Doug Goodman

Sub-Title:  My (super)Heroes Have Always Been Foreigners

Chirstmas vacation is the time for minds to wander, and mine has always wondered about this.  For the past 5-10 years (and the foreseeable future), our superheroes have been played by foreigners.  This is not to say that the films are unAmerican or to make an anti-immigration statement.  It's just an observation and a question.  Here are a few recent and soon-to-be silver screen superheroes, the actors who play them, and their country of birth:

Green Lantern played by Ryan Reynolds.  Canadian.

Thor played by Chris Hemsworth.  Australian.

Wolverine.  Hugh Jackman.  Australian.

Batman.  Christian Bale.  Welsh.

Spiderman.  Andrew Garfield.  Born in the US, but raised in the UK.

The Hulk.  Eric Bana.  Australian.

Professor X.  Patrick Stewart.  British.  Soon to be played by James McAvoy, who was born in Scotland.

Magneto.  Ian Malcolm.  British.  Soon to be played by Michael Fassbender, who was born in Germany.

Note:  I really hate listing X-Men in there.  By nature of the comic book, it seems kind of natural for the actors to be international. 

Greatest American Hero

But why aren't Americans playing superheroes anymore?  Are Americans just not good superheroes?  Maybe this has something to do with it:

Superman.  Brandon Routh.  Who?

Catwoman.  Halle Barry.  Really?

Blade.  Wesley Snipes.  (The good one was directed by Guillermo del Toro (Mexico) and the funnest one co-starred that Canadian...)

Not all American actors have had such hard luck playing superheroes.  Of course, there was Christopher Reeves playing Superman and Michael Keaton playing Bruce Wayne.  But even now, Americans have done some good things in tights:

Iron Man.  Robert Downey, Jr.  (It is not beyond me to note that Downey is reprising his role as Britain's greatest detective, Sherlock Holmes.)

Spiderman (not so long ago).  Tobey Maguire. 

The Incredible Hulk.  Edward Norton.  (Soon to be Mark Ruffalo.)

As we move further away from DC and Marvel's major recurring superheroes, we find more Americans...

Hellboy.  Ron Perlman.  (Famously directed by Guillermo del Toro.)

Constantine.  Keanu Reeves.  (Note:  in the comics, John Constantine is British.)

Ghost Rider.  Nicolas Cage.

The Watchmen.  Generally American. 

I like that film is becoming more international.  I like that Hollywood goes beyond its borders to bring in talent.  But I have to wonder why so many of the big roles are going to generally British or Australian actors.  Keep in mind that minorities in superhero cinema have yet to really be seen as anything more than the sidekick.  So our actors are still white, just not from America. 

Do we not want Americans playing superheroes?  Do we prefer our heroes come from another continent?  Is this somehow tied to American diplomacy since 9/11?  Or is it a sign that the world is getting smaller due to the Internet and world-wide media?  Or is this just a fad that I am overanalyzing because I am on Christmas vacation?  I do not have the answer.  But I am hoping that Chris Evans (from Boston, Massachusetts) gives a stellar performance as Captain America.