When Marvel Studios announced that Michael B. Jordan would be playing the Human Torch in the upcoming Fantasic Four, the internet erupted with criticism of a black actor playing a traditionally white comic character.
Jordan attempted to silence his critics last week with an essay he penned for Entertainment Weekly, entitled Michael B. Jordan: Why I’m Torching the Color Line.
In it, Jordan revealed he was subjected to harsh comments such as “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,” and “They’ve destroyed it!”
He said he hopes to break the color barriers in Hollywood with his role in Fantastic Four.
“Maybe, if I set an example, Hollywood will start considering 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.”
Zoe Saldana, who’s set to appear as Nina Simone later this year, recently defended Jordan in a message posted to her Facebook wall.
Saldana called out prominent white actors in Hollywood who have portrayed characters of color.
Bravo!!! Inspired by Michael’s essay. Thank you for speaking up. If we question why Michael has been cast to play the Human Torch in Fantastic Four then we must also question why Elizabeth Taylor played Cleopatra, why Angelina Jolie played Mariane Pearl in a Mighty Heart, why Laurence Olivier played Othello, Burt Lancaster in Apache, and the list goes on….and on…. And on… Let’s not throw rocks when we all live in glass houses.
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