Colorblind casting

The term colorblind casting (“casting daltonien”) is used with the the United States to describe the distribution of a film or a play when part of the actors has an ethnic origin which does not correspond to what is awaited or the practices concerning a role - in particular if one expected that the character is “white”. The fact of using a “white” actor as Peter Sellers to incarnate an Indian in The Party does not concern the colorblind casting, because the ethnic origin of the actor is dissimulated by a make-up.

This choice is often neutral, but it can not the being: a black Cow-boy for example, has a quite different role according to whether its history is written without taking account of the statute of the blacks at the time of the far west or if on the contrary the historical context is taken into account. Same manner, certain contexts (university, army, etc) become " mixtes" in recent films relating to definitely segregationist times.

Sometimes, the colorblind casting is justified by a more or less alambiqué scenario which takes freedoms with historical or geographical reality and can, for example, to mix the sub-Saharan Africa and the North Africa. Thus Morgan Freeman interprête the Moor Azeem in Robin of Wood: Prince of the robbers .

This principle is discussed: for some it is the means of making it possible a film to better represent part of its public. For others, it is an idea finally racist and condescending.

some examples

In four fantastic , the role of Alicia Masters, been engaged the blind man of " The chose" is incarnated by Kerry Washington, a black actress, while in the comic-book of origin, it was white.
In Daredevil , the role of the " kingpin" (caïd), white in the beginning, is held by Michael Clarke Duncan, which is black.
In Wild Wild West , adapted Mysteries of the West , the role of James West is held by Will Smith
In Charlie' S Angels 2: The angels break out! , adapted by McG of the series Funny ladies , the actor Bernie Mac plays the part of the brother of John Bosley (played by Bill Murray in preceding film) and the father of Lucy Liu is interpreted by the actor John Cleese

Random links: