Whitewashing in 30 Days of Night

Here's a comic-book mini-series that was made into a movie:

30 Days of Night (film)30 Days of Night is a 2007 American horror film based on the comic book miniseries of the same name. The film is directed by David Slade and stars Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, and Danny Huston. The film was released in the United States on October 19, 2007. The story focuses on the Alaskan town of Barrow, beset by vampires as it enters into a thirty-day long period without sunshine. The film follows a group of people who struggle to survive until sunlight returns.The film is based on a comic book:

30 Days of Night30 Days of Night is a three-issue horror comic book mini-series written by Steve Niles, illustrated by Ben Templesmith and published by IDW Publishing in 2002. All three parties co-own the property.

The series takes place in Barrow, Alaska, so far north that during the winter the sun does not rise for 67 days. In the series, vampires, being vulnerable to sunlight, take advantage of the prolonged darkness to feast upon the town's inhabitants.

Initially an unsuccessful film pitch, the series became a breakout success story for Steve Niles, whose previous works had received relatively little attention. It was also the first full-length work by co-creator Ben Templesmith. The series has been followed by numerous sequel series and, in 2007, was adapted into a film of the same name.Eben OlemaunEben Olemaun, the primary protagonist of 30 Days of Night, is the sheriff of the small town of Barrow, Alaska. When the vampires attack Barrow, Olemaun leads a small group of survivors including his wife Stella and young teenage brother, Jake.

Film

In the 30 Days of Night film adaptation, the character's name was changed from Eben Olemaun to Eben Oleson. Eben was portrayed by American actor Josh Hartnett.Comment:  Michael Le of Racebending notes that Josh Hartnett's character was originally Inuit. The movie renamed him and made him white.

Right, because people wouldn't go to a horror movie about vampires in the Arctic night unless a white actor plays the lead role. I can just imagine the pitch meeting:

PRODUCER:  Vampires in the Arctic night!

STUDIO EXEC:  Great idea! It practically sells itself!

STUDIO EXEC:  I presume a white guy is the hero.

PRODUCER:  Uh, no, the lead character is Inuit.

STUDIO EXEC:  No go. That'll never work.

PRODUCER:  But you just said it was a great idea.

STUDIO EXEC:  That was before I knew. Audiences won't go to see an Inuit hero.

PRODUCER:  Did I say he was Inuit? I meant he's white.

STUDIO EXEC:  Great idea! It practically sells itself!

The movie cost $30 million and has made $75 million because horror movies usually make money. But some exec thought this project was too risky to cast an Inuit (or Asian, or Indian) as the main character? Sounds like pure racism to me.

I'd love to hear a studio exec make the case for casting Josh Hartnett. How much additional money do you think the little-known Hartnett brought in? What would the take have been with a Native actor? Give us some numbers so we can determine exactly how racist you are.

For more on the subject, see Indians Hold Steady at 0.3% and The Best Indian Movies.