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Actually, they do have a major character who is Latino. Legolas Send a noteboard - 12/01/2016 07:15:31 PM

View original postYou say that the US just needs to "get with the rest of the world", though it's clear that Disney is a US-based company with a US mindset. You also ignore that Disney is clearly checking the box with a US audience in mind - if they were trying to be globally inclusive they would have had at least one Asian major character (preferably Chinese), or maybe a major character who is Latino. But they haven't. They are checking the box by making the two main characters a woman and a black man. This is a US-driven decision because these two demographics are the most politicized in "culture wars". If Asians complained loudly about being underrepresented in movies (they are), or if Latinos complained loudly about being underrepresented in movies (they are), Disney would likely put them in. But they don't complain loudly.

The pilot Poe Dameron is Latino. Indeed didn't really see any Chinese, but then again I understand Star Wars was banned from Chinese theaters until 2015, so for all the potential of the Chinese market they may not exactly have put it as high on their target list as other franchises do.

Disney has been a global company with a global brand for a very long time now. I'll admit, looking at the list here of the share of each recent hit movie's box office made outside the US, this movie does have a lower percentage made abroad than most - but it still exceeds 50%. Looking up a few Disney/Pixar classics ranging from The Little Mermaid to Inside Out, the percentage seems remarkably stable at 55-60% abroad.

Of course, what you also seem to underestimate is the extent to which your "culture wars", or at least the ones relating to women and race, are relevant abroad as well, if not in precisely the same way. Or at least in Europe/the Americas/Oceania, which still represent most of the foreign box office, except for those movies that really hit it big in China.

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Star Wars : The Force Awakens review (spoiler free) - 17/12/2015 09:18:26 AM 2534 Views
Love your review! I'm seeing it tomorrow night at 9pm. Can't wait! *NM* - 18/12/2015 01:20:16 AM 883 Views
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In general agreement ** potential Spoilers ** - 19/12/2015 06:06:23 AM 1362 Views
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So Darth Plagieus might still be in? Sweet. - 20/12/2015 04:44:21 AM 1363 Views
Palpatine's master? - 20/12/2015 02:25:45 PM 1396 Views
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Re: I mean the novel of that name. - 22/12/2015 10:05:49 PM 1435 Views
Yeah, I think we're talking about the same one. - 24/12/2015 12:05:57 AM 1341 Views
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Also, SPOILER thoughts. - 18/12/2015 01:00:32 PM 1594 Views
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Re: Also, SPOILER thoughts. - 29/12/2015 05:19:54 AM 1414 Views
I have tickets for tonight - 18/12/2015 04:47:17 PM 1382 Views
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They were all good. Internet geeks suck. - 18/12/2015 11:38:36 PM 1383 Views
Re: They were all good. Internet geeks suck. - 19/12/2015 12:19:10 AM 1543 Views
Well - 19/12/2015 05:53:56 AM 1370 Views
Re: They were all good. Internet geeks suck. - 19/12/2015 07:46:06 AM 1562 Views
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Yip that's true *NM* - 19/12/2015 07:46:59 AM 839 Views
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I got the impression he was actually her boss or contractor - 28/12/2015 12:48:48 PM 1482 Views
Pretty much... - 29/12/2015 12:08:58 AM 1411 Views
Absolutely, yes *NM* - 29/12/2015 01:54:52 PM 889 Views
Just saw it! Holy shit, shit, shit, shit.....it was amazing. - 19/12/2015 05:38:44 AM 1440 Views
Loved it (Spoilers) - 19/12/2015 06:16:54 AM 1369 Views
Fantastic characters, great entertainment, no originality, no logic - 29/12/2015 03:33:43 AM 1419 Views
Your Mom has no originality or logic! *NM* - 29/12/2015 11:39:41 AM 884 Views
JJ Abrams should be able to do better than my Mom - 30/12/2015 04:20:54 AM 1342 Views
I gave it a B+ overall but I think the characters are its weak spot - 29/12/2015 05:08:15 PM 1215 Views
JJ Abrams' movies are character-driven, Lucas' movies are plot-driven - 30/12/2015 04:38:49 AM 1338 Views
Lucas has created some of the most iconics chacters in movie history ? - 31/12/2015 02:29:02 PM 1309 Views
So, Rey (Possible Spoilers ahead) - 30/12/2015 10:11:01 AM 1404 Views
Re: So, Rey (Possible Spoilers ahead) - 30/12/2015 07:10:56 PM 1733 Views
Re: So, Rey (Possible Spoilers ahead) - 30/12/2015 09:24:08 PM 1341 Views
Re: So, Rey (Possible Spoilers ahead) - 31/12/2015 04:58:24 PM 1316 Views
It was fun, and I look forward to the next ones, but can't say I was that wowed. - 30/12/2015 09:26:10 PM 1356 Views
Why is time for female lead and why does the lef think subtraction is the answer to inequality? - 04/01/2016 01:37:37 PM 1154 Views
Because the six other movies had zero female Jedis of any importance? - 04/01/2016 05:58:25 PM 1412 Views
Just another check the box movie, then - 04/01/2016 06:02:41 PM 1279 Views
Oh, come on. You're really going to complain just because they had a woman and a black guy? - 04/01/2016 11:48:52 PM 1373 Views
They are talking abou tmakin ght Gunslinger black - 05/01/2016 02:05:36 PM 1289 Views
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That's not really what I said, you'll note. - 05/01/2016 07:48:08 PM 1492 Views
I don't think it was Disney's business acumen. - 06/01/2016 06:59:46 PM 1546 Views
Wow. That's... sad. - 06/01/2016 09:32:37 PM 1419 Views
Re: Wow. That's... sad. - 08/01/2016 03:08:58 AM 1389 Views
I am noit sure how well that 7-12 girl demographic will work in merchandising - 08/01/2016 06:30:47 PM 1371 Views
Your premise is entirely wrong. - 12/01/2016 05:53:26 AM 1308 Views
Actually, they do have a major character who is Latino. - 12/01/2016 07:15:31 PM 1361 Views
The culture wars are just about blacks and feminists. - 13/01/2016 02:31:20 AM 1367 Views
All that Paul said - 17/01/2016 05:13:59 PM 2014 Views
LOL - 05/01/2016 06:33:50 PM 1328 Views
Funny that people use strwmen arguments to make themsleves feel smart - 08/01/2016 04:22:22 PM 1416 Views
It's not a straw man - 08/01/2016 04:52:03 PM 1379 Views
it was story of a father and son so it makes sense to male leads - 04/01/2016 06:59:33 PM 1235 Views
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Was finn as strong as Leia? I would say not even close - 05/01/2016 05:55:51 PM 1340 Views
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Finn reacts and is pretty much drug through the story - 06/01/2016 02:52:58 PM 1452 Views
Re: Finn reacts and is pretty much drug through the story - 06/01/2016 05:50:08 PM 1357 Views
I don't have an issue with a strong female jedi - 07/01/2016 02:49:44 PM 1336 Views
Re: I don't have an issue with a strong female jedi - 07/01/2016 03:26:34 PM 1392 Views
The reall issue it looks like Luke sucked as Jedi master - 07/01/2016 07:14:31 PM 1310 Views
Sorry, no. - 06/01/2016 06:56:09 PM 1402 Views
What a load of crap. - 08/01/2016 10:29:35 AM 1292 Views
I only partially agree - 08/01/2016 03:27:10 PM 1425 Views
Sorry if science isn't your thing but no what I said is true - 09/01/2016 11:49:15 PM 1441 Views
Re: Was finn as strong as Leia? I would say not even close - 08/01/2016 10:01:16 AM 1269 Views
Well said *NM* - 05/01/2016 12:01:25 PM 899 Views
Because it isn't "subtraction"... - 08/01/2016 09:33:24 AM 1313 Views
Of course it is - 09/01/2016 10:19:53 PM 1280 Views
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I may be alone on this, but... - 05/01/2016 08:07:26 PM 1377 Views
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What speaks against is for me... - 05/01/2016 10:57:44 PM 1706 Views
Re: What speaks against is for me... - 06/01/2016 10:08:35 AM 1471 Views
It's all good stuff, like the first book in a good sci-fi/fantasy trilogy! - 07/01/2016 06:44:45 AM 1378 Views
I think it's pretty obvious... - 17/01/2016 07:43:19 AM 1475 Views

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