Sony: Peter Parker must be straight, white.

[Everlong]

Among the more conversation-starting pieces of information discovered during the now-infamous Sony leak was the contractual agreement between entertainment giants Marvel and Sony Pictures about the use of Spider-Man.

A recent new wave of leaks gives a revelation for fans in how characters are approached in films — and what core character traits are worthy of being contractually agreed upon. Specifically, according to a new report by Gawker, the contract between Marvel and Sony lists the following strict "mandatory character traits" for Spider-Man, whether it's Peter Parker or an alternative Spider-Man character:

- Male
- Does not torture
- Does not kill unless in defense of self or others
- Does not use foul language beyond PG-13
- Does not smoke tobacco
- Does not sell/distribute illegal drugs
- Does not have sex before the age of 16, does not have sex with anyone below the age of 16
- Not a homosexual (unless Marvel has portrayed that alter ego as a homosexual)

While those are pretty broad parameters, the contract gets more specific with its requirements for Peter Parker specifically, the character/alter ego who's most associated with the Spider-Man costume.

Apparently, it doesn't matter if Peter Parker is a photographer or dates Gwen Stacy or Mary Jane Parker, but there could be a legal roadblock to him sewing his own black costume or being portrayed as non-white or non-heterosexual.

According to the documents, the following Peter Parker character traits are listed specifically for that character:

- His full name is Peter Benjamin Parker.
- He is Caucasian and heterosexual.
- His parents become absent from his life during his childhood.
- From the time his parents become absent he is raised by Aunt May and Uncle Ben in New York City.
- He gains his powers while attending either middle school or college.
- He gains his powers from being bitten by a spider.
- He designs his first red and blue costume.
- The black costume is a symbiotic and not designed by him.
- He is raised in a middle class household in Queens, New York.
- He attends or attended high school in Queens, New York, and he attends or attended college in New York City, New York.

In the report, Gawker takes issue with the idea that "Spider-Man can't be gay or black", although their premise isn't entirely accurate. Since there's no race requirement among the broader “Spider-Man” traits — the character actually could have any racial background — and the contract states that a homosexual could wear the Spider-Man costume, if that character is created first by Marvel.

There is, however, clear direction about the race and sexual orientation of Peter Parker. According to contract, Peter Parker won't be played by anyone other than a Caucasian actor — something notable given 20th Century is changing the race of Johnny Storm in August’s Fantastic Four reboot, either due to a contractual agreement with Marvel or the lack of a legal requirement in the licensing agreement.

In comic books and other media, several other people besides Peter Parker have donned the Spider-Man costume, including fan-favorite Ultimate Spider-Man character Miles Morales, a black-latino teen.

http://www.newsarama.com/24880-report-h ... raits.html

So don't get your hopes up for Donald Glover as Spiderman any time soon, I guess

[SlightlyJames]

Might want to check the recent topics.

[Everlong]

Ah I didn't see they'd already chosen one, but this topic was more about the leak of Sony's requirements for Peter Parker anyway.

[SlightlyJames]

Yeah, I get that. It makes sense since, y'know, that's Peter Parker. As far as Miles goes it was never going to be him, that character only works when there's a Parker to live up to. Glover would have been good as Miles but by the time the current Spider-Man is getting past it Glover will probably be too old to take over.

[Circled Square]

I agree with this. I always have said that black superheroes should be original and not forced just to fill diversity quotas. Even though I think Michael B. Jordan is going to be a great Human Torch.

[SKS]

I was hoping they would go the Miles Morales route instead because who becomes "Spider-Man" isn't exclusive to Parker. It would have been cool to see Donald Glover put on the suit.

[Hanley!]

I agree with this. I always have said that black superheroes should be original and not forced just to fill diversity quotas. Even though I think Michael B. Jordan is going to be a great Human Torch.

I disagree, I don't think there's any reason why reboots, remakes and adaptations need to keep characters the same race or gender. If it's integral to the character then it shouldn't be changed, but in most cases that probably won't be true.

Changing one of these aspects about a character for a new adaptation can be a good way to get the new version to stand out too, and when we're seeing countless versions of some of these superhero stories, standing out is never a bad thing.

I think it's, in a way, a nice idea to have white actors playing white characters and black actors playing black characters. But in reality it's going to leave us with terribly unbalanced movies where black actors are not represented. Because we're living in an era that favours remaking and repurposing old stories. The vast, vast majority of superheroes are white. And there aren't that many new heroes popping into existence. And even when they do, people don't care about them. Studios won't push for a new character, when they can just keep selling Spiderman over and over again.

The best way to get black actors jobs in this genre and allow black people to be represented in this genre is to be willing to blur the lines with some of the original characters, when a character's race isn't important.

[Circled Square]

Race is an important character trait. Let's be honest here, blacks have a different presence on screen, just like white people do. I think it'd be weird have Peter Parker be black because I wouldn't buy the character. I think it'd need a serious re-write, perhaps making Parker a bit tougher as a kid, say they set it in a rougher area, I don't know. I sure as shit didn't know many black kids growing up who were like Peter Parker. So it'd take a nice script, but IMO they should debut a black super hero who's written to be a black person, Asian person, what have you.

I think the aunt/uncle dynamic could be interesting if Peter's background is a bit different.

[Hanley!]

Race is an important character trait. Let's be honest here, blacks have a different presence on screen, just like white people do. I think it'd be weird have Peter Parker be black because I wouldn't buy the character. I think it'd need a serious re-write, perhaps making Parker a bit tougher as a kid, say they set it in a rougher area, I don't know. I sure as shit didn't know many black kids growing up who were like Peter Parker. So it'd take a nice script, but IMO they should debut a black super hero who's written to be a black person, Asian person, what have you.

I think the aunt/uncle dynamic could be interesting if Peter's background is a bit different.

Well you could change certain elements of the character to match the new race/gender if it was necessary. Though in many cases it wouldn't be. In my own opinion, I'm always cool with any changes in an adaptation, provided they don't take away some essential element that made the story or character what it is.

I don't think being white is at all essential to Peter Parker's character. If I was to take the elements that really define his character, and that make people like him it would be his scientific mind, his quick wits and banter in battle, and his "with great power comes great responsibility" mantra which results from his uncle's death. They could change anything else about the character and I'd have no problem with it ... provided the results were enjoyable to watch.

[Circled Square]

I don't disagree with you. I do think it'd need a serious re-write for it not to be cringey but that could just be my perspective.