Airbender controversy - To cast or not to cast Asian-Americans

Apparently, on the Nick channel, there's been a cartoon for 3 seasons that featured asian protagonist heroes in an asian-like world of magic/kung fu. Since I don't watch Nick, this is news to me.

But then recently, in the theatre, I saw a trailer of the Last Airbender that Paramount is producing (a live-action movie as opposed to a cartoon). And then I happened to come across some article about the casting of the protagonists and antagonists ie good guys v. bad guys.

And even though the heroes are Asian or kids of colour, it seems that Paramount, for reasons of ignorance and its belief in the marketability or lack thereof of Asian actors in lead roles, decided to cast all white kids in the main roles while kids of colour are now only the bad guys....

http://www.racebending.com/v3/featured/the-last-airbender-primer/


Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUsssUaVGmw&feature=player_embedded#

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