Within days of being cast in Sean Durkin’s “Deep Cuts” at A24, actress Odessa A’zion (“Marty Supreme”) has now exited the film following backlash over casting.
The 2000s-set story follows two music-obsessed twenty-somethings as they navigate romance, ambition, and adulthood. Saorsie Ronan and Austin Butler were originally cast, Cailee Spaeny and Drew Starkey now star with filming about to get underway.
A’zion signed on to play Zoe Gutierrez, a half Mexican/half Jewish character in Holly Brickley’s 2023 novel. A’zion is Jewish, but not Mexican, and this prompted allegations of whitewashing.
A’zion announced her withdrawal on social media, saying she originally went in to test for the female lead role of Percy, which will be played by Spaeny, but was then offered the Zoe role instead and “instantly said yes”.
It was only after that she found out more about the character. In her post, she says:
“I hadn’t read the book and should have paid more attention to all aspects of Zoe before accepting…and now that I know what I know? Guys!! I am with ALL of you and I am NOT doing this movie. F–k that. I’m OUT. I’d never take a role from someone else that’s meant to do it. That SHOULD do it! That’s not me. There are a plentitude of people more than capable of playing this role and I am NOT one of them. I can’t wait to see who it ends up being.”
in the wake of this, Deadline reports that over 100 Latino actors, artists and storytellers have signed an open letter to Hollywood calling to increase the presence of Latino voices in early stages of development and greenlighting rooms. The letter says:
“We acknowledge and commend Odessa A’zion for listening, reflecting and deciding to exit the project and become an ally. Yet how did this happen?
The absence of Latina audition opportunities, and the choice to replace a clearly Latina character with a non-Latina actress, signals a broader, ongoing erasure of our community from the stories that define our culture.
This is not about any one actor or project. It is about a system that repeatedly overlooks qualified Latino talent even as our identities, histories, and experiences fuel the most enduring stories.”
Amongst those who’ve signed the letter are John Leguizamo, Eva Longoria, Jessica Alba, Michael Pena, Isabela Merced, Xochitl Gomez, Melissa Barrera,Danny Ramirez, Brandon Perea, Michael Cimino, Melissa Fumero, David Castenada, Jacob Scipio, and more.
