Fantastic Four's Michael B. Jordan Addresses The Trolls Online

Like it or not, Michael B. Jordan is the new Johnny Storm, aka The Human Torch, in the Fantastic Four reboot and planned sequel. When Jordan’s casting was announced some people on the internet exploded with outrage as, in the comics, the character is white and blond-haired. Too add to that, Jordan’s Storm is the half-brother to Kate Mara’s Sue Storm, who has been adopted.

Michael B. Jordan took the time out to guest-pen an article at EW.com where he addressed the internet hate and diversity of the movie.

Here’s an excerpt:

You’re not supposed to go on the Internet when you’re cast as a superhero. But after taking on Johnny Storm in Fantastic Four—a character originally written with blond hair and blue eyes—I wanted to check the pulse out there. I didn’t want to be ignorant about what people were saying. Turns out this is what they were saying: “A black guy? I don’t like it. They must be doing it because Obama’s president” and “It’s not true to the comic.” Or even, “They’ve destroyed it!”

And:

To the trolls on the Internet, I want to say: Get your head out of the computer. Go outside and walk around. Look at the people walking next to you. Look at your friends’ friends and who they’re interacting with. And just understand this is the world we live in. It’s okay to like it.

“Fantastic Four” has an August 7, 2015 release directed by Josh Trank from a screenplay by Jeremy Slater, Simon Kinberg and Josh Trank; produced by Matthew Vaughn, Simon Kinberg, Hutch Parker, Robert Kulzar and Gregory Goodman; starring: Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell and Toby Kebbell.

Synopsis:

FANTASTIC FOUR, a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team, centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.

Trailer: