Actress Odessa A'zion has withdrawn from Sean Durkin's upcoming A24 film Deep Cuts following a backlash over her casting as a character of Mexican heritage. The 25-year-old, known for her role in Marty Supreme, announced her decision on Instagram Stories late Wednesday.
The film is an adaptation of Holly Brickley's 2021 novel, centring on two music-obsessed twenty-somethings navigating ambition and adulthood over a decade. A'zion was cast as Zoe Gutierrez, a character described in the book as Mexican. Fans quickly criticised the casting, noting A'zion is not of Mexican descent.
In her Instagram statement, A'zion said she was unaware of the character's background when she accepted the role. She wrote: '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 have paid more attention to all aspects of Zoe before accepting.' She added: 'I'd never take a role from someone else that's meant to do it.'
The casting announcement earlier this week sparked a flood of comments on A'zion's recent posts, with many accusing her of taking roles from Mexican actors. In a subsequent comment, she thanked fans for bringing the issue to her attention.
Deep Cuts stars Drew Starkey and Cailee Spaeny in lead roles. The film was initially set to feature Saoirse Ronan and Austin Butler, but both dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. The project is produced by A24, with Eli Bush, Ronald Bronstein, and Josh Safdie among the producers.
