclaimed that they would not go see this adaptation, refusing to believe that a change in characters’ races and a tweak to their backstories could hinder the development of the fantastic heroes that they’re destined to become.
“Some people may look at my casting as political correctness or an attempt to meet a racial quota, or as part of the year of “Black Film,”” writes Michael B. Jordan in his open letter to anyone who might disagree with his casting. “Or they could look at it as a creative choice by the director, Josh Trank, who is in an interracial relationship himself—a reflection of what a modern family looks like today.”
These fantasy films play an instrumental role in the future of cinema because they are taking two established franchises and approaching them from a new angle--and not an angle that only makes room for a token black character, as Jordan wrote in his letter--an angle that shows viewers that a character with depth can be played by a man or a woman of any nationality.
Jordan put it best when he said that, today, people look at each other in terms of race. People always want to know what a person identifies as to put a label on them and to figure them out. By doing this to solely define someone, whether fictional or real, however, is extremely degrading.
“Maybe, if I set an example, Hollywood will start considering more people of color in other prominent roles,” Jordan said. “Maybe we can reach the people who are stuck in the mindset that “it has to be true to the comic book.” Or, Jordan writes, maybe Hollywood has to reach past them, and step outside of the lines without the approval from every fan and ignoring the cries of critics who can’t see past a person’s outward appearance.
Some people will refuse to see both of these films, clinging to a misguided belief that "black men can't be Stormtroopers," and comic book heroes can't be just as powerful and inspiring characters if their origins are tweaked for a new interpretation of the character.
Maybe their opinions will change over time, or maybe they won't. Racial inequality won't disappear overnight, but it's comforting to know that there are onscreen heroes who are fighting off-screen battles for a world they'd like to see become a reality.
Comic books and science fiction novels have a long history of recognizing and celebrating a diverse cast of characters. Hopefully, soon all of Hollywood can too.
And maybe, one day, we’ll live in a world where racial equality isn't purely fictional.
See the Fantastic Four when it hits theaters on Aug. 7, 2015, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens on Dec. 18, 2015.