**Slight spoilers for Deadpool 2**
One of the many delightful things about Deadpool 2 was the character of Russell aka Firefist played by Julian Dennison. Not only was he a fantastic actor, with epic comedic timing, but also giving a new image of what a superhero can be, because as he says in the film: “This industry discriminates.”
For those unfamiliar with Dennison’s work outside of Deadpool, the 15-year-old New Zealand actor won the New Zealand Film Award in 2013 and 2017, for Best Supporting Actor (Shopping) and Best Actor (Hunt for the Wilderpeople) respectively. He’s of Māori descent and an accomplished actor in his own right, having worked with Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi in the past.
In an interview, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the young star spoke about playing a chubby superhero with emotional vulnerability. “There isn’t just one kind of person that can play a superhero. For me, playing a chubby or fat superhero, was so special because I would go and watch these movies with my friends and would never see anyone like me. I am excited to be that for other kids who look like me.”
Before Dennison, the only other notable larger-sized characters in the comic book world that weren’t villains were Ned in Spider-Man: Homecoming played by Hawaiian actor, Jacob Batalon, and Etta Candy played by Lucy Davis in Wonder Woman. What is refreshing about all of them is that their weight isn’t played for countless jokes. Especially with Ned and Russell who get to be emotional cores to the film, Ned through his humor and friendship and Russell as an abused young man, who is on the verge of going down the wrong path. Russell is the emotional core of the film who the protagonist is trying to protect and that’s beautiful, or as beautiful as Deadpool 2 can be.
While Russell being Māori is not stated, anyone who knows the history of the Māori people can say that it is super amazing to see. It’s also great to have a narrative of trying to save a brown boy from being gunned down and having empathy about his trauma and trying to help him be a better person through giving him a safe environment to grow. Huh? Imagine that.
I hope that Hollywood will start allowing heavier women besides Rebel Wilson and Melissa McCarthy in films. There is an entire young generation of heavier set actors and actresses who deserve their place in the superhero world.
(via The Hollywood Reporter, image: Fox)
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