Jimmy Akingbola Joins "Arrow" as Baron Blitzkrieg

[CBR News]

Jimmy Akingbola will appear on the fourth season of "Arrow" in the role of Baron Blitzkrieg, a recurring villain in Oliver Queen's flashback sequences.


Full article here.

[mr. k0]

Isn't it strange that a black actor is portraying a Nazi villain? Then again, he most likely be heavily reimagined to have his Nazi history non-existent.

[Charles J. Baserap]

So the super Nazi solider...is being played by a black dude? They couldn't find a better role for him? If there are any characters need to NOT be racelifted, it's probably Nazis...

[Charles J. Baserap]

Isn't it strange that a black actor is portraying a Nazi villain? Then again, he most likely be heavily reimagined to have his Nazi history non-existent.

They likely will BUT his name is still going to be Baron Blitzkreig. That's like taking a character called Grand Dragon, having him played by a Mexican guy, and saying, "Nah, it's cool, we removed all the KKK from his background, he's only going by that name and wearing a hood." lol

[FlashingSabre]

This is getting weird.

[matevenados]

I know Right ! this remindes me of the black klans man gag in the movie Blazing Saddles !

[Forseti]

Maybe they are going with the nazi thing, and poor Jimmy just never gets to take his mask off onscreen.

[SeanT]

Baron Blitzkreig's been around since the 70s. He first appeared fighting Wonder Woman in World's Finest.

[Ceebiro]

I think I'd rather they just make wholly new characters than oddly adapt existing characters.

[Robotman]

i'll see your handsome, tall, black Jimmy Olsen and raise you a black Nazi. what is up with the casting lately?!?

[Frontier]

So...he's got Baron Blitzkrieg's basic character and role down, except for the Nazi part, being African-American and in spite of all that still being called Baron Blitzkrieg. I'm not sure if this is better or worse than how they're handling Anarky .

[Tofali]

The talents in the US must be really low for DC and Marvel tv shows to be hiring UK actors.

[Froggy]

This is getting weird.

For real. Idk where arrow is going

[The Odd Man]

In his All-Star Squadron appearances at least, Baron Blitzkrieg was (occasionally) blind. A black Baron Blitzkrieg makes me think of the black white supremacist sketch from The Chappelle Show.


WARNING: Uses the N word. Often.

[DrNewGod]

I'm all for the putting the best actor that auditions in a role, but an actor of color - any color, anything non-Aryan - for a Nazi? That makes no sense. The only way it works is if they gut ... ahem ... I mean, re-imagine the character as fully as they did Brother Blood.