Beau DeMayo, the previous showrunner for X-Males ’97, has sparked controversy with a sequence of posts on X, urging Marvel Studios to rethink “race-swapping” white villains into Black characters in its diversifications.
DeMayo, who was dismissed from his position before X-Males ‘97 premiered, expressed his issues over this development at Marvel Studios and the way it might inadvertently form perceptions.
DeMayo’s critique centered on iconic antagonists like Norman Osborn, who can be portrayed as Black and voiced by Colman Domingo within the upcoming animated sequence Your Pleasant Neighborhood Spider-Man.
In his publish, DeMayo ssaid: “Hey @MarvelStudios please cease race-swapping white villains to Black individuals. It reads ‘humorous.’ Kang. Excessive Evolutionary. Norman Osborn. Electro. Mordo.”
The controversy over race-swapping characters has been ongoing, however DeMayo’s feedback have reignited discussions, notably concerning illustration in media.
Traditionally, these villains, reminiscent of Kang the Conqueror, Mordo, and Electro, have been created as white characters within the comics. Nonetheless, within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), actors like Jonathan Majors (Kang), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Mordo), Jamie Foxx (Electro), and Chukwudi Iwuji (Excessive Evolutionary) have introduced these characters to life with various portrayals.
DeMayo elaborated on his issues in a follow-up publish, saying: “A lot of what we devour — particularly children — visually influences how we see the world.”
He argued that when Black actors primarily play villains whereas heroes typically stay white, it creates “a visible story of white good guys beating up Black dangerous guys.”
As you may think, DeMayo’s feedback have obtained blended reactions. What do you concentrate on what he’s saying?