The debate about whether actors should look like the characters they play in movies has been going on for decades. One side says that it’s important to have a realistic portrayal of the character, while others say it’s more important to have an actor who can embody the role and bring life to the character.
Actors need to look like video game/comic/manga characters in movie adaptations. However, there is a difference between the two. Video games and comics are meant to be viewed from a distance and have a certain style that is noticeable at first glance. Movies on the other hand require actors to take on roles that should not be too similar to their original counterparts.
Is it necessary for actors to look like the video game/comic/manga characters they are portraying in movie adaptations? This is an age-old question that, if posed, would paint you as a potential jerk.
I’ve heard every argument imaginable. The performers are not required to appear exactly like the characters they are playing. Non-White actors can portray white roles, but the opposite is not true for whatever reason. Yes, there are exceptions (I’m sure no one wants to see T’challa or Bayek, both African characters, portrayed by white actors), but for the most part, we can use the same degree of justification we’ve used for other characters to get around this restriction.
The straightforward answer to the question I’ve posed is YES! If you’re going to create a live-action film based on a video game or comic, at the very least, TRY to locate an actor that can not only act but also look the part. We used to be able to do that, and with 8 billion lifeforms on this blue ball of a planet, you’ll be able to locate someone who fits both requirements. Nonetheless, many individuals seem to struggle with this idea.
Let me ask you a question: Let’s assume you were playing Uncharted 1 at the time it was released. Nathan Drake’s picture has been imprinted in your mind after spending more than 40 hours with him. You’d know his voice, his look, and everything else that makes Nathan Drake who he is. Now you’ve moved on to the next game, and Nathen Drake is now an Indian guy. Nothing without an explanation. He now has a dark skin and seems to be Indian. Is Nathan Drake still there? No one with a sense of fairness and common sense will agree with you! When it comes to live-action films, however, we tend to disregard that criterion in favor of “best actor for the role”!
The film business is the ONLY industry on the planet where you may choose who can play a part, including race. So, if an author tells the film’s director that he or she wants their created character from his book to be white, and requests that the casting round be limited to just white men, does that constitute the author racist?
From the outset, I thought the entire “they were the best for the job” argument was bullshit. The argument that “they aren’t meant to look like their roles” is particularly compelling. If that’s the case, what’s the purpose of creating a live-action film based on the source material if you’re not going to at least TRY to stay true to it? To be fair, I don’t expect performers than look exactly like their roles, but coming near is preferable to turning around and saying “Nah, let’s employ whomever we want.”
Let’s be clear: can a character played by an actor who doesn’t look anything like the character do a fantastic job? Yes! You wouldn’t notice the alteration if you weren’t a fan of the original material, and that’s exactly what Hollywood is counting on. They aren’t interested in servicing the fans who made the original material famous; instead, they are relying on fresh fish who have discovered the bait. They’ll then accuse supporters of being “hateful” if they don’t like the casting.
One thing is certain: the character’s skin tone DOES matter! To be honest, these characters were developed from the viewpoint of a white/caucasian person, thus changing the race would be dishonest. And just because they make their race a major part of their character, as Black characters do, doesn’t mean we have the right to alter it. Also, if I grew up watching/playing as a character, it’s only natural that I’d want to see a good 1:1 representation of that figure. Please let me know what you think.
As an example:
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