"The Lord of the Rings: Ring of Strength", which is known as the "most expensive American drama in history", is about to start broadcasting, but the casting controversy of "black elves" has not stopped. American Puerto Rican actor Ismail Cruise Cordova, as the first person of color to play the elf in the "Lord of the Rings" film and television work, was not only suspected of violating the original setting, but the producers were also accused of being "politically correct".
In this regard, Cordoba posted on social media on the 27th, telling him about his experience from being ridiculed to realizing the dream of becoming a "black, Latino and Puerto Rican" elf in response to this matter.
"Black Elf" Ismail Cruz Cordoba
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is an American fantasy television series based on the novel by J. Lee. R· R. Tolkien's novel of the same name, The Lord of the Rings and its appendices. Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, the story takes place thousands of years before the Lord of the Rings expedition sought to destroy the Lord of the Rings.
In November 2017, Amazon bought the TV rights to Lord of the Rings for $250 million, promising five seasons. The first season of "The Lord of the Rings of The Rings" will begin on September 2 this year on Amazon streaming prime video, a total of 8 episodes, according to fox news reported on July 22, this season invested $465 million, known as the most expensive American drama in history.
The Lord of the Rings: Ring of Strength is undoubtedly ambitious, and Amazon has boldly launched a diverse cast in addition to throwing heavy money. One of the main characters in the play, a genie named Arandir, is played by Ismael Cruz Cordova, a black Actor from Puerto Rico, which gives Tolkien's construction of Middle-earth the first "Black Genie". At the same time, the show will also feature a dwarf princess named Disa, who is played by sophia Nomvete, a black British actor, the first female dwarf in Tolkien's film and television production.
Stills of Ismail Cruise Cordoba
"Dwarf Princess" Sophia Normvit
However, since the show released stills in February this year, Amazon's so-called diversified cast has sparked controversy, especially the role of "black elves". According to vanity fair magazine in the United States on February 10, Amazon only released photos of its actors, and the studio suffered attacks from fans.
In the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films, elf actors such as Liv Tyler, "Elf Princess" Orlando Bloom, and Zinda Elf Lee Pace are all white, not a single black elf. Cordoba's appearance as a genie has caused many fans to question whether the casting violates the original setting and accuse the producer of being "politically correct". In addition, some fans complained that the "dwarf princess" in the stills did not have a beard, because in Tolkien's work, female dwarves are depicted with beards.
"Elf Prince" Orlando Bloom
"What is this?! A black elf? Tolkien's coffin board could not be suppressed. Black actors should not be present in Middle-earth... The casting was too much of a failure. ”
"The casting was terrible. There are two explanations for why black elves or black dwarves were chosen. This is either an extreme ignorance of Tolkien's work, or you don't pay enough attention to it and don't follow its rules. I am deeply disappointed. ”
"It's all disrespectful to Tolkien's work and Scandinavian mythology. What a waste of an opportunity. ”
In an interview with Vanity Fair, The show's executive producer, Lindsey Weber, explained: "It's natural for us to reflect on what the world actually looks like when adapting Tolkien's work. Tolkien has something for everyone. His story is about his fictional races doing their best to come together after leaving their own cultural circles. ”
Tolkien researcher Mariana Rios Maldonado also said fan opposition was expected, "but the question is from whom?" Who would feel threatened or disgusted because an elf is black, Latino, or Asian? ”
With the show's new trailer released on July 22, the cast of The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Strength has sparked renewed discussion. An article on Yahoo Entertainment on the 26th praised that with the arrival of the new "Lord of the Rings" drama, the most diverse and gender-balanced character lineup in Middle-earth has emerged, and this inclusive cast "reflects the world we live in today."
On the 27th, Cordoba also posted on the social platform Instagram in response to the controversy of "black genie". In this post, Cordoba recounts how he broke with prejudice, stereotypes, racist discrimination, found his "taken away voice" and fulfilled his dream of becoming a "black, Latino, and Puerto Rican" genie.
Cordoba said he was not a privileged child since he was a child, growing up in a poor mountain town in Puerto Rico, struggling to find his voice and dreaming of one day he and his race could survive in exclusion. Cordoba also claimed that he had a dream of becoming an elf, but others laughed at him, telling him that it was a ridiculous pursuit: "You can't be an elf." Because there won't be any black elves, and there won't be Latinos elves. ”
Cordoba described it as if people like him had to accept silence and invisibility in addition to trying to get a minimum of life. In search of "that voice that was taken away", he continued to struggle with many strangers, believing that they existed with the same rights as others, the right to be treated as subjects and as participants. Until now, he has finally realized his "elf dream". In sharing this emotional post, Cordoba also attached a photograph of him in front of the Lord of the Rings: Ring of Strength promotional poster wearing a Puerto Rican flag-patterned shirt and doing an archery pose.
However, after Cordoba's response, the controversy over the "black genie" has not stopped.
Some netizens complained on the 28th: "Elves are clearly described as fair-skinned and have long hair. A black, short-haired elf is illogical. Not at all. It's forced, and I think everyone can feel it. ”
Some netizens also complained that some people had explained to him that the reason why the "Lord of the Rings" series of movies was bad was because it was different from the original. But now, because of the appearance of a black genie, "the Lord of the Rings films are considered to be completely faithful to the original adaptation."
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