Actor Jeffrey Wright slammed social media critics over the 2022 Batman casting in an interview with Collider, calling complaints about his role as police Lt. Jim Gordon “[Expletive] racist and stupid.” Wright, who is Black, portrayed Gordon in 2022’s The Batman alongside Robert Pattinson.
Some fans objected to a Black man playing a character originally written as White. Wright expressed frustration at the reaction, saying, “It’s just so blind in a way that I find revealing to not recognize that the evolution of these films reflects the evolution of society, that somehow it’s defiling this franchise not to keep it grounded in the cultural reality of 1939, when the comic books were first published.”
Wright noted that Black actors often face pushback when taking roles traditionally portrayed by White performers. He called the objections “absent all logic” and highlighted the diversity of Gotham City, inspired by New York City, which has always been multicultural. “Obviously, New York City is the template for Gotham, and if you look around New York City in the ‘70s, or if you look around New York City, of course, today, it’s a multicultural place,” he said.
The actor also emphasized his personal connection to the role. “The thing is, as well, I feel that I own these stories as much as anyone. Perhaps now, because I’m a part of them, I have the most skin in the game,” Wright said.
Wright concluded by arguing that the original creators, Bob Kane and Bill Finger, would likely support his portrayal, citing their “openness of imagination” when creating Gotham.
