Aaron Pierre Cast as John Stewart in LANTERNS Controversy, Why Joker: Folie à Deux Failed & More!

[@andrewyb830]

Green Lantern show is a show i definitely can't wait to see. Colorism is definitely an issue but I want to see the character of John Stewart done properly over everything.

[@TerenceThomas-x4c]

You and me both , been waiting for the longest to see John in Live Action !

[@Aishakenya824]

Thank you so much for shinning a positive light on the Aaron Pierre controversy. As a darker skinned Black woman iv dealt with colorism my entire life and can acknowledge it’s a real issue in Hollywood and outside of Hollywood. But it saddens me to see so much hate this young man is receiving from us own community, when he should be celebrating this momentous achievement . As a darker skinned woman with a lighter skinned child, iv seen the hate my child has deal lt with because she’s not (dark enough). I’m hoping that one day colorism in general is no longer an issue, but at the same time I want us to stand together and left each other up as a community overall.

[@TheLawrenceReport]

I’m sorry this happened to you Queen 😥

[@droolon]

Loved your take on this whole controversy which to me (as a dark skinned black man who's a fan of both Stephan and Aaron) should not be blown to the proportions it has been. It's funny the first place I saw both of them were in Barry Jenkins' projects, Aaron Pierre in "Underground Railroad" and Stephan James in "If Beale Street Could Talk". I have mad respect for Stephan's work, (if people haven't seen him in the series "Homecoming" they need to! He and Julia Roberts are amazing together in that) and I really want him to become a household name BUT like you've said it's about the right person for the role. When I close my eyes and think of John Stewart in the JL animated series voiced by Phil Lamarr, I can't help but see how Aaron Pierre fits the bill, the physicality and gravitas, the dude's got it. Stephan has charisma, presence/gravitas as well but in my mind's eye I didn't see it as quickly as I saw it with Aaron (doesn't mean he wouldn't have killed it). Side note I would love to see Stephan and Kid Cudi play brothers in something together. Like you've rightly said representation does matter, colorism is real and the whole UK actors (who I also love) playing American icons is a trend (Stephan's Canadian BTW) I have noticed but I'll admit I haven't necessarily been as bothered by it maybe because I'm not American (although I have spent time in America and went to an HBCU), maybe cos to me, I'm just like we're all black, light, dark, American, British, wherever. Ofcourse i'm not oblivious to the fact that there are nuances to what being any of those variations of black means that are context specific and some that are universal BUT I like to take the approach of focusing on "does the essence of the character suit the actor that was chosen" and "is this ultimately more positive than negative?"

[@MovieFiles]

Well said and appreciate you sharing your thoughts.

[@antoinedmack27]

When I first read the article about Aaron Pierre's casting, I couldn't wait for you to make a video about it.

[@MovieFiles]

Appreciate it Antoine

[@ziggy8253]

Aaron Pierre - let’s go!

[@ZIASBLOU]

Love the Aaron Pierre casting I first watched him on KRYPTON on SYFY and then REBEL RIDGE. I do hope we see Stephan in another future DC role like BLACK LIGHTNING, ICON, BATWING, or Red Lion

[@MovieFiles]

@@ZIASBLOU I think this will be similar to how Nicolas holt audition for Superman, but ended up getting Lex Luther.

[@ZIASBLOU]

@@MovieFiles agreed although if James is a villian I'm not sure who they'll cast him as maybe Dr. Polaris, Major Force, or Nekron

[@andrewyb830]

I loved krypton

[@AlkalineInsides]

All this controversy is good, it can help with viewership. It’s a fair criticism, however, we need to pick our battles wisely. Aaron Pierre IS John Stewart, a qualified John Stewart. What 30 yr old black man has the presence he has right now in Hollywood? He is a rising star with charisma on and off screens. I don’t feel like talking anymore

[@WJW707]

Great video as always 🔥

[@MovieFiles]

@@WJW707 thank you so much!

[@adeolaatitebi4575]

Great nuanced conversation on the Lanterns casting bro. Did a good job man.

[@ThisIntrovertLife]

When ppl try to simplify “colorism” as someone “not being black enough” it’s pure ignorance. Furthermore, John Stewart was intentionally designed as a dark skin character for representation: “[...] most black people i know are pretty dark. there are some very light-skinned people, but not john stewart.” - the creator neal adams in response to the editorial wanting his character to be a little more light

[@tjalliemicheaux3719]

You have to understand American English, where we tend to generalize during conversations a little too much. It's no disrespect of excluding anyone that has experienced it. The definition of Colorism is the preferential or prejudicial treatment of same-race people based on skin color. If ppl were talking about Wesley Snipes playing Malcolm X & *explaining* “colorism” to an audience that is unfamiliar w/ the culture, some would give the example of “not being light enough”. But all of this over a comic book/cartoon character is the purest ignorance.

[@warrick3w881]

I hope Aaron kills it. My introduction to him was in Rebel Ridge and i thought he knocked it out the park. I hope he does the saem with Green Lantern. I hope the script for the show is great so that when he kills this role people will love his roll as the character the same way we love R.D.J as Iron Man

[@TheLawrenceReport]

Great breakdown . I love the DCU Report Card that’s dope man . 🔥💪🏾

[@KPWASRIGHT]

Pierre was also on Krypton

[@MovieFiles]

Yep been in the dc fam for a minute

[@KriticalThinker137]

After so many, mega-budget failures, why hasn't Hollywood changed its business model? An especially relevant question since the new classes of private equity investors want quick, big bucks returns.

[@AlkalineInsides]

WB thought more about assuming Todd is some incredible director, and 1 billion dollars… over thinking about the fans of the character. I’m Jokered out now to be honest.

[@anitaward1996]

You forgot to mention Supermarket Krypton

[@cinemaghost3149]

Yea arron is a dope actor but john Stewart in my mind has always been a darker man. I always thought of Idris when I was younger, and honestly for this country I'm not surprised they chose arron.

[@JohnnySturdivant]

It’s gonna take me seeing him in the role to get behind his casting. Imo there are several actors I would choose before him. You are certainly right Hollywood was looking his direction prior to Rebel Ridge potentially it still feels flavor of the month to me. My concern is that they will have John be “sonned” or a “jobber” to make Hal look better. That he will be a yes man or a pure sidekick. I think it’s easier for Hollywood to humble Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart than a Trevante Rhodes John Stewart by Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan. I’m rather dubious. John is my favorite DC hero not named Batman so I’m a bit more critical of this project because I want his show to be good. As long as he’s not punked out to prop up Hal or he is a glorified sidekick I’m cool with it.

[@kuakilyissombroguwi]

But wait a minute, non-American whites have been playing American icons for a long time as well. I think the John Stewart casting is damn near perfect, that guy's gonna crush it.

[@MovieFiles]

@@kuakilyissombroguwi It’s a thing, trust me. I’m a big fan of the casting as well.

[@amekgomo4578]

Colorism is definitely an issue but in comic book movies in big 2024 it's not, the majority of black superheroes and characters in superhero movies are dark skin, it's harder to name 10 lightaskin superheroes even with the women characters which is crazy cause colorism affects them more, the only lightkins

[@jabarimuhammad]

Every black character in DC comics is dark brown. Lol. They only use 1 value of brown in comics, especially in the 70’s.

[@jarrettfreeney]

Yes...BUT some characters were purposely dark skinned and it was an integral part of their story. John Stewart was one of those characters

[@DamnFineCupOfCoffee]

@@jarrettfreeneyhow was it integral?

[@jabarimuhammad]

@@jarrettfreeney of course it was purposely done, it’s the only value they used in the 70’s.

[@jabarimuhammad]

@@DamnFineCupOfCoffee because it was the only value they used. 😂

[@JayThaInformant]

The Latern no one wanted

[@MovieFiles]

@@JayThaInformant We’ll see in 2026 if people feel the same.

[@tsheporabekane4172]

It is absolutely rude to accuse someone of not being black enough, especially when you have zero evidence of it... 💁🏾‍♂️

[@jarrettfreeney]

Absolutely no one is accusing this man of not being black enough. We can all see he's clearly black. The problem is he isn't dark enough because John Stewart's creator purposely made him dark for a reason.

[@SantaClaus_3679]

@@jarrettfreeneysaying he isn’t dark enough is basically saying “you aren’t black enough”

[@DamnFineCupOfCoffee]

@@jarrettfreeneythe reason back in the day is that they would never color black guys that dark. So the creator wanted to be more inclusive. Now in 2024 we don’t have the problem of dark guys not being cast. In fact it’s the opposite with lighter skinned black guys usually left out for not being black enough. So this casting is actually is actually championing inclusivity, ironically the original creator’s intent whether he sees that or not Tbh the creator’s intent is a tricky thing. What if he complained that John doesn’t have a fro like the original version?

[@SmartDave60]

As I’ve said elsewhere if a man of his complexion was cast to play Luke Cage we’d get it.

[@bammbammsam]

​@SmartDave60 A lighter tone Luke Cage would not bother me. A lot of us are not that dark in America, just a lighter tone T'Challa would make me question casting.

[@tsheporabekane4172]

I bet if they casted Michael B Jordan as John Stewart nobody would complain about colorism... 🤔😏

[@jarrettfreeney]

He's darker than Pierre

[@KarineLajoie-ne9xp]

Same skin tone

[@tsheporabekane4172]

@@jarrettfreeney No he's not, Micheal is light skinned and played Kill Monger, and no one said a thing about him being too light to play the character, AT ALL. Or when Terrence Howard(light skinned) was replaced by a dark skinned Don Cheadle - no one complained about colorism then. But in 2024, people want this virtue. Lol selective outrage is lazy...

[@tjalliemicheaux3719]

I want to see Robert Downey Jr as Kirk Lazarus, from Tropic Thunder, playing John Stewart 🤣🤣🤣