Disney's David Henrie Is 'The Weapon' For Platinum Studios
Filed under: Action, Independent, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Casting, Family Films, Newsstand, Comic/Superhero/Geek
I never feel older or more out of touch than when I read or write about one of Disney's fresh faced stars. Every time I shrug it off as a "I really don't know who that is," they end up being the next Shia LaBeouf or something. So, in the interests of keeping up and in pleasing our young readers, here's a story about The Wizards of Waverly Place's David Henrie. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Henrie has decided to take the first step to becoming, well, Shia LaBeouf, by starring in Platinum Studios' The Weapon. Based on the four-issue comic book, The Weapon stars Tommy Zhou, a martial arts weapon enthusiast by day, a brilliant inventor the rest of the time. He designs a wrist band that creates "an endless variety of weapons from solid holograms." I can't imagine why Zhou thinks this is a good idea, or why he's surprised when evil henchman come after it. Naturally, it isn't just any evil military-industrial complex, but an order of assassins who believe he's stumbled on the lost techniques of the Order of Wu-Shi, "the way of the Weapon." Henrie fans can find the comic at Platinum Studios' store and hopefully be inspired to pick up a few other comics after they read it.
I can't let the story pass without one critical note, and that's the blatant disregard for the character's Asian descent. While Henrie is confident that his Disney fans will still love "the empowerment and action-filled journey my character experiences" and stresses that he's studied mixed martial arts, it's a shame Platinum had chosen to empower a young Chinese-American actor instead. That's no slam on Henrie (what young man doesn't dream of being in an action flick?) but a troubling decision on the part of the studio.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-17-2009 @ 3:08AM
Animeman59 said...
Yet another example of Hollywood whitewashing Asians out of the picture. What will it take for Hollywood to finally start putting actual Asians in stories that feature .... Asians?
21, Dragonball, The Last Airbender, Akira, King of Fighters, Dead or Alive, and now this. Do we have to start acting like the NAACP (yelling, screaming, threatening, and generally acting like douches) in order for people to finally get it? I hope not, but this is seriously starting to offend me.
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9-24-2009 @ 9:05AM
PurpleLover said...
I agree, I think that it's very unfair that an Asians aren't playing in Asian-based movies.
However, starting a group like the NAACP wouldn't fix this. This situation isn't as serious as what African-Americans had to go through. At all. No one is dying from this, getting hanged, murdered, etc. ...
But yes, something should definitely be done about this. It's really sickening and sad that Hollywood hasn't gotten the picture yet...
9-17-2009 @ 3:16AM
Bubbameister33 said...
Sounds like Ben 10 but instead of aliens he has have weapons.
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9-17-2009 @ 7:14AM
ccthy0 said...
Here is something great I found at Disney Land tour.
The TickleMe Plant, It's a real plant that suddenly closes it's leaves and lowers its branches when TIckled, This is real, yet so animated you won't believe your eyes.You can see the video and grow your own at
http://www.ticklemeplant.com
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9-18-2009 @ 5:22PM
joeblow said...
Elisabeth, I agree with your criticism of Disney for not casting an Asian American actor for the lead role. If the lead character were female though, I'll bet Disney wouldn't have replaced an Asian character with a white actress.
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9-19-2009 @ 3:28AM
Jen said...
I agree completely, but I want to point out that this isn't a Disney project. It's just the only thing this Henrie is known for is being on one of those damned Disney Channel tween shows.
9-19-2009 @ 4:54PM
excelladon said...
wow hollywood has never ceased to amaze me by doing this kind of $@it , and just like dragonball evo, avatar, and and the upcomming kof, they must be really stupid, i'll think i'll pass.
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9-18-2009 @ 6:48PM
mykalroze said...
More racist BS from the powers that be in Hollywood.
I hope this movie flops, just as other anti-Asian, racist cast movies such as Dragonball and the Chun Li movie did.
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9-26-2009 @ 12:22AM
Elia said...
I'm a fan of Henrie's ever since watching him on How I Met Your Mother, and Wizards of Waverly Place, but while I find Hollywood to be ridiculous for casting a white man over an Asian, I certainly feel more upset over Henrie accepting this role.
Sure, who doesn't want to be an action hero...and/or become the next Shia Lebeouf...but seriously Henrie...you had to chose this? I can only feel that he's killing his career in acting, before it's even started. I can only really hope this movie will prove me wrong, but in the back of mind all I can think of is another Justin Chatwin fail in Dragon Ball Evolution.
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11-22-2009 @ 3:29PM
JG said...
OMG, here we go again ... too bad David Carradine past away, we couldve asked him ...
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