Marvel, Please Cast an Asian American Iron Fist | thenerdsofcolor
“Yes, I am proposing that a major comic book institution change the race of one of its popular characters as it transitions to a new form of media. In this case, I want Marvel Studios to cast an Asian American actor to play the lead in the upcoming Iron Fist show it is developing for Netflix.
It seems logical enough to me, though as always, there are fans who are urging Marvel to resist changing his race. Now, I know the topic of cross-racial casting has come up time and time again here at The Nerds of Color. And while there are a contingent of fans who don’t think such things matter — or worse, are vehemently opposed to such casting choices — I can’t help thinking that Iron Fist gives Marvel a chance to add even more diversity to its interconnected cinematic universe.
Not to mention that this is a case where changing the race of the character has the potential to actually add layers of depth to the story of said character. First, let’s get a couple of misconceptions out of the way. My call for an Asian American Iron Fist is not meant to displace Danny Rand from the story. It is, in fact, the opposite…”
Keep reading Keith Chow’s article at thenerdsofcolor
There’s also a petition for Marvel Studios to cast an Asian American as Iron Fist at 18 Million Rising.
“My call for an Asian American Iron Fist is not meant to displace Danny Rand from the story,” wrote Keith Chow, a contributor to the site. “It is, in fact, the opposite. In my mind, casting a young Asian American in the lead role does nothing to change his classic origin: He can still be the son of a wealthy businessman. He can still accompany his family on an expedition to seek out K’un L’un. He can still train under Lei Kung, the Thunderer. He can still seek revenge against the man who killed his father. Danny being Asian American precludes none of these things. What does change, however, in making Danny non-white is that it removes the white savior syndrome of the original story.”
“…If Danny is Asian American, the scenes of him embracing the ways of K’un-L’un can be viewed through the lens of cultural reconnection.”
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