It seems there’s no end to folks wanting to alter or change the identity of superheroes and now you can add THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2’s Andrew Garfield in with that mix. The actor revealed to EW that he had a philosophical discussion with producer Matt Tolmach about Mary Jane, who was recently delayed until the next film, “half-joking” that MJ didn’t necessarily have to be a girl.
“I was kind of joking, but kind of not joking about MJ. And I was like, ‘What if MJ is a dude?’ Why can’t we discover that Peter is exploring his sexuality? It’s hardly even groundbreaking!…So why can’t he be gay? Why can’t he be into boys?”
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The actor went on to explain that he had the perfect actress actor in mind:
“I’ve been obsessed with Michael B. Jordan since The Wire. He’s so charismatic and talented. It’d be even better—we’d have interracial bisexuality!”
Sigh. So, look, I have no problem with superheroes of any race, gender, or sexual preference. In the end it’s ALWAYS about character and nothing more. However,changing up characters who were created to be a certain way for the sake of simply “going with the times” is asinine. If you want a gay superhero in a bi-racial relationship, no problem. Just create them. Do the same work that all the other characters have done over decades of storytelling and establish your characters and off you go. This whole “time for a fill in the blank character” schtick is getting old.
What do you think? Should we change up the origins of established characters to fit in with current social trends or leave them as they are?
Garfield will next be seen in THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 on May 2, 2014 and Michael B. Jordan will next be seen in FRUITVALE STATION on July 12, 2013.
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