Twitter reacts to Jordan Peele's casting comments: 'I don't see myself casting a white dude as the lead'
The one-two-three punch of Black Panther, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Aquaman changed the complexion of comic book movies in 2018. Now, Jordan Peele is doing his part to bring that change to horror films, a genre where black characters have notoriously been the most expendable. Both of Peele’s two features, 2017’s Oscar-winning Get Out and this year’s certified blockbuster Us, have featured African-American leads, Daniel Kaluuya and Lupita Nyong’o respectively. And the writer/director doesn’t see that changing anytime soon.
Speaking at the Los Angeles branch of the Upright Citizens Brigade recently, Peele remarked: “I don’t see myself casting a white dude as the lead in my movie. Not that I don’t like white dudes. But I’ve seen that movie... A renaissance has happened and proved the myths about representation in the industry are false.” It’s absolutely true that Peele has no financial incentive to alter his casting choices. Get Out grossed almost $200 million in the U.S. alone, while Us enjoyed a $70 million opening weekend — the third-best debut for an R-rated horror movie behind 2017’s IT and last year’s Halloween reboot. It’s also become the internet’s favorite brainteaser with daily posts exploring its Easter eggs and hidden meanings.
That successful track record puts Peele in the enviable position of being able to call the shots about who gets to be in his projects. It’s worth noting that his upcoming revival of The Twilight Zone, which premieres on CBS All Access on April 1, features a similarly diverse cast, including Tracy Morgan, Zazie Beetz and DeWanda Wise. “The way I look at it, I get to cast black people in my movies,” Peele told the UCB crowd. “I feel fortunate to be in this position where I can say to Universal, 'I want to make a $20 million horror movie with a black family.' And they say yes."
Peele’s remarks have picked up some full-throated endorsements among Hollywood’s creative community, with This Is Us star, Sterling K. Brown, making it clear he’d love to be considered for whatever the director has cooking next.
Ooh ooh ooh...I’m Black! 🙋🏿?♂? IJS https://t.co/Ndy5O2HlIY
— Sterling K Brown (@SterlingKBrown) March 27, 2019
Cue the tears. https://t.co/fRqneXfNFx
— Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) March 26, 2019
Peele’s comments also generated a surprisingly civil (for Twitter) conversation about black representation in major motion pictures, and opportunities for black actors in Hollywood.
I support this decision on his part. Not that it’s racist, I wouldn’t say it is. Jordan Peele just wants to look out for the black actors that may not be getting the same amount of roles as fellow white actors. And it’s good he’s trying to change that! 🤙🏼 https://t.co/twGNpWzz6V
— Jared Somerville (@JaredSomerville) March 27, 2019
Jordan Peele is important because not only do we need more Black actors/actreses in films but we want to see us in plots that aren’t JUST about slavery or historical figures or simply black people in PAIN.
— Sky (@SkyBrooke2) March 27, 2019
I can honestly name way more horror movies with white leads than I can ones with black leads, so if Jordan Peele wants to make more movies with black leads I’m all here for it! One of the many things his movies proved, is that he can get great performances out of all his actors
— Robby Warren (@robbywarren93) March 27, 2019
there are so many movies with a white cast, we need more diverse casts. we need new ideas, we need people of color the face of those ideas because representation matters and there are very small amount of movies with black people being the lead. Jordan Peele is doing great.
— 🦋 (@wokevirgo) March 27, 2019
Jordan Peele is gonna do so much for black actors and I CAN NOT WAIT
— Lauren (@lcharters_) March 27, 2019
In the same UCB conversation, Peele also shared a story about how a failed attempt to join Saturday Night Live’s Not Ready for Primetime Players helped lead to his filmmaking career. In the early 2000s, Peele was part of the MADtv ensemble when he got an offer to make the leap to Studio 8H. Unfortunately, MADtv’s producers put the kibosh on his move from Fox to NBC. In response, Peele decided that he needed to produce content and not just appear in it. "These producers are making these decisions about art and comedy and they don't know anything about art and comedy,” Peele said. “I want to be a producer and bring my artistry and they'll all be sorry." After Get Out and Us, we’re not sorry at all.
Us is playing in theaters now. Visit Fandango for showtime and ticket information.
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