[Barryrich]

A Black man playing a Norse God? Seriously?

Hmm, a Norse God that is Black. We might as well take a picture of a Scandinavian family celebrating Kwanzaa.

---------- Post added 2010-12-18 at 00:28 ----------

Michael Chiklis would have made an awesome Thor.

I recommend Valerio. He looked hardcore in "his" avatar.

---------- Post added 2010-12-18 at 00:29 ----------

But they already have someone perfect for the role. Someone who fits Thor in every way. Somebody nordic and famous around the world, Fabio Lanzoni

Fabio came to mind but he can't act.

[MARMELADINA]

Its like with the first Hulk, Banner was a male underwear model and the Hulk was Shrek. Second one was ok though.

[enurneAcourdy]

Not really. Michael Jordan is a REAL person not a mythological deity. There is a difference there.

Let's put it this way: to cast a black as a Norse deity is just as improper as casting a scandinavian as an African Vodun deity. Too bizarre even to admit entertaining the thought of it.

[radikal]

Its like with the first Hulk, Banner was a male underwear model and the Hulk was Shrek. Second one was ok though.

The second Hulk movie was much, much better.

[Zs3ZASpA]

Fabio came to mind but he can't act.

It doesnt matter if he can act or not every women knows him and wants him(i know the feeling of always being wanted because i look similar to him) and they would be going to see the movie and thats all that really matter is how much money the movie brings in. He wasnt on all those successfull romance novel covers for nothing. By the way, if Anthonio Banderas was on those covers with those white women it would be considered interracial by alot of people

[MwhwF6bp]

Not really. Michael Jordan is a REAL person not a mythological deity. There is a difference there.

You forget that Heimdall is an iconic figure in a religion, those who worship him take his portrayal very seriously, Heimdall is the creator of the Germanic social classes, the literal progenitor of tribes, he is a very important cultural figure and it cannot be a coincidence that Hollywood would portray such an icon incorrectly.

Would the world sit quiet if a white man were used in portraying an African deity, don't think so, there would be a fuss, so it's only natural that there's a fuss about a black man playing Heimdall (the whitest of the gods btw Thrym's Poem stanza 15).

[Argurnenoni]

If it was up to me, I think Hollywood should try to portray all of the Norse pantheon as uber-Nordic Viking types. It is based on a superhero comic genre, characters are supposed to be idealized hero types. This means:
-Darkest haired allowed would be dirty blonde or red hair.
-All blue or grey eyed cast.
-Every one, for some strange reason, is built.

I would have also liked to see this movie shot a la 300 yle/Spartacus style.

Oh, all Valkryies would be uber-hotties. For any Conan fans, picture the description of the frost giants daughter.


---------- Post added 2010-12-18 at 00:47 ----------

It doesnt matter if he can act or not every women knows him and wants him(i know the feeling of always being wanted because i look similar to him) and they would be going to see the movie and thats all that really matter is how much money the movie brings in. He wasnt on all those successfull romance novel covers for nothing. By the way, if Anthonio Banderas was on those covers with those white women it would be considered interracial by alot of people

You sure you don't 'want him' yourself? You seem to feel very strongly about him based on that very emotionally charged post there.

[Accecyncphory]

May Pluto take all their souls.

[f29sXS07]

If it was up to me, I think Hollywood should try to portray all of the Norse pantheon as uber-Nordic Viking types. It is based on a superhero comic genre, characters are supposed to be idealized hero types. This means:
-Darkest haired allowed would be dirty blonde or red hair.
-All blue or grey eyed cast.
-Every one, for some strange reason, is built.

I would have also liked to see this movie shot a la 300 yle/Spartacus style.

Oh, all Valkryies would be uber-hotties. For any Conan fans, picture the description of the frost giants daughter.


---------- Post added 2010-12-18 at 00:47 ----------


You sure you don't 'want him' yourself? You seem to feel very strongly about him based on that very emotionally charged post there.

Sif, an Asgardian goddess and Thor's love has black hair.

[RealCHEAPsoftDOWNLOAD]

Sif, an Asgardian goddess and Thor's love has black hair.

Um, Sif is known for her golden hair. You learn a lot of things after three years of reading various lore.

[Neitteloxesia]

Let's put it this way: to cast a black as a Norse deity is just as improper as casting a scandinavian as an African Vodun deity. Too bizarre even to admit entertaining the thought of it.

I wasn't really looking to argue this point because I'm frankly indifferent. But, African Vodun was in fact combined with Christianity. I get your point though. I'm just saying that I don't outright reject the idea of odd casting when its a fictional character as opposed to a real life character. I probably won't decide until I get to the theater and see if it bothers me.

[muytreda]

Um, Sif is known for her golden hair. You learn a lot of things after three years of reading various lore.

She is not in the original marvel comics.

[egexgfczc]

It doesnt matter if he can act or not every women knows him and wants him(i know the feeling of always being wanted because i look similar to him) and they would be going to see the movie and thats all that really matter is how much money the movie brings in. He wasnt on all those successfull romance novel covers for nothing. By the way, if Anthonio Banderas was on those covers with those white women it would be considered interracial by alot of people

Of course it matters if he can act. It's a movie. Movies have people called "actors" who read "dialogue" from something called a "script." A movie fails when the actors can't, well, act. He's not suppose to just stand there and look pretty.

(i know the feeling of always being wanted because i look similar to him) Yeah, I'm sure. You chase away all those chicks to have time to post at a forum.

[HedgeYourBets]

She is not in the original marvel comics.

I've not really paid attention to the comics, just the actual lore. Closest thing to a media portrayal in terms of comics/cartoons I've witnessed was the Valhalla series from the 80's.

[dselectronics]

You forget that Heimdall is an iconic figure in a religion, those who worship him take his portrayal very seriously, Heimdall is the creator of the Germanic social classes, the literal progenitor of tribes, he is a very important cultural figure and it cannot be a coincidence that Hollywood would portray such an icon incorrectly.

Would the world sit quiet if a white man were used in portraying an African deity, don't think so, there would be a fuss, so it's only natural that there's a fuss about a black man playing Heimdall (the whitest of the gods btw Thrym's Poem stanza 15).

Once again, this thread was informational not really about taking a stand one way or the other. I don't know who still worships nordic deities (fill me in on that) but this Thor is a comic book character. I thought Heimdall created ALL social classes and did so by having children from different types of women. Saying that these classes were just German seems to be after the fact spin of a modern world that is much larger than what Nordics thought about back then.

And I have to say, I don't know anything about African deities past the syncretism with Christianity for those who practice the voodoo type religions so you might want to explain these African deities. Remember, I'm African American, not African.

[Vjwkvkoy]

Once again, this thread was informational not really about taking a stand one way or the other. I don't know who still worships nordic deities (fill me in on that) but this Thor is a comic book character.

There's a number of pagan revivals since the 70's, there have been some hints even that pre-Christian beliefs flourished despite rampant spread of the Christian religion in Medieval Europe.


I thought Heimdall created ALL social classes and did so by having children from different types of women. Saying that these classes were just German seems to be after the fact spin of a modern world that is much larger than what Nordics thought about back then. The Rigsthula could be interpreted that Heimdall created all social classes in the world, but during the time that these poems were created (not necessarily recorded as these were recorded long after the initial verbal versions came to be) I doubt there was much thought given to the construction of other peoples outside of the "folk" so it would only be natural that the Rigsthula represents the social structure of the tribes who worshiped the deity Heimdall. If one was to read the poem one would see the context is of a Germanic orientation not an all inclusive one, after all I doubt all the nobles of the world were instructed in the esoteric purposes of Germanic runes, things of this nature mentioned in the Rigsthula are purely Germanic (well there are in some instances Celtic parallels and other parallels with other European lore, the general gist though is Germanic), even the geography mentioned in the poem is reminiscent of a Northern European landscape.

As for the rest of the Eddic poems the geography ranges from the Rhine, to Francia, Burgundy, Mirkwood/the Black Forest in Baden-Wurttemberg, Britain, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and Greenland. That's the extent of it, nothing really to suggest an all inclusive lore.


And I have to say, I don't know anything about African deities past the syncretism with Christianity so you might want to explain these African deities. Remember, I'm African American, not African. I wasn't suggesting anything about your own religious orientation or origins, my point was I'm sure the African tribes have their own native lore and misrepresenting them would not sit well among the folks who believe in such things, my point was it's ludicrous to misrepresent religious/folkloric figures. Heck, I'm even against having white men used in portraying Jesus.

[chodeasyday]

Once again, this thread was informational not really about taking a stand one way or the other. I don't know who still worships nordic deities (fill me in on that) but this Thor is a comic book character. I thought Heimdall created ALL social classes and did so by having children from different types of women. Saying that these classes were just German seems to be after the fact spin of a modern world that is much larger than what Nordics thought about back then.

And I have to say, I don't know anything about African deities past the syncretism with Christianity for those who practice the voodoo type religions so you might want to explain these African deities. Remember, I'm African American, not African.

Actually in some way I do, Thor is the god of thunder. For me thunder is a god however I don't worship gods that is not my (our) way, I might thank and honor them or curse them depending the situation.

And is Thor a blond white dude? well yes and no, he is not human in the first place. If your must put a human face to him he will look like the people who did worshipped it actively like in the norse mythology, I think that is only fair. Are they the only people to worship him, I think not. Humans have had a relation with the thunder from the very beginning. From the first caveman to Genghis Khan and beyond, most did and some still do. So can he/she/it be black? can be purple as far as I care.

But that is not the issue, this is marvel comics and there he is a white blond dude. This is like the mona lisa lost in a fire and reconstructed as a black female or the Hulk being blue or Annihilus being yellow.

[Xutrsavf]

Not really. Michael Jordan is a REAL person not a mythological deity. There is a difference there.

how is there a difference? Do you think it would make sense for a guy (black, white, asian) that was 5'4 to play Michael Jordan then?

I think if they are going to act like somebody they should at least look the part.

[Speareerfug]

And is Thor a blond white dude? well yes and no, he is not human in the first place. If your must put a human face to him he will look like the people who did worshipped it actively like in the norse mythology, I think that is only fair. Are they the only people to worship him, I think not. Humans have had a relation with the thunder from the very beginning. From the first caveman to Genghis Khan and beyond, most did and some still do. So can he/she/it be black? can be purple as far as I care.

.

Well, Thor in the lore is described as being red haired, diis ruadhiiret donner regiir! "let red-haired thunder see to that!" (Teutonic Mythology vol. 1), and given the appearance of the other gods it's only natural that the deities would be physically similar to the people who worshiped them especially since (given things like the Skjoeldunga Saga) the gods are said to have actual mortal origins from among the tribes who worshiped them.

[Frdsdx26]

i would have no problem with a black character as long as the norse god was infact black skinned in norse mythology.idk why but its just a pet peeve of mine to see people casted for roles that they dont fit. when they remade hitcher and made the female the main character i was kinda mad.btw the new hitcher movie sucked.and pierce brosnan casted as an indian? your not fooling anyone.its just weird to me.i dont like it.