|
Post by willywonka666 on Aug 2, 2016 8:10:58 GMT -5
It's just now expected, but why? Is it just for the sake of changing and revamping? It happens so much it almost seems that way
|
|
Nikki Heyman
Fry's dog Seymour
EXTREEEEEME Pony Manager
✬ Believe In The Fight ✬
Posts: 24,018
|
Post by Nikki Heyman on Aug 2, 2016 8:11:42 GMT -5
"Diversity"
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2016 8:16:31 GMT -5
Marketability. Demographics/attitudes of the country have shifted so the market is trying to adjust accordingly. Plus it's a more novel concept so it's more likely to cut through the clutter of today's media landscape.
But it really doesn't happen that much. It just seems to be that way because protagonists have been basically all white dudes since filming began.
When you go down the list of films that come out, even remakes/reboots, the vast majority of protagonists are still white and male, but when a handful of protagonists are changed it just seems more widespread than it really is - partially due to how click bait media sites blow shit up.
Also, why not tell a different type of story instead of just aping the first one? Like with the Splash reboot. Okay, someone told the female version, now let's see what the story would be like with a male lead.
But mostly its marketability. After all, these are big budget major motion pictures, not a charity. I mean, maybe one day Unicef will get into the movie making business, but until then, they'll do whatever gimmicks they can to put butts in the seats. Whether that's making "Captain America vs Iron Man 9" or doing a remake of Tango & Cash with Gina Carano and Zoe Saldana.
|
|
|
Post by willywonka666 on Aug 2, 2016 8:17:48 GMT -5
Like the new Splash reboot
|
|
tms
Don Corleone
Posts: 1,901
|
Post by tms on Aug 2, 2016 8:43:15 GMT -5
I think a good example of this would be the Splash reboot.
|
|
Dub H
Crow T. Robot
Captain Pixel: the Game Master
I ❤ Aniki
Posts: 48,043
|
Post by Dub H on Aug 2, 2016 8:48:23 GMT -5
Mostly publicity stunt. Thought I'm sure some just picked the best actors for the role,regardless of race or gender.
|
|
Rubix Cube Johnny
Team Rocket
hopelessly trying to open a can of soup with a golf club
Posts: 998
|
Post by Rubix Cube Johnny on Aug 2, 2016 8:51:59 GMT -5
I don't see this trend lasting long in the mainstream. So far it hasn't proved profitable.
Its the public that dictates the market not the journos who bitch about the lack of diversity.
For all the internet back-and-forth, hardly anyone actually paid to see ghostbusters, we just went "meh not for me" and went about out business.
|
|
|
Post by SHAKEMASTER TV9 is Don Knotts on Aug 2, 2016 8:52:36 GMT -5
It really depends on the property. Splash is actually a decent gender swap property since males aren't usually depicted as mermaids. Total Recall remake could've worked genderswapped I think. I don't think genderswapping Robocop would help.
|
|
Big Poppa Pumpkin
Dennis Stamp
I'll be in the back polishing............ my belt.
Posts: 4,987
|
Post by Big Poppa Pumpkin on Aug 2, 2016 8:57:26 GMT -5
It's an interesting idea, like changing the perspective of the main character maybe means you can tell the story in a different way.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2016 8:57:45 GMT -5
I don't see this trend lasting long in the mainstream. So far it hasn't proved profitable. Its the public that dictates the market not the journos who bitch about the lack of diversity. For all the internet back-and-forth, hardly anyone actually paid to see ghostbusters, we just went "meh not for me" and went about out business. Nah, only a relatively small percentage of remakes in general (no matter who they cast) really do that well. If the "public dictates the market" companies would have stopped doing remakes altogether. It's more about marketing potential with that kind of stuff.
|
|
agent817
Fry's dog Seymour
Doesn't Know Whose Ring It Is
Posts: 21,439
|
Post by agent817 on Aug 2, 2016 8:58:43 GMT -5
I personally didn't mind it for the Ghostbusters reboot, but then again I was willing to give that movie a chance from the start and ended up liking it. However, some of these other ones like the Splash remake and the Rocketeer reboot, I see no reason for them.
|
|
|
Post by Clash, Never a Meter Maid on Aug 2, 2016 9:01:20 GMT -5
Marketability. Demographics/attitudes of the country have shifted so the market is trying to adjust accordingly. Plus it's a more novel concept so it's more likely to cut through the clutter of today's media landscape. But it really doesn't happen that much. It just seems to be that way because protagonists have been basically all white dudes since filming began. When you go down the list of films that come out, even remakes/reboots, the vast majority of protagonists are still white and male, but when a handful of protagonists are changed it just seems more widespread than it really is - partially due to how click bait media sites blow shit up. Also, why not tell a different type of story instead of just aping the first one? Like with the Splash reboot. Okay, someone told the female version, now let's see what the story would be like with a male lead. Bingo. The country is becoming more diverse, so I don't have a problem with it. I think a good story is a good story and representation are also equally important. You don't need to oppose one of those stances to support the other. Race swapping only bothers me when a minorty character is changed to a white one. And that's not out of hypocrisy. Stuff like Scarlett Johannason playing Kusanagi in a Ghost In The Shell movie is bad because it cuts off opportunities for Asian actresses to not only play a canonically Asian character, but for Asian actors to become more visible. That's not fair at all. On the other hand, like I always say, if Warner Bros decided to cast a Black actor as Superman, I'd be all for it because of the comparative lack of heroes of color in American media. I also approved of the Ghostbusters remake for a similar reason- I liked it anyway, but its quality aside, I think it's awesome that girls can more easily imagine themselves in fantasy roles that aren't tied to the usual clichés. TL,DR: More characters that aren't white men by default are good, so I approve of most of these changes. And I say that as a Steve Rogers die hard fan, who is as white as you can get.
|
|
Bo Rida
Fry's dog Seymour
Pulled one over on everyone. Got away with it, this time.
Posts: 23,829
|
Post by Bo Rida on Aug 2, 2016 9:06:54 GMT -5
Usually an uneasy mixture of diversity related good intentions and the marketing team generating some free publicity while avoiding a backlash from having an all white/male cast.
Other times it's just the most sensible casting decision (like Michael Clark Duncan as Kingpin) or a way of doing something new with old characters/franchises.
|
|
Fauxnaki
Unicron
0 Followers Club
Posts: 2,861
|
Post by Fauxnaki on Aug 2, 2016 9:09:26 GMT -5
A male version of mean girls would be money.
|
|
Big Poppa Pumpkin
Dennis Stamp
I'll be in the back polishing............ my belt.
Posts: 4,987
|
Post by Big Poppa Pumpkin on Aug 2, 2016 9:11:04 GMT -5
This summer Michael Cole IS John Shaft
|
|
|
Post by Clash, Never a Meter Maid on Aug 2, 2016 9:11:48 GMT -5
Usually an uneasy mixture of diversity related good intentions and the marketing team generating some free publicity while avoiding a backlash from having an all white/male cast. Other times it's just the most sensible casting decision (like Michael Clark Duncan as Kingpin) or a way of doing something new with old characters/franchises. Even if a studio had the best script in the world, I think they should still always try to avoid all white casts, unless the setting explicitly requires it. My attitude towards diversity is "if not now,when?" The white male default can't and isn't going to last forever. Why fight it? I just don't understand why this angers people so much. Is the world really going to end if kids want to be Sam Wilson's Captain America over Steve's on Halloween? Some things are much more important than staying true to a fictional mythos.
|
|
CMWaters
Ozymandius
Rolled a Seven, Beat the Ads.
Bald and busy
Posts: 63,197
|
Post by CMWaters on Aug 2, 2016 9:16:32 GMT -5
This summer Michael Cole IS John Shaft Competing with Jason Statham as Dolemite.
|
|
Nikki Heyman
Fry's dog Seymour
EXTREEEEEME Pony Manager
✬ Believe In The Fight ✬
Posts: 24,018
|
Post by Nikki Heyman on Aug 2, 2016 9:20:27 GMT -5
This summer Michael Cole IS John Shaft Competing with Jason Statham Cesaro as Dolemite.
|
|
the2ndevil
Grimlock
Super Seducer Survivor
Where Is Your Santa, Now?
Posts: 13,635
|
Post by the2ndevil on Aug 2, 2016 9:49:43 GMT -5
Sometimes a shift like that is going to open up a ton of storytelling options that just weren't there before, depending on the type of story and setting, which helps make it fresh, and more than just a rehash of the original (Hi, Total Recall! )
|
|
|
Post by YAKMAN is ICHIBAN on Aug 2, 2016 10:03:36 GMT -5
Can anyone think of any examples of these types of switches that actually provided interesting storytelling options?
I'm sure they are out there but I can't think of any.
Usually it just seems like a pointless publicity stunt like with Ghostbusters, or is just a matter of casting a good actor for the part like Idris Elba in Thor.
|
|