The production is prioritized by the newly formed DC Entertainment
It's been reported that DC has planned to set up the project since the series debuted back in 2007. Now it seriously being considered under the newly formed DC Entertainment brand. Many high-profile writers are eager to pitch for the project. DCE is committed to bring this to the Small Screen, rather than make it a feature film, to accommodate the complexity of the story.
This will be great for HBO, give it something like a Soprano spin to it, and this is something really worth watching.
To give you an idea, the thuggish tribal chairman kills and scalps someone in the first issue. There's no federal or state presence except a single FBI agent who has to "infiltrate" the tribe. This rez is basically a lawless third-world rogue state--an Iraq or Afghanistan in the middle of the US.
A SCALPED TV series would reinforce almost every negative stereotype: that Indians are savage, uncivilized, warlike, drunk, lazy, shiftless, greedy, corrupt, crime-ridden, incapable of governing themselves, etc. It would be a major setback for accurate, authentic portrayals of Native people and culture. I'd suggest keeping this on your radar screen and preparing to protest it if necessary.
For more on the subject, see TV Shows Featuring Indians.
Actually Scalped has changed a great deal; it's pretty much stereotype free now. Besides didn't you say that you quit reading the comic before issue 10 or something?
ReplyDeleteSo, what is the casting call going to be like?
ReplyDeleteMore Italian-Americans, or wannabe's who have 1/64 "err. Dakota, Seminole, or some other tribe" blood and no tribal affiliation at all?
I seriously doubt it has gotten better. Besides, there's no guarantee that they will leave the effedupness. They likely will leave it in.
ReplyDeleteAs for casting they'll likely try to white it up, with white actors playing white Natives so we can have someone to relate to and all that usual white shenanigans.