Comic book artist and The New Mutants co-creator Bob McLeod took to Twitter to give his thoughts on the movie, and they aren’t positive. In a series of tweets, McLeod criticizes Sunspot’s light skin, calling it “whitewashing” and explaining that New Mutants writer and director Josh Boone “erased everything I contributed to the way the characters look.”
This isn’t the first time Boone has already faced criticism for New Mutants’ version of Sunspot, leading to calls to boycott the movie.
The New Mutants hit theaters today, and is currently sitting at an 18% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Even more disrespectfully, Bob McLeod’s name is misspelled in the movie’s credits as “Bob Macleod”.
“They couldn’t even be bothered to check the spelling of my name sometime in the last three years,” McLeod wrote. “And that can’t be fixed. That will be on the movie forever. I think I’m done with this movie.”
Read McLeod’s tweets below:
I was very excited when I heard they were making a New Mutants movie. I thought making it into a horror movie was perhaps an interesting idea, but not at all how the characters should be introduced to the public at large. But, hey, my characters in a movie!
— Bob McLeod (@mcleodbob) August 28, 2020
I never would have thought that would actually happen. But then, I was disappointed when they didn't give Dani braids, although I like Blu Hunt. I was disappointed when Rahne wasn't a redhead with spiky hair, although I adore Maisie Williams.
— Bob McLeod (@mcleodbob) August 28, 2020
I was disappointed that Sam isn't tall and gawky, although I do like Charlie Heaton. But mainly I was very disappointed that Roberto isn't short and dark-skinned. Yet another example of Hollywood white-washing. There's just no excuse.
— Bob McLeod (@mcleodbob) August 28, 2020
So basically, #JoshBoone erased everything I contributed to the way the characters look. And now, the movie has come out at last, and apparently they've credited someone named Bob Macleod as co-creator.
— Bob McLeod (@mcleodbob) August 28, 2020
They couldn't even be bothered to check the spelling of my name sometime in the last three years. And that can't be fixed. That will be on the movie forever. I think I'm done with this movie.
— Bob McLeod (@mcleodbob) August 28, 2020
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