Tom Holland's new role as Spider-Man sparks diversity debate
CBC News | Posted: June 24, 2015 2:56 PM | Last Updated: June 24, 2015
'Sony pictures is clearly not awake,' said one fan calling for more diverse choice
Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures have pulled back Spider-Man's mask to reveal the new face of the big-screen superhero, but the casting choice has some fans calling foul.
The comic-book powerhouse and Hollywood studio announced Tuesday that The Impossible star Tom Holland will be taking over the role of the web-slinging character, and his alter-ego Peter Parker, in the next Spider-Man film.
The 19-year-old English actor is the third white male cast to portray the classic character in the movie franchise, after Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield.
A little-known director, Jon Watts, has been set to direct the still-untitled film.
Diversity disappointment
Holland beat out a reported 1,500 actors for the part, but some Marvel fans aren't pleased with the casting choice.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that Peter Parker will be replaced by Miles Morales, a half-black, half-Latino character, in a relaunched version of the comic book.
The decision to make Morales the "main" Spider-Man follows a string moves by Marvel to make its superhero lineup more diverse, at least in print, including:
- Adding a female Thor, who was later revealed to be Jane Foster, the original Thor's sometimes love interest.
- Promoting Carol Danvers, a.k.a. Ms. Marvel, to Captain Marvel, who will star in a movie in 2019.
- Introducing Kamala Khan, a Muslim-American teenage girl, as the new Ms. Marvel.
- Promoting African-American hero Falcon to succeed Steve Rogers as the new Captain America.
Some fans had hoped that the third Spider-Man movie would follow suit.
Others thought that the classic comic character should stay the same.
Stan Lee speaks for white Spidey
Stan Lee, the comic book legend who helped create the superhero in the 1960s, has also added his voice to the debate. He has expressed a desire to see the portrayal of Spidey stay close to his work.
"I wouldn't mind, if Peter Parker had originally been black, a Latino, Indian or anything else, that he stay that way," said Lee, in an interview with comic news site, Newsarama. "But we originally made him white. I don't see any reason to change that."
Lee's comments come after an apparent legal agreement between Sony and Marvel on the nature of the Spider-Man and Peter Parker was leaked online.
The documents, posted on whistleblower website WikiLeaks and first reported by Gawker, reveal a strictly traditional on-screen profile for Spider-Man and Peter Parker.
They stipulate, among other things, that Parker is "Caucasian and heterosexual" and that Spider-Man must be portrayed as straight, too.
The motivations behind the licensing deal are unclear, but fans will eventually be able cast their vote in the debate at the box office.
The third Spider-Man is set to hit theaters on July 28, 2017.