Laurence Fishburne has been cast as Perry White in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel. White is the old-school newsman who runs The Daily Planet. Fishburne is the first black person in any iteration of Superman that has held a position at The Daily Planet. Wait? What? Actually, strike that: The L.A. Times says he’s the first black person in any role in the Superman universe, film, cartoon, or television, although the commenters here have been quick to refute that.
I think he’s an excellent choice, not just because he’s a good actor, but because he’s bad-ass enough that, when Warner Brothers comes in and fires Zack Snyder before filming begins, Fishburne can help scoot him out the door. (LA Times)
Speaking of Zack Snyder, when Warners does fire him (and they will, and if we’re lucky, they’ll bring in Nicolas Winding Refn to replace him and exploit the awesome cast that Snyder has put together), he’ll likely end up directing The Last Photograph, with Sean Penn and Christian Bale. Pajiba was the first to break news that Bale and Penn were involved over a year ago. At the time, Syder was producing and Niels Arden Oplev (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) was attached to direct. Snyder kicked him to the curb and will now direct himself. The film is a drama that “revolves around a photograph that becomes the catalyst for a journey two men undertake through war-torn Afghanistan.” (Twitch)
Alexandre Aja, who is really good at on-screen violence (for better (Piranha) or worse (The Hills Have Eyes)) is close to signing on to direct that Pet Semetary remake that rears its head every few months. Will it actually go anywhere this time? I don’t know, but if it does, expect it to be fairly brutal, which could be good. Or bad. Just don’t let him near Misery. (Twitch)
Reese Witherspoon has been cast in The Wish List, which sounds like one of the worst high-concepts in recent memory. It’s about a little girl who throws a coin into a well and is granted ten wishes, which she makes. However, the coin gets stuck and, 25 years later, finally finds its way into the well and Witherspoon’s character has to grapple with all 10 wishes coming true at once. Wow. Just set it somewhere in the South so at least Witherspoon will get to utilize that charming Southern accent. (Deadline)
Ben Foster is set to play John Gotti Jr. in The Shadow of my Father, the biopic on the Gotti Family, which will feature John Travolta as Sr., and Barry Levinson as director. I don’t know if the movie will be any good (it’s the one that Lindsay Lohan was briefly attached to), but Ben Foster will probably kill in the role. That’s all he knows how to do: Act, motherfuckers. (Variety)
There will be a Step-Up 4. It will be in 3D. And it will feature you have never heard of both as the leads (Ryan Guzman and Kathryn McCormick) and behind the camera (Scott Speer directing, Jenny Mayer screenwriting). Eighty-two minutes of the film will blow Kryptonite; the last 10 minute dance sequence will probably be dazzling. They always are. (Variety)
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(Oops. I don't know who that is, but what I meant to write was: The first black in the films, television shows, and cartoons, rather than comic-books (I assume Steel is from the comics) -- DR)
Posted by: Mrcreosote at August 3, 2011 11:25 AM
Pete Ross wasnt black in Smallville?
Posted by: SGD at August 3, 2011 11:27 AM
St4p-3D!
/got served
Posted by: BarbadoSlim at August 3, 2011 11:27 AM
"Actually, strike that: He’s the first black person in any role in the Superman universe, film, cartoon, or television."
What SGD said. Pete Ross, duh. And Cyborg. Both from Smallville.
Not that that means there was meaningful representation of minorities at all, because there wasn't. It was certainly a very white-washed show. Just...you're wrong about that.
(That fun fact comes from the L.A. Times, so while I may very well be wrong, I'm only second-hand wrong. -- DR)
Kathryn McCormick was on So You think You Can Dance, and in my opinion she should have won her season. I can't say I'm going to spend money on a Step-Up movie, but I'd consider it if she was in it.
Posted by: Todd at August 3, 2011 11:37 AM
You can look at me with those judgmental eyes all you want Kent, but I bullshit you not. I will bleed on the American hero to make sure those boots stay red.
Posted by: haplo at August 3, 2011 11:37 AM
Shaq was the star of the Steel movie. Steel was part of the Reign of the Supermen storyline following the "death" of Superman.
Posted by: andy at August 3, 2011 11:38 AM
I've always really liked Fishburne and it's boggled me that he hasn't gotten better work than he has. He's on CSI now, I think? C'mon Laurence. You can do better than that. Maybe he needs another Keanu Reeves movie to upstage.
Posted by: Sassafrass Green at August 3, 2011 11:42 AM
Yeah, there have been black people in the Superman mythos for decades, even outside of comic books. I mean, I know we all want to forget Superman III, but... Richard Pryor. Regardless, Fishburne is perfect for Perry White.
(Well, actually: I do remember Richard Pryor. What the fuck, LA Times? Why have you steered me so wrong? You've embarrassed me for the LAST TIME. --DR)
While we are calling Rowles out on his massive failure, isn't Lex Luthor (animated series) also an attractive and successful American of African descent?
Posted by: BarbadoSlim at August 3, 2011 11:53 AM
Apparently the LA times fact checking bureau consists of Jimmy Olsen and Mister Mxyzptlk.
Posted by: Mrcreosote at August 3, 2011 11:56 AM
I second Todd!
Posted by: Lizzy at August 3, 2011 12:16 PM
Huh? Unless they've edited it without noting it (and they did include an edit about something else further down the page), the LA Times article says that Fishburne is the first African-American to take on the role [of Perry White] in any adaptation, not the first African-American in any role.
Posted by: The Wandering Parakeet at August 3, 2011 12:20 PM
BarbadoSlim - I got the impression that Lex's design on the animated series was specifically to not tie him down to any particular ethnicity (which I'm totally down with).
And, it goes without saying (except that I'm about to say it) that Clancy Brown's portrayal of Luthor on S:TAS is far and away the best there's ever been (sorry, Michael Rosenbaum: you're a distant second).
Posted by: gbeenie at August 3, 2011 1:40 PM
Aside from John Henry (Steel) Irons, Superman's African American cast of characters has included:
Ron Troupe, Daily Planet Reporter
Keith White, adopted son of Perry White
Franklin Stern, owner of the Daily Planet
Hmm. Notice how they're all attached to the paper in some way.
Well...there's your answer. Yep...I go where I'm needed!
Posted by: Green Lantern at August 3, 2011 8:34 PM
Some genuinely interesting details you have written.Helped me a lot, just what I was looking for : D.
I'm pretty sure Steel was in the Supes universe.
(Oops. I don't know who that is, but what I meant to write was: The first black in the films, television shows, and cartoons, rather than comic-books (I assume Steel is from the comics) -- DR)