Jordan Peele on Making Movies After 'Us': "I Don't See Myself Casting a White Dude as the Lead"

Hollywood Reporter ^ | March 26 | Chris Gardner, Seth Abramovitch

[EdnaMode]

[snip]

But there are other kinds of power, and Peele plans on wielding his judiciously. One way is to continue putting black faces on the screen in leading roles. "The way I look at it," he explained, "I get to cast black people in my movies. 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."

It's a formula he's not interested in messing with.

"I don’t see myself casting a white dude as the lead in my movie. Not that I don’t like white dudes," he said, nodding over to his moderator pal Roberts. "But I've seen that movie." The line drew loud applause and shouts of agreement. "It really is one of the best, greatest pieces of this story, is feeling like we are in this time — a renaissance has happened and proved the myths about representation in the industry are false."

[newfreep]

I prefer Christopher Turk's, "Dr. Acula"

[chris37]

okay, there’s one due for an immediate reboot!

[JonPreston]

You want to make black horror? Then make it.

I saw a lot of that in Bed Sty in the late 60s.

[neverevergiveup]

“We have to get back to where we can laugh about stuff like that and enjoy it instead of getting offended or whatever.”

I couldn’t agree more. Actually, I don’t think most of us take ourselves that seriously, but there are those who clearly do. Politics is full of them. Ironically, they are probably amongst the most comical among us.

[Paradox]

I understand how he meant it, I have no problem with it. Success of movies like this are proof that America is far, far less racist than liberals make it out to be.

[ETCM]

Peele’s last movie, “Get Out” portrayed whites as not just racists, but obsessed with black people, and having a desperate inner desire to be black themselves. It was an OK movie with a few interesting plot twists, but as far as it’s Oscar wins, they were definitely “Affirmative Action” awards. Seeing the trailer for this movie, “Us”, it doesn’t seem like the kind of film I would watch until it is free on Netflix or Prime, just like “Get Out”. I don’t think it really matters in this type of flick what color the actors are, but based on the director, I suspect he will slip in racist or social justice themes to garner more award votes.

[Mr. Blond]

Us is just a ripoff of Them (2006).

[Theo]

I’m with you. I say, let’s see more diversity in film. After all, it’s not about color of skin, but content of character.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Sounds racist.

Yup. But at least he's open about it. There are plenty of directors in Hollywood who would never cast a black man as their lead - obviously, since we hardly see any. "Us" was a success as a scary movie, and I really wasn't paying much attention to skin color.

[onona]

Or Chuckie Cheese anytime after noon.

[onedoug]

So what?

[zeestephen]

Here in Seattle, I've been seeing ads for the Black family horror movie for a couple weeks.

Since every ad on TV now has mostly Black actors, the Black horror movie barely registered on my memory.

I have also noticed that a majority of the couples on Carnival Cruise ads are suddenly inter-racial.

The most over-the-top Affirmative Action fantasy ads have to be the recent avalanche of Black families with a calm, mature, loving, financially successful Black father.

70% of USA Black kids grow up in a father-less family, but Hollywood and Madison Avenue want me to believe this crap?

[Larry Lucido]

I like film noir. I presume that's what he's talking about, right?

This one's a classic.

[gogeo]

Sure...how many movies have you seen a black man as lead, say, Denzel Washington?

[zeestephen]

Re: “There are plenty of directors in Hollywood who would never cast a black man as their lead - obviously, since we hardly see any.”

That is not serious.

Off the top of my head - Samuel L. Jackson. Denzel Washington. Morgan Freeman.

Those guys turn down lead actor movie roles EVERY freaking week.

If you are good, you work - and those three guys have always been good.

[Dalberg-Acton]

“Scream Blacula, Scream” Full movie in HD, get it while you can.

https://youtu.be/99SS1PnW7Jk

[zeestephen]

Re: Lead Black Actors - Skills, not skin color.

I forgot to mention Bill Cosby - who was the highest paid stand up comedian in the world in the 1960s. And, from memory, Cosby's TV show was the highest rated USA show for multiple years.

Also Will Smith - who works constantly, and usually as a lead actor.

[Darksheare]

Jordan Peele, “I see myself discriminating against white people.”

[TheNext]

Just film every movie three times with a white, brown & black cast.

It is really no big deal. Let people choose.
Let freedom ring.

The right to free assembly includes skin color.

[Skywise]

He is and so are his movies.

This is against the EEOC and his butt needs to be sued into oblivion.

Here - let’s try a thought experiment where Clint Eastwood says “I don’t see myself casting black dudes in movies - not that I got anything against black dudes. Why a black dude is my friend.”

Yeah...