Entertainment Weekly reports that the part of the martial arts master in the Netflix adaptation of Marvel’s Iron Fist has gone to Finn Jones from the Game of Thrones.
Since 2014, many fans have been campaigning to cast an Asian American in the role of a martial arts specialist with super powers raised in an alternate dimension in the Himalayas.
The blog Nerds of Color has lead the #AAIronFist campaign and reacted swiftly to the casting of Jones.
Without rehashing points made over the last 2yrs, the big deal is we’re tired of white dudes being best Asians https://t.co/nb1Awszjiq
— The Nerds of Color (@TheNerdsofColor) February 25, 2016
Never said #AAIronFist was about whitewashing. But IF is def an example of Asian stories centered around white ppl. https://t.co/awbTLep8Ls
— The Nerds of Color (@TheNerdsofColor) February 25, 2016
It was a bold campaign given that the role of Danny Rand in the Iron Fist comics is a blonde White guy. But why not? The story’s arc certainly lends itself to casting an Asian in the role. It would not have been that big of a stretch, especially in this day and age when producers are trying to attract an increasingly multi-racial audience.
Apparently it was a bit much to ask Hollywood to think out of the box.
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