These thoughts are mine alone. From the outset of casting for the Disney+ series, Rick says he made it Annabeths story is not about the color of her hair. The core message of Percy Jackson has always been that difference is strength. Simadri plays Grover, Percys best friend who is secretly a satyr, a half-man half-goat creature from Greek mythology. And by the way, these criticisms have come from across the political spectrum, right and left. Leah Jeffries is going to be an incredible Annabeth!! Rick Riordan made a promise that he was going to try to keep the spirit of his books alive with young actors who would be accurate to the ages of the characters. - May 10, 2022 01:25 pm EDT. Naturally, rampant anticipation followed the announcement. Alexandra Daddario joins Percy Jackson author Rick Riordan in praising Leah Jeffries after fans criticized her casting as the new Annabeth Chase in Disney+ series. Rick Riordan and the rest of the Percy Jackson crew immediately came out against the racist trolls. Rick Riordan created Percy Jackson and the Olympians as a way for his son to see himself in the neurodiverse characters of the world. Coming up, Leah will star in the movie Beast with Idris Elba, which finds Elba on a trip to South Africa, only for he and his two teenage daughters to be hunted by a massive rogue lion intent on proving that the savanna has but one apex predator, according to The Wrap. Cinemablend is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Rick Riordan went out looking for the most talented actors to portray the characters that he wrote and when he found them, they just so happened to not be white. "Watch the show or don't. The fact of the matter is that people should not be harassing Leah Jeffries and getting her TikTok removed because they feel a disconnect between her and a fictional book character. The only other thing she has is her wisdom and her ambition. Muscles can be built. Except not quite. Percy Jackson film vet Alexandra Daddario has weighed in. Jenna Ortega Starring in New Movie with The Weeknd, Cady Heron's Mom Has Been Cast for 'Mean Girls' Movie Musical. As strong as Leah is, as much as we have discussed the potential for this kind of reaction and the intense pressure this role will bring, the negative comments she has received online areoutof line. IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. No actor should have to bear their job. She was the daughter of Olivia Lyon, Jamals ex wife, who claimed she was his daughter, but it turned out she wasnt. Jeffries takes over the mantle of Annabeth Chase after the character was originally brought to life in the Percy Jackson movies by Alexandra Daddario. The character of Aquaman has historically been white with blond hair and blue eyes. The trio had been finalized and they will soon begin filming in March. This was the moment of redemption that everyone had been waiting for. "This post is specifically for those who have a problem with the casting of Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase. But following last weeks announcement that actress Leah Sava Jeffries was cast as the series deuteragonist and love interest Annabeth Chase, (@camphalfblood) May 10, 2022. Another critique Ive seen about the Annabeth casting has been why race-bend one character when we can create new Black characters? I counter with this question: why must they be mutually exclusive? Leah Sava Jeffries has an exciting new role she As soon as you see her on the screen, you will know what I mean. May 10, 2022 Leah Jeffries is Annabeth Chase This post is specifically for those who have a problem with the casting of Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase. and The Doobie Brothers have nothing in common - except great books out this week. The only gift her mother ever gave her was an invisibility hat. Let's examine that statement. In the meantime, you can check out the original film with your Disney+ subscription, or check out these other 2022 TV release dates to begin planning your viewing schedule. Jeffries also reaffirmed her confidence in herself, and thanked the supportive fans for their positive comments. Leah Jeffries is Annabeth Chase. You have no one else to blame," he continued."We should be able to agree that bullying and harassing a child online is inexcusably wrong. They need to stop. She will also be starring in the upcoming Prime Video movie Something From Tiffanys, alongside Zoey Deutch, Kendrick Sampson and Shay Mitchell. The Percy Jackson backlash is similar to what Halle Bailey experienced when she was cast as Ariel in the live-action The Little Mermaid. Leah is a twelve-year-old child. For every role, please submit qualified performers without regard to disability, gender, race and ethnicity, age, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis prohibited by law. "These thoughts are mine alone. Here's What We Know, 5 Ways Perfect Match Restored My Faith In Netflix Dating Shows, The Good Doctor: Glassman's Big Loss Just Led To One Of Season 6's Most Heartfelt Moments, And I'm Ready For More, After LeBron James Broke His Scoring Record, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Dropped Thoughts On Why Hed Couldve Played Longer In Todays NBA, After The Bachelors Latest Breakup, Fans Are Starting To See Some Red Flags With Zach Shallcross. In 2012, Amandla Stenberg was cast as Rue Barnette in The Hunger Games. You have no one else to blame. You have no one else to blame, he said. As more casting announcements are revealed for this television series, it is obvious that Rick Riordan is trying to diversify the world that he created. Fans are already excited to see the young actress in the role, and Percy Jackson author Rick Riordan is also praising her. Previously Walker Scobell (The Adam Project) was cast in the lead role of Percy Jackson. Sign up to receive The Atlanta Black Star Newsletter in your inbox. And before you resort to the old kneejerk reaction I am not racist! lets examine that statement too. She does not have superpowers like her closest friends. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. You should never judge someone by how well they fit your preconceived notions. Watching her act with Walker and Aryan, I saw Annabeth Chase come to life. Whatever else you take from this post, we should be able to agree that bullying and harassing a child online is inexcusably wrong," he continued. This was also one of those days when I realized that my childhood interest, one of my most favorite things, was shared by so many different people. Friends, that is racism.. Whatever else you take from this post, we should be able to agree that bullying and harassing a child online is inexcusably wrong. All people. If you have a problem with this casting, however, take it up with me. I have been clear, as the author, that I was looking for the best actors to inhabit and bring to life the personalities of these characters, and that physical appearance was secondary for me. ", Related:Joshua Cohen's 'The Netanyahus,' more awarded 2022 Pulitzer Prizes in books, drama, music. 2 min read Actress Alexandra Daddario has weighed in on the backlash against Leah Jeffries casting as Annabeth Chase in the upcoming Annabeth is one of the main characters in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series as well as in The Heroes of Olympus series, as she is one of the Seven demigods of the Prophecy of Seven. Please check your email to find a confirmation email, and follow the steps to confirm your humanity. Nevertheless, when Idris Elba was cast as Heimdall in Thor, a similarly undervalued character, the backlash was horrific. As strong as Leah is, as much as we have discussed the potential for this kind of reaction and the intense pressure this role will bring, the negative comments she has received online areoutof line. Alexandra So, want to know more about Leah? Dislikes: cilantro, the NJ Turnpike, sneaker wedges. However, when Jason Momoa, a Polynesian man with brown hair and brown eyes, was cast as the character in 2014, there was very little backlash. Lets not forget that mermaids are literally fictional creatures living under the sea. Its a shame such posts need to be written, but they doLeah brings so much energy and enthusiasm to this role, so much of Annabeths strength. Leah brings so much energy and enthusiasm to this role, so much of Annabeths strength. In the book, Gabe is also described as fat. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Let us know down in the comments! Who would play Percy? Thank you for signing up to CinemaBlend. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Other commentators online have likened the treatment of the young actress to how John Boyega and Kelly Marie Tran were treatedduring their Star Wars tenures. Even now, Thompson still faces intense criticism while Elba was eventually accepted as Heimdall. What is it about black girls that make people so ready and willing to tear them down or put them in their place?. Jacob Elordi, Will Poulter & Sasha Calle Will Star In New Book to Movie Adaptation. Many non-Black people can wrap their minds around a Black villain just not a Black good guy. Rick Riordan will not stand for any racism toward or bullying of the new Percy Jackson cast. She was left defenseless by the writers and producers at the CW. Not only is the backlash just blatant misogynoir, but it also shows a complete lack of imagination on the part of these members of the audience. I was quite clear a year ago, when we announced our first open casting, that we would be following Disneys company policy on nondiscrimination: We are committed to diverse, inclusive casting. We publish narratives intentionally and specifically to enlighten and transform the world. Author Rick Riordan, who wrote the original Percy Jackson novels, released a statement on his website defending the young actress. Elba himself has described playing Heimdall as torture. When I was 10 years old, I discovered a book series called Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan. By submitting your email, you agree to our, Disneys Percy Jackson show casts two more main characters, Sign up for the The children of Greek gods attend a summer camp known as Camp Half-Blood, where they train and hone their abilities. Her story is about how she feels ignored, underestimated, and abandoned. Leah is exactly the way I imagined Annabeth in the books: smart, strong and courageous, a true daughter of Athena who has zero patience for the foolishness of a certain Seaweed Brain, Rick shared on his website. She will be a role model for new generations of girls who will see in her the kind of hero they want to be.". Empire fans may recognize Leah from her role as Lola on the hit Fox drama. Annabeth Chase Is Black Now, Deal With It: How Race-Bending Gives Way to Misogynoir. I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. The casting of Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase in the upcoming Percy Jackson and the Olympians series resulted in some backlash from book fans regarding race-related details. The things that distinguish us from one another are often our marks of individual greatness. Unlike the movie, the show will keep the characters closer to their book ages. Will Alert: Missing Persons Unit Be Renewed For Season 2 On Fox After Finale? That should mean something. Without having seen her play the part, you have pre-judged her (pre + judge = prejudice) and decided she must have been hired simply to fill a quota or tick a diversity box. Rather than finding excitement in the concept of new interpretations of classic characters, social media trolls tend to share negative critiques without seeing the finished product first, and in this case share them before filming has even started. Atlanta Black Star is a narrative company. Alexandra Daddario and author Rick Riordan sent support to Leah Jeffries amid fan backlash to the young actress being cast on the upcoming "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series on Disney+. Now.. Nevertheless, it is as interesting as it is disturbing that these critics have no problem with a non-demigod role going to someone who isnt white. Her fellow district member Thresh Morrowson was played by dark-skinned actor Dayo Okeniyi, yet he faced almost zero backlash. She is not a woman. WebAlexandra Daddario: Annabeth Showing all 35 items Jump to: Photos (29) Quotes (6) Photos 6 more photos Quotes [last lines] [Annabeth leaning in as if to kiss Percy, then swiping his In fact, many stans will attach themselves to any white actor who mentions they auditioned for the role instead of supporting the girl who fairly won the role. The same cannot be said for the comments under Dior Goodjohns casting announcement. You can read Rick Riordans full statement here. Aryan Simhadri (Disneys Spin) and Leah Sava Jeffries (Empire) will join the show as Grover Underwood and Annabeth Chase, respectively. We took a year to do this process thoroughly and find the best of the best. , Leah shared on Instagram. Ten thousand other actresses of various backgrounds auditioned for Annabeth and Rick Riordan hand-picked Leah. This contributes to the severity of the attacks on these actresses despite vocal support from the author himself. 0:00. If I may quote from an excellent recent article in the Boston Globe about Dr. Khama Ennis, who created a program on implicit bias for the Massachusetts Board of Registration for Medicine in Boston: To say a person doesnt have bias is to say that person isnt human. In fact, this should be the norm. You have it. The anticipation for who would play Annabeth and Grover was even more excruciating after Percys announcement. This entitlement is intertwined with white supremacy. One of the main gripes that anchored discourse in online circles was the way the characters looked. It was groundbreaking, yes, but calls of gingercide and intense hate were thrown at Patton. Now, former Percy Jackson film franchise star Alexandra Daddario has chimed in with a simple but supportive message for the actress taking over her former role. "If you have a problem with this casting, however, take it up with me. You are judging her appropriateness for this role solely and exclusively on how she looks. History once again repeats itself with Leah Jeffries. Dior is not as big as Clarisse was described in the book. The most watched K-pop music videos of the year have been revealed. They also cannot imagine a little Black girl playing a hero. But I am not racist, you say. And not just white people like me. 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Web11 May 2022 by Valerie Complex Deadline Actress Alexandra Daddario has weighed in on the backlash against Leah Jeffries casting as Annabeth Chase in the upcoming Disney+ show This page was last changed on 26 October 2022, at 04:22. Thompson remarked that she had to weather the storm and just act through it. ", More:Notorious B.I.G. Anyone can be a hero. Next, on June 21, 2022, Variety announced three additional It is only natural that a new generation of kids will get to see themselves in these characters now. On Tuesday, the author issued a lengthy statement defending the casting of Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase. This trio is the best. Leah Jeffries was announced as Annabeth and Aryan Simhadri was announced as Grover. We did that. Lets Go!! But, elements of the fandom online have been hyper critical of Jefferies' inclusion. Thats your call. The main trio of Percy Jackson and the Olympians has officially been cast for the upcoming Disney Plus show. First, let me be clear I am speaking here only for myself," Riordan clarified. When Anna Diop was cast as Starfire in the DC show Titans, people could not fathom it. While Walker does not have Percys signature Black hair, Riordan assured everyone that he embodied Percy the best. In the replies to that announcement, there were people commenting on her race and body type. Dior herself has mentioned that she is in the gym, as if that matters. Whatever else you take from this post, we should be able to agree that bullying and harassing a child online is inexcusably wrong. Shes real and fleshed out. This is untrue. She also is playing the (10-year-old spoiler alert!) Meanwhile, Jaffries will portray Annabeth, a brilliant strategist and a daughter of Athena. Representation will not bring us liberation, but it is nice to think about the little Black girls that will get to see themselves as one of the most powerful characters in the series. 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