The Thor Franchise and Man of Steel movie have touched on the subject, but now two new comic book projects are reportedly switching the races of two of their major characters. Among the many rumors that are surrounding the new Fantastic Four film, is that African American actor Michael B. Jordan has been cast as the Human Torch. The Human Torch, Johnny Storm, is traditionally a white character in the comics. Meanwhile, The upcoming Arrow spin-off series, The Flash, has switched the race of the West family, meaning that we might soon see a black Flash.
Michael B. Jordan is one of the hottest new stars in Hollywood today. Some might even say that he is on fire. Jordan recently spoke to Access Hollywood about his love for all things sci-fi, so of course the rumor that he will be playing the Human Torch in the new Fantastic Four came up:
“It’s still up in the air, I just can’t [talk about it]. It’s one of things where, certain people start talking too soon and then what if it doesn’t happen for whatever reason? Then I’m the guy who was out there talking about something that coulda, shoulda, woulda, but didn’t.”
However, Jordan did not shy away from talking about the issue of switching a character's race, adding:
“It’s not just about that role; I think times are changing. It’s 2014. Comic books in general were established when we didn’t have civil rights, for the most part. So there weren’t a lot of comic book characters who were geared towards us, period. We weren’t the market that comic books were made for in the beginning. But as times change and things move on, I think us as a people need to evolve as well in our thinking and not be so narrow-minded. So, if not me, if not this project [but] someone else in another character, I wouldn’t be mad at that at all.”
Speaking of switching races, the upcoming Arrow spin-off, The Flash, has recently announced that African American actors Jessie l. Martin and Candice Patton have been cast to play Detective West and his daughter, Flash love interest, Iris West. Not only has Iris’ race changed, but that also means that her nephew Wally West, A.K.A, Kid Flash...A.K.A. the third Flash, could also be black.
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