Speculation has popped up over the past few weeks that Warner Bros. and DC may look at casting a woman as Green Lantern in the forthcoming "Justice League" and solo films. Specifically, a minority woman known well by fans of the action and sci-fi genres: "Furious 7's" Michelle Rodriguez.
As The Hollywood Reporter notes, TMZ caught up with the actress on the streets of L.A. and asked her about the potential casting. Rodriguez laughed off the rumor as "the dumbest thing I've ever heard," before adding, "I think it's so stupid... this whole minorities in Hollywood thing, it's so stupid. It's like, stop stealing all the white people's superheroes. Make up your own."
The comment was clearly given off-the-cuff as she was entering her car, but it sparked an outcry online. With minority actors consistently being cast as traditionally white characters, from Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury to Micheal B. Jordan's Human Torch to Jason Moma's Aquaman, Rodriguez's remarks were viewed by some as a slap in the face of diversity. However, she later posted a video on Facebook that clarified her opinion.
After apologizing for any offense she'd caused, she explained, "Instead of turning a girl character into a guy, or instead of turning a white character into a black character or Latin character - I think people should stop being lazy and people in Hollywood should take the time to develop their own mythology."
She went on to say that while "being American" could indeed be the mythology and culture people are trying to display, representing minorities in Hollywood should be a "serious priority." "It's not about taking Catwoman or Superman or Green Lantern or whatever these characters are and trying to make them fit to whatever cultural background you are," she said. "It should be more creative than that."
Below, watch the entire video. For her initial comments, head to TMZ.