In the late 1970s, David Prowse, the actor who physically portrayed Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy, was told he couldn’t audition for the role of Superman. Why? Because he was not an American. How times have changed. The Brits have taken a huge step in movies from villains to heroes. No more finger steepling and moustache twirling; now we're wearing tights. The three most iconic superheroes are now being played by British actors; Christian Bale as Batman, Andrew Garfield as Spiderman and Henry Cavill as Superman.
The most recent addition to this list has triggered a wave of soul searching online, with Superman being considered so quintessentially American. One commentator on Ain’t It Cool News even went as far as to write: “This casting is fundamentally anti-American. It’s disgusting casting to the highest degree, and I will never ever see a movie with a Brit as Superman.” Hmmm. Maybe slightly over the top there. After all, he is a pretty good actor and can probably do a pretty decent American accent. Similar to how Robert Downey Jnr. played the quintessentially English Sherlock Holmes recently. Yes?
Other British actors chosen for superhero roles are Aaron Johnson as Kick Ass, James McAvoy as Professor X and Nicholas Hoult as Beast, but it is not only British actors who have been Robin Hooding the American’s out of their superhero characters. Australian Chris Hemsworth will be seen as Thor this summer, following in the footsteps of fellow countrymen Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and Eric Bana as Hulk and Canadian actors Ryan Reynolds and Seth Rogen donned the green suits to play Green Lantern and Green Hornet. Captain America will never fit in with these guys.
It is not only superhero films that have seen a rise in non American actors showing them how it’s done. British, Australian and Canadian actors appear to have cornered the market on most of the leading action roles in Hollywood. British star Jason Statham has become a staple in tough guy action movies of late and Australian Sam Worthington has claimed the lead in Terminator: Salvation, Avatar and Clash Of The Titans, while every film Christopher Nolan makes is filled with Brits and Aussies, including previously mentioned Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman, as well as Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Heath Ledger, Michael Caine and Guy Pearce.
Starting with the success of the British thespian filled Harry Potter series, foreigners have become fashionable in Hollywood, and the English charm of Robert Pattinson and Russell Brand has attracted women throughout the land. Amongst this, the casting of Daniel Day-Lewis as US President Abraham Lincoln in the upcoming Steven Spielberg biopic could cause a crisis of confidence among American actors. A similar invasion is occurring in TV, with lead roles in House, Eli Stone, The Walking Dead, Gossip Girl, The Cape and Off the Map, amongst others, going to non-Americans.
So why is it that despite a 3-1 population advantage (America’s 308 million easily outnumbers the combined 107 million population of England, Canada and Australia) non-American’s are currently enjoying so much of the success. An unnamed Oscar-nominated producer told Hollywood Reporter: “America doesn’t produce strapping actors anymore.” He pointed out that American action stars at this stage consist of thespians with more boyish appeal such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Shia LaBeouf and Matt Damon. “I hate to say it: They’re better actors,” added one talent rep who had a client in the early running for the Superman role. That we are, that we are. I’m glad somebody is finally pointing out the better talents of everybody born outside of the states. Move over Reese Witherspoon, I’m on my way.
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