Discussing LOTR: The War of the Rohirrim

[@lydiabestul9490]

This reminds me also of like colorblind Broadway casting. I think a lot of Hamilton’s success was about George Washington and Thomas Jefferson being played by black men. But it might feel differently to have like Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof played by a black person; I do agree it brings a new history and perspective to the character. In HP and the Cursed Child, Hermione Granger was played by a black woman and her children are mixed racial, and people went insane. It reminds me of what’s happening with Snape now. Also, Idris Elba was up for being James Bond and people said he shouldn’t be because he wasn’t from the right part of London or some shit when Sean Connery is literally Scottish. Blatant racism, easy to see through. Anyway, this has definitely been a cultural discussion for a while. We already have stringy-haired pallid Snape in Alan Rickman’s perfect performance, so I’m personally cool with seeing it go in another direction. I have seen a lot of discussion online on how Cynthia Erivo’s portrayal of Elphaba as an outsider is clearly influenced by her experience as a black woman, just as Idina Menzel’s original portrayal of the character was influenced by being a Jewish woman. I think it’s cool that these characters are being expanded and the lore is widening to include other people who find that their stories are underrepresented. I’m excited about new characters and about already beloved characters becoming fresh again.

[@lydiabestul9490]

Also, growing up as a red headed girl I really identified with red headed characters like Ariel from the Little Mermaid and Annie, and seeing those characters get retreatment and reintroduced with amazing black actresses was so exciting; I saw young girls see themselves represented in a way that I was able to experience as a kid too, and I think that’s really magical! So I’m one of those assholes who is like always excited about DEI in projects, even when it’s not popular.

[@paradox2767]

Less characters for redheaded girls nowadays to look up to then, no? So your generation enjoyed those characters, but this gen's on their own / has to look back to 40-year-old movies to relate?

[@lydiabestul9490]

@ I think there will always be new red headed characters coming out, like the main character in the movie that this video is about 🙂

[@lydiabestul9490]

But also; there’s nothing wrong with looking back. Little girls today still love Cinderella and she’s almost 75 years old! 😮