re: Betty Boop has been cast in new film collab with creator’s family. Take one guess.

I have a 1988 printing of "The Fleischer Story" book by Leslie Cabarga, and it doesn't exactly sound like Betty Boop was based on the black Baby Esther performer. But this argument got thrown into the mix a few years after Betty's debut, when Helen Kane sued the Fleischers for appropriating her own 'boop-oop-a-doop' characterization, and the Fleischers and their lawyers dug up the Esther gal, who had purported done some boop-oop-a-doop singing a year before Helen Kane's recording skyrocketed her to national fame and a string of early-talkie movies. Fleischer animator Grim Narwick designed Betty's look (initially a 'dog' character), using a picture of Kane and her spit-curls on the cover of a piece of sheet music, in 1930. Kane was HUGE at that time, as a novelty performer. I think there is no doubt whatsoever that Betty Boop was patterned after Kane. Kane had merit in her lawsuit, but the big-pocketed lawyers that Fleischer and Paramount Studios had at their disposal allowed them to prevail, pushing this connection to the comparatively minor black singer.

Anyway, that whole boop-boop-a-doop bit was just part of that larger 'vo-do-do-de-o' singing that all the vocalists were doing at the time. Kane's big-selling record put it in the mainstream. I'm not a fan of it, and I find Kane's film appearances, circa 1929-30, less than endearing. But it was a big deal at that time, and directly influenced the Betty Boop character. It's ridiculous to argue otherwise.

Then why not honor her by...

never mind.

The Message must be delivered.

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1/2 Indian -

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Indian dude playing an Indian dude, though

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Many casting choices are done to appease someone.

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but this had to do with China's beef with Tibet, not a racial issue. They chose the farthest, most antithetical thing from a Tibetan Monk they could. Mission accomplished.

Gotta love double standards. I’m sure everyone would be fine if a white actor redid Black Panther

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Gotta love double standards. I’m sure everyone would be fine if a white actor redid Black Panther

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Sorry...Robert Downey Jr is already playing Iron Man...so it would be double dipping...otherwise, this would be the first one to cast.

And also Olivia Munn played the Asian version of Psylocke

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And also Olivia Munn played the Asian version of Psylocke

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Good catch that you said "the Asian version" since Psylocke was originally British. After the body switch...her consciousness went into the body of a Japanese woman. Since Munn is part Chinese...I guess it's close enough...

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Nope...my complaint was that Ben wasn't ethnic-looking enough for THEM.

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because he wore self tanner to make him look more like the historical character?

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Much like John Wayne did in order to look more like Genghis Khan.

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Are you mad that Charlie Cox isn't blind?

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I didn't realize that was an ethnic group.

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Hannibal Lecter has never been played by a real serial killer, or even a cannibal.

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That we know of...also, not an ethnicity.

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There have always been claims that Betty Boop's voice was largely based on Esther Jones while her appearance was based on Helen Kane.

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So is the voice going to be Sydney Sweeney?


For consistencies sake.

So? 90% of Betty Boop came from "Baby" Esther Jones

Look at the hair, eyes, dress, pose, even the Boo-boop-e-doo

Then there is her persona and the voice

Whatever he borrowed from Helen, it wasn't much. Probably just her white skin