The official trailer for “Marshall” dropped Thursday, featuring Chadwick Boseman as the first Black Supreme Court justice, Thurgood Marshall, and some are not pleased by the casting choice.
REBEL. LEADER. FIGHTER. Witness the rise of Thurgood Marshall in the trailer for my new movie @MarshallMovie pic.twitter.com/6KZFKk0Dly
— Chadwick Boseman (@chadwickboseman) June 22, 2017
The film, due October 13, follows the NAACP-recruited Marshall as he defends a Black chauffeur in Connecticut who was accused of sexually assaulting a white woman as well as attempted murder. While Boseman’s portrayal captures Marshall’s voice, some are confused about why a light-skinned man is being played by a darker-skinned man, which is similar to the issue of Zoe Saldana playing singer Nina Simone.
#UnpopularOpinion As Nina Simone’s dark skin was integral to her experiences, Thurgood Marshall’s light skin was to his. Access, for one. pic.twitter.com/tPn6qOYyiO
— Only4RM (@Only4RM) June 22, 2017
Colorism had a big role to play in Thurgood Marshall’s life. Casting Chadwick erases that narrative entirely.
— Mike Tré (@TheMikeTre) June 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/niche/status/877894177748426752
https://twitter.com/____PantheR/status/877902590046072832
Since Chad Boseman playing Thurgood Marshall lets just get Viola Davis to play Lena Horne.
— thick thighs ~ thin patience | 🇵🇸 (@TheLady_Artemis) June 22, 2017
Some thought there is more to an actor’s portrayal than his or her appearance.
The problem we mostly had with Zoe was they put her in black face. The actors don't have to look exactly like the people they are playing. https://t.co/M0fQbIPAtV
— Nihon Mon (@WhatMovesMon) June 22, 2017
Chadwick is obviously darker than Thurgood but he’s also a great actor whose one of the few black actors that can get studio movies greenlit pic.twitter.com/hOdMJJhRnO
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) June 22, 2017
Jackie Robinson, James Brown, Thurgood Marshall, Black Panther; Chadwick Boseman really tryna play all the black heroes ✊🏿 https://t.co/1g88KdOmWg
— Parker B (@TheAdvokate) June 22, 2017
Others engaged in a debate about how Marshall’s lightness affected his experience on the Supreme Court.
short answer yes
— Ty The Jeweler | Laced CT (@TyTheJeweler203) June 22, 2017
or like he was more accepted because he was fair skinned.
— Ty The Jeweler | Laced CT (@TyTheJeweler203) June 22, 2017
STILL didnt stop white men then from wanting to kill him, sending him death threats to him and or his family.
— Queen Kaneki (@Crislex) June 22, 2017
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