Oh Poe He Didn't! Not everyone is excited about Oscar Isaac piloting a black X-Wing in the upcoming Star Wars sequel directed by JJ Abrams. Ironically the most vocal critics happen to be a tight-knit crew of fellow film pilots! Keep reading to learn what has the cast of 2012's Red Tails seeing red over Poe Dameron and his sweet new black whip.
The beige Oscar Isaac and his black X-Wing |
My cousin Ozone, who works
at Lucas' Skywalker ranch as a horse whisperer, managed to have a frontrow seat
for the rally organized by the creator of Star Wars and co-director of Red
Tails.
Here's what he witnessed:
A crowd consisting of
mostly African-American actors, plus Lucas and McCallum, chanted "Hell No
Poe Has Got To Go!" over and over again.
The throng of people then
walked to the great lawn on the estate where a stage and podium had been setup.
A banner for their #BlackXWingsMatter movement was unveiled, and the crowd
erupted in chairs.
The cast posed in their Tuskegee Airmen outfits for the event |
Many speakers then took
turns explaining their outrage at JJ Abrams, Disney, and Oscar Isaac for being
insensitive to the legacy of the Tuskegee airmen.
Ne-Yo who played 2nd Lt.
Andrew "Smokey" Salem in Red Tails:
I love Oscar but he's not black. If Ne-One should fly the blackest X'est X-Wing in the galaxy, it should be a strong black man, not a guy named Isaac. Let dude fly the beige one if Ne-Thing.
Cuba Gooding, Jr. added:
In Red Tails we battled a German ace pilot named Pretty Boy... Have you seen Senor Oscar Isaac? The boy pretty. He is the enemy.
Bryan Cranston lent his
support as well:
The Tuskegee airmen left such a legacy there's no way it hasn't influenced the systems of the Republic. This is a travesty. I'm deeply saddened by the actions of my fellow non-blacks.
Nate Parker (Capt. Martin
"Easy" Julian):
The wackest thing about the black X-Wing is how it's a straight-up slap in the face for George Lucas. G-money doesn't deserve this. Red Tails was a personal project for him, and JJ Abrams should be ashamed of himself. He done him dirty.
David Oyelowo expressed
anger and frustration over another perceived slight:
This little man... Darth Abrams... he's literally made the Tuskegee airmen and every black actor to ever play one on film the villains in his sequel trilogy. Lookit the First Order's fighter ships, and you'll see how he's given them Red Tails.
Red Tails are clearly an influence on the First Order |
Michael B. Jordan was
joined onstage by his Fantastic Four director, longtime buddy and personal
hypeman Josh Trank.
Jordan:
"The one black kid in
the movie can't even pilot a ship. Homeboy crashes and has to be saved by Poe
and the girl?!"
Trank:
"Tell'em champ!"
Method Man of the Wu Tang
Clan who played Cpl. "Sticks" in the film had this to say:
Yo, yo, ticallllllllll! Finn had that diced pineapple kush on Jakku, son. Butter pecan, chocolate deluxe X-Wing is his nawmean. We need DMX up in that X-Wing too! X Gon Give it to ya...
(My cousin is still
translating.)
According to Ozone, things
got even weirder when Terrence Howard took the stage towards the end of the
rally. The acclaimed
actor believes JJ Abrams is breaking a fundamental rule of Terryology, Howard's bizarre
take on math logic. In the film, Poe Dameron pilots not one but two X-Wings – a
blue one, and then the offensive black version for a special mission during the
film’s final space battle. The actor stated:
This is the last century that our children will ever have been taught that one blue X-Wing times one black X-Wing is one," he says. "They won't have to grow up in ignorance. True universal math proves that 1 X-Wing times another 1 equals 2. And both are piloted by black men.
Howard serving dat Kray with a side of baby wipes |
The event ended with a
flyover from the modern day Tuskegee Airmen accompanied by an all African-American crew of US Navy and Marine Corps Blue Angels (who flew for the first
time ever as the Black Angels.) The planes were tailed by skywriters who
left #BlackXWingsMatter written in the San Marin skies.
Lucas and McCallum
followed the rally with an exclusive screening of Red Tails: The Special
Edition featuring newly shot scenes which address criticisms leveled at the
film upon release. The new footage fleshes out the pilots and their family
lives a bit more. Strong black women, and tightly knit communities are revealed
to be the unsung heroes behind the Tuskegee Airmen's success. This support on the
ground propels them to perform amazing feats in the air.
Original Tuskegee Airmen enjoying Red Tails: The Special Edition |
We've heard Red Tails:
The Special Edition is Lucas and McCallum at their absolute best. Hopefully one day the film receives a public
release. Until then, show your support for the Red Tails protest of a (mostly)
white man in a black X-Wing by using #BlackXWingsMatter in social channels.
As always, stay tuned to
FSW and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for the latest disinformation on
Star Wars. Here are a few bonus pics that encapsulate the drama.
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