"Runaways" Casting--In danger of being the next "Last Airbender"?

**Suffering Sappho** · 08-06-2010, 10:34 AM

Saw this linked to from Racialicious, Racebending.com has gotten ahold of the casting call for the new Runaways movie.

http://www.racebending.com/v3/featur...ing-breakdown/

I've never read Runaways, but its always been something I've wanted to get into. I was interested in the movie, but this makes me nervous about how it will be cast.

Thoughts?

**Slewo.O** · 08-06-2010, 10:37 AM

What does it say? Proxy is blocking me.

**Zeu** · 08-06-2010, 10:39 AM

Aah, Runaways....

**Dream** · 08-06-2010, 10:39 AM

Oh fuck that movie if they do this. If they don't include Nico, Alex, or Victor as their correct races I won't see it. It was a fantastic comic book, one of the best I've ever read.

**K-DoG7p7** · 08-06-2010, 10:42 AM

In short the casting call calls for a black actor and ...
Well 5 others
Now they do ask for a chubby girl
but what about the Japanese-American girl?
HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM???

Is there is any "racebending" here its the lack of a proper Nico
(or other minorities filling inn for the white characters)

**Zeu** · 08-06-2010, 10:42 AM

I won´t see it anyway you tak eit.

After the stunt they pulled on the black character, I physically destroyed my TPB.

No way am I subjecting myself to watching that on a theatre.

**Dream** · 08-06-2010, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by K-DoG7p7

In short the casting call calls for a black actor and ...
Well 5 others
Now they do ask for a chubby girl
but what about the Japanese-American girl?
HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM???

Is there is any "racebending" here its the lack of a proper Nico
(or other minorities filling inn for the white characters)

Depends if they use Victor, which they probably won't until the second film. But yeah... Gert is supposed to be Jewish and chubby. Nico is one of the best characters, they mess that up then I won't see it.

Originally Posted by Zeu

I won´t see it anyway you tak eit.

After the stunt they pulled on the black character, I physically destroyed my TPB.

No way am I subjecting myself to watching that on a theatre.

I didn't mind that. I really don't think what BKV did with Alex was anything racist, that was just his role in the story.

**Suffering Sappho** · 08-06-2010, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by Omega Flight

What does it say? Proxy is blocking me.

Here are the casting call descriptions:

Boy 1: Very smart, natural leader, in need of a father figure
Male, African American, must play 16-18
Must be at least 16 by January 2011
(Name not listed, assumed to be casting call for Alex Wilder)

Boy 2: A rebel, ignores rules and authority, wounded inside
Male, must play 16-18
Must be at least 16 by January 2011
(Name not listed, assumed to be casting call for Chase Stein)

Girl 1: Uniquely beautiful, nurturing but guarded
Female, must play 16-18
Must be at least 16 by January 2011
(Name not listed, assumed to be casting call for Nico Minoru)

Girl 2: Chubby oddball, smart and verbal
Female, must play 16-18
Must be at least 16 by January 2011
(Name not listed, assumed to be casting call for Gertrude Yorkes)

Girl 3: Conventionally beautiful, with an unchecked ego
Female, must play 15-18
Must be at least 16 by January 2011
(Name not listed, assumed to be casting call for Karolina Dean)

Girl 4: An innocent, wide-eyed and overprotected
Female, must play 8-10
Must be at least 9 by January 2011
(Name not listed, assumed to be casting call for Molly Hayes)

The bold is mine. Presumably the asian-american is described as "uniquely beautiful", while the caucasian blond is "conventionally beautiful". Although, for some reason Boy 1 is listed as African-American, so its not like they have some policy against casting based on race. I'm just curious to see how this will play out.

**Dreg** · 08-06-2010, 10:47 AM

Perhaps the casting director is looking for the proper ethnicities, but doesn't want to discourage other actors from auditioning. I mean, the Last Airbender audition sheet listed Aang as "Caucasian or any other ethnicity." That showed a clear preference for caucasians. But I still agree with the article writer that Asian actors and actresses in particular need some kind of heads-up for when a role is well-suited for them. There is so much prejudice against them in American casting that it's sickening.

**Slewo.O** · 08-06-2010, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by Dreg

Perhaps the casting director is looking for the proper ethnicities, but doesn't want to discourage other actors from auditioning. I mean, the Last Airbender audition sheet listed Aang as "Caucasian or any other ethnicity." That showed a clear preference for caucasians. But I still agree with the article writer that Asian actors and actresses in particular need some kind of heads-up for when a role is well-suited for them. There is so much prejudice against them in American casting that it's sickening.

There is no prejudice against asians in American casting! Now if anything Runaways is going to be way more diverse than Brian K. Vaughn's graphic novel (NOT COMIC BOOK) ever was! /sarcasm