The CW Producer Greg Berlanti Seemingly Promises More Race and Gender Swaps For DC Comics Characters

Bounding Into Comics ^ | June 26, 2020 | JB Augustine

[otness_e]

Arrowverse maestro, and EP of Titans and Doom Patrol, Greg Berlanti recently discussed revamping characters to reflect the times we’re in.

He participated in Variety’s Virtual TV Fest this week where he said heroes should look and feel like they come from today, not the 40s and 50s.

Berlanti added there is a responsibility that comes with bringing “iconic characters into this generation.”

“In the DC Universe especially, there’s been a focus on us recognizing that we want to create heroes that look and felt like today, not the 1940s or 1950s. They were all very well intentioned when they created those back then, but there’s a certain responsibility that you have if you’re going to escort these iconic characters into this generation to make sure they have the heart of that character, but they don’t have to have the gender or the color of that character or the sexuality.”

All American showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll also took part in the conversation. She had this to say about the riots and protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death and support for Black Lives Matter:

“That unfortunate perfect storm created a moment where people couldn’t deny what was happening in this country anymore. Because of that and because of the magnitude of the response we’ve seen, it does feel different. … The speed with which so many companies, networks, studios, other entertainment entities put out statements in support of Black Lives Matter is not something we saw before.”

Carroll then claimed, “That’s also not enough.” She further stated, “The days of me using my nice words are done because we’re at a crisis point.”

Wanting more black voices in the industry, she continued, “There aren’t enough Black executives in positions of power in this industry.”

Of writers, Carroll called hiring a Black writer “a twofer.” She stated:

“When you hire a Black writer, we say you get a twofer, because we can write your stories because we’ve had to survive in that world and figure out how to assimilate and live in it. Then we can write our stories because of our truth.”

Berlanti has made diversity a priority at The CW. Since the beginning, characters have been race- and gender-swapped or altered slightly.

White in the comics, Iris West and her family are black on The Flash. Jimmy (or James) Olsen and his sister were made African-American for Supergirl, a show with a transgender castmember, Nicole Maines.

Batwoman might arguably be Berlanti and CW’s biggest push for diversity between its female showrunner – Caroline Dries – and an array of LGBT characters. Next season’s new lead, Ryan Wilder, may wind up portrayed by a woman of color.

Stargirl star Anjelika Washington – who plays a high-school-age version of the Elizabeth Chapel Doctor Midnight – remarked recently as well on Berlanti’s idea of “responsibility” with updating characters.

Talking with ComicBook.com, Washington said:

“I didn’t have anyone who looked like me playing a superhero when I was a kid. So, for generations that are coming up and I love bringing this new, fresh take to her because we’re all… All of our characters are a lot younger, we’re more naive, we’re not super informed and educated on the JSA or even just superheroes in general, in Blue Valley.”

[otness_e]

If you're wondering why there's a huge push in race/gender swaps, sexuality swaps as well, this creep Greg Berlanti is pretty much one of the ringleaders responsible for that crap. It needs to end, and needs to end now. Especially when his actions are blowing his ratings down the crapper, and are pretty much killing interest. It says a lot when even Disney under Bob Iger was unwilling to back him and his "Love, Simon" show.

He was also responsible for that awful series, The Red Line, which arguably went even further in pushing woke/far-left stuff than Arrowverse ever did.

[ClearCase_guy]

“The days of me using my nice words are done because we’re at a crisis point.”

Right back at ya.

[FlipWilson]

Go woke, go broke. It is that simple.

The NFL and most professional sports are about to find that out.

[BuffaloJack]

I watched the superhero movies until they started swaping the comic book versions for racial and gender alternates. Now I don’t watch at all.

[GreenLanternCorps]

It is one thing to create new characters and situations to expand your audience. Randomly retconning characters to make them fill a quota is NOT the way to do it. It a takes away from characters who are done right.

You want to do it right? I give you John Stewart:

Alternate Green Lantern of Sector 2814 (Earth). As fully qualified as Hal Jordan and Guy Gardner (and without the personal hang ups of either).

Or another option, doing a what if, alternate universe version. "What if Gwen Stacy was bitten by the spider instead of Peter Parker? (She becomes Spiderwoman and Peter dies in her universe...):

In both cases the source material is respected and kept canon, just added to. What these idiots want to do is replace the canon versions of the character and insult with faint praise...

[william clark]

Promising more of exactly what drove me away from shows that were otherwise a lot of fun.

[CharlesWayneCT]

It should be easy, just use darker pencils. And draw breasts on characters.

And somehow, THIS is what white liberals think is important to minorities, not the horrible conditions they are forced to live in under democratic rule.

[Wonder Warthog]

"I watched the superhero movies until they started swaping the comic book versions for racial and gender alternates."

Not to worry....the paper comics are following suit. Get woke..go broke.

[BiteYourSelf]

Actually I think the paper comics are leading the way.

[Calvin Locke]

DC led the way in the early 1970s. The social topics were a turn-off from good guys winning over bad guys.

It hastened growing out of comics. That, and the price increases...