Cast ethnic diversity has a always been at the center of conversations in the Hollywood cinema industry. According to the Hollywood Diversity Report, there has been a slight improvement throughout the years.
However, these numbers are still very much unequal when compared to the United States demographic. Currently the USA is 60.4% white when the Hollywood films’ cast diversity gravitates around 67% in 2019.
In desperate need for ethnic diversity, Hollywood tried to find a solution in a decade that was groundbreaking in terms of cast diversity in TV series/ sitcoms: the 90’s. According to a National Public Radio article, this decade counted 17 shows that portrayed a black family, and according to a Complex list of the 30 best black sitcoms of all time 16 were running in the 90’s, such as ‘Martin‘ (1992-197, Fox) and ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ (1990-1996, NBC).
However, while the 90’s were considerably ahead of its time, some of the TV series back then were critically lacking in casting diversity. Another Complex article about the 25 whitest shows of all time counts 17 shows made in the 90’s including ‘Dawson’s creek’ (1998-2003, Kevin Williamson), ‘Friends’ (1994-2013, NBC), or ‘Freaks and Geeks’ (1999-2000, Paul Feig).
The first one to grab the opportunity was the CW who released their pilot episode for a ‘Charmed’ (2018, The CW) reboot on the 14th of October 2018, casting Madeleine Mantock, Melonie Diaz and Sarah Jefferey as the 21st century sister Halliwell’s. Picking some of the TV series considered as the best of the 90’s by IMDb and rebooting them with drastically different casting firstly gives the appeal of nostalgia to audiences that grew up with these shows in the 90’s and can now enjoy them again over 20 years later. It also proves that Hollywood is ready to admit their mistakes and work to improve on screen diversity. It seems to work as the Charmed reboot scores a 71% on rotten tomatoes and got a season two that aired on the 7th February 2020.
Following in the CW footsteps, 21st century fox announced in July 2018 a reboot of ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ (1997-2003, Joss Whedon) supposed to air on Disney + since the production company was bought by Disney on the 20th march 2019. The main selling point for the show was that it is meant to be “richly diverse” said Century Fox, including the female lead supposedly being cast with a black actress.
The question is: shouldn’t Hollywood create new stories with rich diversity rather than try to fix mistakes of the past?
Léon Bodier 