With a fresh slate of new blockbusters lined up for 2025, including “Wicked: For Good,” James Gunn’s “Superman,” “Jurassic World Rebirth,” and “Zootopia 2,” the Box Office is expected to rake in $33 billion globally in the new year– a staggering rebound from the downturn in 2024. On top of that, women and people of color continue to dominate the ticket sales. In 2023 alone, women led ticket sales for three films in the top 10 according to Hollywood Diversity reports. Yet behind the camera, female directors are outnumbered 3:1 by their male counterparts, and the disparities don’t end there. For seven of the top 10 films ranked by the Box Office, people of color bought the majority of opening weekend domestic tickets, yet Asian Americans (including central, south and southeast), Native Americans, and Latin Americans continue to remain underrepresented on the screens. Moreover, for theatrical releases, only 29.2% of lead actors in 2023 were BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color). This is despite studies exemplifying that films with BIPOC tend to do better in global box office sales. Why? Because diversity is in demand, and as the audience becomes more racially diverse, it’s logical that they want to see it on their screens too.
While Hollywood has made strides in diversifying both on-screen talent and behind-the-scenes staff, sometimes these efforts are perceived as superficial and problematic. One practice is race-swapping, the practice of casting actors of different ethnicities than originally intended for a role. Take for instance the hit series Bridgerton which blends a Regency-era setting with a race-blind society . The Netflix Original garnered praise for its diverse casting and unique color-blind approach to history, however that was only because the storyline allowed for a natural incorporation of diversity rather then in many cases, superficial forced representation. Truthfully, Bridgerton’s approach is a rare exception in a sea of superficial casting because generally, this practice is used heavily in the entertainment industry to pass off as a quick fix for representation, instead of addressing the the deeper systematic inequalities at large in the entertainment industry.
Color-blind casting is sometimes misguided and counterproductive because it assumes that individual experiences and identities are transferable. Yet a story is a tapestry of emotion, growth, and transformation intertwined with a compelling narrative. It is meant to shed light on hidden truths and perspectives. Which is why color-blind casting negates the essential purpose behind storytelling. Take the annual backlash Disney faces each time they race-swap their titular character such as Ariel and Snow White. The hate doesn’t necessarily always lie in racism, but the blow to fans when they see their cherished role models “get fixed.” It was as if their favorite characters were never good enough in the first place. Ask yourself, does Disney have a genuine commitment to representation, or is it just a publicity stunt? (A publicity stunt, which by the way has flopped more than once at the Box Office).
As it is, if Hollywood wants to step up their representation game, then they need to part ways with the systematic formula of race-swapping. Instead of race swapping the next Disney princess and calling it a day for diversity, why not create something original instead? How about a story that centers around authentic characters and their diverse backgrounds instead of color-blind casting. For instance, “Moana” and “Encanto” did pretty well with the public reception. Moana, inspired by Polynesian mythology, grossed over $687 million worldwide while “Encanto’ thanks to the film’s soundtrack topped the Billboard 200 chart for nine weeks and became a viral sensation. Essentially, both films demonstrate the power of cultural relevance in a society that values diversity. In short, the future of filmmaking hinges on elevating diverse voices in writing rooms, fostering original narratives that reflect a spectrum of perspectives and crafting roles specifically for BIPOC actors. This movement aims to usher in a cinematic era where diversity resonates not only visually but emotionally in every scene and every dialogue.
