1. I totally agree, but I get the feeling that the same people who were outraged when white actors were cast to play asian or african american roles are going to be totally fine with this.

Posted at 11:14AM on Nov 20th 2009 by Kevin

2. Replacing white characters with ethnic minorities is perfectly acceptable and encouraged since it's politically correct and promotes racial diversity. Didn't you get the memo? :)

Posted at 12:06PM on Nov 20th 2009 by filmsuki

3. Because it's IDRIS ELBA. :)

Posted at 12:47PM on Nov 20th 2009 by Gordon

4. Meh, this doesn't bother me really. I don't usually mind changing the race of minor characters (Heimdall) little known characters (Blade) or characters who already had a race change in the comics to turn the character into Samuel L Jackson (Nick Fury). What bothers me are things like the rumors about Captain America possibly being played by Will Smith. Cap is an A-list comic character and he's ALWAYS been white, blond haired and blue eyed. I'd be pissed if they changed his hair color let alone his entire race and the same thing goes for every other popular superhero.

Posted at 1:05PM on Nov 20th 2009 by Cyhort

5. to be perfectly frank, I think there is still alot of racism in our media, and when minority actors are cast for roles that are traditionally, but not required, white it's better for everyone. As in the case of the Black Green Lantern in the animated Justice League or Wesley Snipe's Blade. And when characters who are non-white are cast with white actors, I do wonder. One has to ask why more than half the cast of The Last Airbender is white and why the main actors of Dragonball were white as well. Because no matter how much people bitch about racial diversity and PC, there is still an undeniable problem with the fact that most actors (main, secondary, and extra) on screen in Hollywood are white.

Posted at 1:42PM on Nov 20th 2009 by Claire

6. Will Smith AS Cap'n America? The whole twist of Cap fighting the Nazis was that he resembled the Nazi ideal as blond and blue eyed. Cap is supposed to be the fairytale "America." Its part of what makes him a conflicted character.

Im a big fan of Thor in Marvel and mythology and would like to see Idris as Heimdall because he can bring alot to that character.

I realize this is the nerdiest post of all time. I win?

Posted at 1:59PM on Nov 20th 2009 by Yossarian

7. Makes no sense! There were no African-Norwegians in ancient Norway, and they didn't worship any either. This casting is biologically, historically, and logically impossible.

Would a black King Arthur make sense in the dark ages? Nope. Would casting Grace Park as Heimdall make sense? An asian woman? Nope.

Posted at 2:23PM on Nov 20th 2009 by Tom Strong

8. first of it is not set in Norway its set in a different world Asgard. plus i bet you never complain about Avatar: The Last Airbender, Dragonball, King of Fighters casting of white actors as the lead.

Posted at 7:47AM on Nov 21st 2009 by mega

9. Big fan of the comics and Norse stuff in general, and honestly, it's a movie based on a comic book based on an old religion. Artistic license happens all the time. As long as the movie is good, this casting of a side character being different historically or in the comic version is an insignificant concern.

Posted at 3:13PM on Nov 20th 2009 by Christopher

10. Kenneth Branagh always cast a black actor in his film that is based/influence on William Shakespeare, Shakespearean story. Marvel Thor has alot of Shakespearean influence Kenneth Branagh casting Idris Elba should not be a shocker cause he does cast black actors in this type of movie i.e.

"Much Ado About Nothing" had Denzel Washington
"Love's Labours Lost" had Carmen Ejogo and Adrian Lester
"As You Like It" had David Oyelowo

also whats funny is that i notice alot of white people never complain when white actors play asian character or another ethnic characters. i.e.

The Last Airbender - Noah Ringer as Aang
Dragonball - Justin Chatwin as Goku
King of Fighters - Sean Faris playing Kyo Kusanagi a japanese character
21 - Jim Sturgess the movie is based on Asian MIT students
A Mighty Heart - Angelina Jolie played Mariane Pear a black womanl
The Weapon - David Henrie going to play Tommy Zhou

Posted at 5:42PM on Nov 23rd 2009 by tony

11. I've seen a few mentions of Blade's race being changed for the movies and I'd like to point out that Blade has always been a black male in the comics. Wesley Snipes playing him was not a race change. His nationality is another thing, as he is British in the comics.

Posted at 4:14PM on Nov 27th 2009 by Earl