Spiderman, Rebooted

[Sideswipe]

No it doesnt.  President is a title and job taken by many different people.  Spider-Man has always been Peter Parker, Thomas Jefferson hasnt always been President. 

[mearnest]

At first I didn't like the idea either, but I heard a pretty solid argument that changed my mind.  Basically there's no reason a change of race would have to change the character.  Peter Parker is a nerdy, awkward kid.  He's grown up poor and has been raised by his Aunt and Uncle.  Plus, once he puts on the Spidey suit you can't see his skin anyway.

[Kete]

I think it would be cool, although, I've always been more of a DC fan.  If Marvel were more near and dear, I don't think I would like them messing with it that much.  I don't think I would like it if they cast a black Superman.  Not just because of race, but because it really does change the character.  It'd be like making Superman a architect instead of a reporter, or have him wear green instead of blue.

[Tripe]

Thought this was interesting:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1640688/20100603/story.jhtml

I don't like it, for two reasons.  One, at the risk of sounding a little racist, Peter Parker is a white guy.  He's always been white.  While a black actor can play a white character (Michael Clark Duncan was the only thing watchable in Daredevil, though it's not like he had much competition...), it doesn't work for such an iconic character.

My other argument against this is that with characters like Luke Cage, The Black Panther, John Stewart (Green Lantern, not the Daily Show), and The Falcon not having films, it makes no sense to cast a black actor in a white role.

Neither of those arguments are meant to be racist, but damn, it's hard to find a way to say that without sounding racist.

Ahem

[Darth Macho]

Back when they were casting Sam Raimi's Spider-Man I recall Chris Rock lobbying heavily for the role of Peter Parker. Spider-Man is one of the few comic book heroes that appeals to inner city minorities and they identify with him on a level suburban white people just don't get.

So hell yeah, make Peter Parker black. Just don't give him any Will Smith quips ("Look out, black man swingin' on a web here!") and the movie ought to be fine.

[warofthebees]

I don't like it, for two reasons.  One, at the risk of sounding a little racist, Peter Parker is a white guy.  He's always been white.  While a black actor can play a white character (Michael Clark Duncan was the only thing watchable in Daredevil, though it's not like he had much competition...), it doesn't work for such an iconic character.

the president's always been a white guy, the president can't be black. reason makes as much sense.

Someone already said what I would say, but I have to mention that this does not line up with my reasoning.

As far as Nick Fury:  He is black in the Ultimate Comics line (and modeled after Samuel L. Jackson), so there is a basis for that.  The Green Lantern had a black version of the character, John Stewart, so I would be able to accept that as well if he was the main character of the Green Lantern film.  But   Spider-man has never been black.  To me, it's like if Superman was played by a black guy.  It would just be weird to me.

I could accept Harry Osborne, Flash Thompson, hell, Mary Jane as a black character, because they are not as iconic as Spider-man, but Peter Parker is a white guy, and I can't imagine him otherwise.

I think the reason that Spider-man appeals to minorities is because he is one of the few heroes to wear a full face mask; he could be black, or asian, or hispanic.  To me, though, he isn't.

I feel like I should end all my posts in this thread by saying how I am not a racist douche...

[TTYT]

Mary Jane as a black woman would be awesome, especially if they found someone who was a natural redhead. Rrrowl!

[Tripe]

As far as Nick Fury:  He is black in the Ultimate Comics line (and modeled after Samuel L. Jackson), so there is a basis for that.

Prior to 2001 there hadn't been, for almost four decades.

[Bob]

Yeah, it would be like rebooting "Steele" with Bill Walton in the lead  

[Doctor Who?]

As long as they get a good actor and don't mess with the character why should skin color matter?

It's not like all black people at the same any more then all white people are the same.

[warofthebees]

As far as Nick Fury:  He is black in the Ultimate Comics line (and modeled after Samuel L. Jackson), so there is a basis for that.

Prior to 2001 there hadn't been, for almost four decades.

But now there is a basis.  If there was a version of Spider-man who was black, I'd be fine with this.  But there isn't.  There is only one Spider-man.

I would like to see Isaiah Bradley, from Red White and Black make an apperance (even if just a cameo) in Captain America.  He was one of the black soldiers the super soldier serum was tested on, and the most successful until they perfected it and used it on Steve Rogers.

Skin color wouldn't matter, if it was someone not so iconic.  If it was a black Ghost Rider or black Hawkeye, I'd have no problem with it.  But I feel that making Spider-man black is like making Luke Cage white:  it just doesn't work.

As long as they get a good actor and don't mess with the character why should skin color matter?

It's not like all black people at the same any more then all white people are the same.

What if they took Spider-man's costume and made it black leather with a spider logo and no mask, like the X-Men costumes?  It would still be the same character, but he would look completely different.  I'd be willing to bet that far more people would be agitated by it.

[Tripe]

How about we make him Indian:

As a matter of interest, how do you feel about the existence of the character Harley Quinn?

[Bob]

I guess we could have a Serbian Spiderman, but he might smoke too much for US audiences

[Doctor Who?]

As far as Nick Fury:  He is black in the Ultimate Comics line (and modeled after Samuel L. Jackson), so there is a basis for that.

Prior to 2001 there hadn't been, for almost four decades.

But now there is a basis.  If there was a version of Spider-man who was black, I'd be fine with this.  But there isn't.  There is only one Spider-man.

I would like to see Isaiah Bradley, from Red White and Black make an apperance (even if just a cameo) in Captain America.  He was one of the black soldiers the super soldier serum was tested on, and the most successful until they perfected it and used it on Steve Rogers.

Skin color wouldn't matter, if it was someone not so iconic.  If it was a black Ghost Rider or black Hawkeye, I'd have no problem with it.  But I feel that making Spider-man black is like making Luke Cage white:  it just doesn't work.

As long as they get a good actor and don't mess with the character why should skin color matter?

It's not like all black people at the same any more then all white people are the same.

What if they took Spider-man's costume and made it black leather with a spider logo and no mask, like the X-Men costumes?  It would still be the same character, but he would look completely different.  I'd be willing to bet that far more people would be agitated by it.

A change in costume would indicate a change in character.  Unless you are saying it is impossible for a black kid to be a nerd and a hero(And that is pretty racist)I can't see where you are going with this.

[Bob]

Maybe "Spiderwoman" is the next reboot.   I bet Halle Berry could make it at least as good as Catwoman.....