History Main / ColorblindCasting

* When the MadeForTVMovie Creator/{{Rodgers and Hammerstein}}'s ''Film/{{Cinderella}}'' was cast in 1997, the casting was colourblind, leading to a ''very'' diverse group of actors. There was a black queen (Creator/WhoopiGoldberg), a white king (Victor Garber), and their son was played by a Filipino man (Paolo Montalban). In addition, the role of Cinderella herself was given to a black woman (Music/{{Bandy}}). Cinderella's stepmother is white (Creator/BernadettePeters) and her daughters are black (Natalie Desselle-Reid) and white (Veanne Cox).

* When the MadeForTVMovie {{Rodgers and Hammerstein}}'s ''Film/{{Cinderella}}'' was cast in 1997 the casting was colourblind leading to a ''very'' diverse group of actors. There was a black queen, a white king, and their son was played by a Filipino man. In addition, the role of Cinderella herself was given to a black woman. Cinderella's stepmother is white and her daughters are black and white.

* The Creator/Brandy and Creator/WhitneyHouston version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's ''Film/Cinderella'' is extremely color-blind in its casting. Most notably, while the King is white, the Queen is black, and their son is Filipino.

* In ''Series/{{Elementary}}'', the normally english male Dr Watson is played by Asian actress Creator/LucyLiu

* When the MadeForTVMovie {{Rodgers and Hammerstein}}'s ''Film/{{Cinderella}}'' was cast in 1997 the casting was colourblind leading to a very diverse group of actors. There was a black queen, a white king, and their son was played by a hispanic man. In addition, the role of Cinderella herself was given to a black woman.

* When the MadeForTVMovie {{Rodgers and Hammerstein}}'s ''Film/Cinderella'' was cast in 1997 the casting was colourblind leading to a very diverse group of actors. There was a black queen, a white king, and their son was played by a hispanic man. In addition, the role of Cinderella herself was given to a black woman.

* When the MadeForTVMovie {{Rodgers and Hammerstein}}'s ''Film/CinderellaCinderella'' was cast in 1997 the casting was colourblind leading to a very diverse group of actors. There was a black queen, a white king, and their son was played by a hispanic man. In addition, the role of Cinderella herself was given to a black woman.

Most often this is scene when creating a new work. A character is created with a personality, but without defined physical characteristics, such as age, gender or race. This may lead to the inversion of some tropes, but it isn't necessarily done intentionally. In adaptations this may lead to women playing parts traditionally played by men (when the gender of the character is not essential), or [[RaceLift people of other races playing characters that may be associated with a different race]].

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* The 1973 film version of Music/{{Jesus Christ Superstar}} cast Carl Anderson (an African-American) as Judas, a role that could be played by any race and was cast as such.

* Series/GreysAnatomy is a great example. None of the roles were cast with an eye to race leading to a very racially diverse cast. Miranda Bailey was originally envisioned by the creator as a blond, tall woman. Look who she's played by now! Also Isaiah Washington originally auditioned for the part Patrick Dempsey has made famous. Sandra Oh's character's last name was changed to her more ethnic name only after she was cast in the part.
* Series/{{Deception}} was written with no races given to the characters leading to a cast led by a woman with African, Puerto Rican and Cherokee heritage with an ex who is Black and Cuban. The only change to the script was that Will's last name, originally Sakovitch was changed to Moreno.

* In ''Film/{{Wild Wild West}}'', Will Smith plays Jim West. Not only has that character been traditionally played by white males, but in that era (and outside of a Mel Brooks movie like [[spoiler: Film/{{Blazing Saddles}} and before that (by historical setting, not release date) Film/{{Robin Hood Men In Tights}}]]), there were black sheriffs and marshals but not as common as today.
* The 1973 film version of Music/{{Jesus Christ Superstar}} cast Carl Anderson (an African-American) as Judas, a role that could be played by any race.

Colorblind casting (also known as Non-Traditional casting) is where characters for a performed work (theater, TV, film) are cast without prejudice to race, gender, age, etc. This may lead to women playing parts traditionally played by men (when the gender of the character is not essential), or people of other races playing characters that may be associated with a different race.

Sometimes, when creating a new work, a character is created with a personality, but without defined physical characteristics, such as age, gender or race. This may lead to the inversion of some tropes, but it isn't necessarily done intentionally.

* The 2011 film version of {{Thor}} had an unique version of this. The Asgardians are traditionally white, Nordic characters and have been depicted as such in the comic books. However, in the movie, Heimdall was played by {{Idris Elba}}.
* Superman supporting character Perry White has always been white in the Superman comics and all movie/TV adaptations. For ''Film/{{Man of Steel}}'', Laurence Fishburne was cast as the first ever black Perry White.

* Series/{{Smallville}} has many examples. African American actor Sam Jones III portrayed Clark Kent's childhood friend Pete Ross, that, in the comic books, was Caucasian. Kristin Kreuk, from Dutch and Chinese descent, was cast for the originally red-headed character Lana Lang. Chloe Sullivan was intended to have a non-Cauasian ethnic background, but was portayed by Allison Mack.

[[folder:Theater]]
* In 2000, David Oyelowo played Theater/HenryVI for the Royal Shakespeare Company, despite being black. It was the first time a non-Caucasian had played a King of England in a major production. He won an Ian Charleson award for his performance.

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* Series/GreysAnatomy is a great example. Miranda Bailey was originally visioned by the creator as a blond, tall woman. Look who she's played by now! Also Isaiah Washington originally auditioned for the part Patrick Dempsey has made famous. Sandra Oh's character's last name was changed to her more ethnic name only after she was cast in the part.

* In ''Film/{{Wild Wild West}}'', Will Smith plays Jim West. Not only has that character been traditionally played by white males, but in that era (and outside of a Mel Brooks movie like [[spoiler: Film/{{Blazing Saddles}} and before that (by historical setting, not release date) Film/{{Robin Hood Men In Tights}}]]), a black man would never have been sheriff.

* In ''Film/{{Wild Wild West}}'', Will Smith plays Jim West. Not only has that character been traditionally played by white males, but in that era (and outside of a Mel Brooks movie [[spoiler: Film/{{Blazing Saddles}} and before that (by historical setting, not release date) Film/{{Robin Hood Men In Tights}}]]), a black man would never have been sheriff.

* {{Grey'sAnatomy}} is a great example. Miranda Bailey was originally visioned by the creator as a blond, tall woman. Look who she's played by now! Also Isaiah Washington originally auditioned for the part Patrick Dempsey has made famous. Sandra Oh's character's last name was changed to her more ethnic name only after she was cast in the part.

[[/folder]]

* In ''Film/{{WildWildWest}}'', Will Smith plays Jim West. Not only has that character been traditionally played by white males, but in that era (and outside of a Mel Brooks movie [[spoiler: "Film/{{BlazingSaddles}}" and before that (by historical setting, not release date) "Film/{{RobinHoodMenInTights}}"]]), a black man would never have been sheriff.

* ''TV/{{GreysAnatomy}}'' is a great example. Miranda Bailey was originally visioned by the creator as a blond, tall woman. Look who she's played by now! Also Isaiah Washington originally auditioned for the part Patrick Dempsey has made famous. Sandra Oh's character's last name was changed to her more ethnic name only after she was cast in the part.