Odessa A’zion has announced that she’s dropping out of Sean Durkin and A24’s adaptation of Holly Brickley’s novel Deep Cuts over casting concerns.
In a series of posts shared on her Instagram Stories, the buzzy I Love LA and Marty Supreme actor responded to the backlash that she received for signing on to portray Zoe Gutierrez, a character that was depicted as of Mexican heritage and Jewish in the novel.
“Guys!! I am with ALL of you and I am NOT doing this movie,” she wrote, confirming she won’t be starring in director Sean Durkin’s follow-up to The Iron Claw.
“Fuck that. I’m OUT,” A’zion added. “Lemme make myself clear.”
“THANK YOU guys for bringing this to my attention,” she continued. “I AGREE WITH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU! This is why I love you guys. I’m so so sorry that this happened. It is SO important for me to let you in on how it all went down: I went in for Percy, but was offered Zoe instead and instantly said yes! I’m so pissed y’all, I hadn’t read the book and should paid more attention to all aspects of Zoe before accepting… and now that I know what I know??? Fuck that! I’M OUT.”
As A’zion explained, she originally auditioned for the role of Percy Marks, the lead character, but the role ultimately went to Cailee Spaeny, who recently starred in the third Knives Out movie, Wake Up Dead Man.
“I’d never take a role from someone else that’s meant to do it,” she continued. “That SHOULD do it! That’s not me. There are a plentitude of people more capable of playing this role and I am NOT one of them. I can’t wait to see who it ends up being.”
A’zion said that she was “so excited” to be involved with the movie that she accepted the role without knowing too much about the character.
“I’ve been so busy with other work I was trying to carve out a time to re-read, I wish I found that time sooner and clocked her name,” she wrote. “That’s all that’s mentioned in the script when I just finally did. Thank you thank you THANK YOU GUYS FOR LETTING ME KNOW!!!”
She also clarified that she hasn’t read the source material, either.
“Still haven’t read the book but the story in the script is focused on Percy and Joe, so of course on my initial read that was my main focus as well,” she added. “I was happy to be involved as a different role, but I just can not do it knowing more about Zoe now.”
Cailee Spaeny and Drew Starkey are attached to star as the leads in the film, which was originally announced to star Saoirse Ronan and Austin Butler before they were forced to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. Josh Safdie, who directed A’zion in Marty Supreme, is attached as a producer on the project.