And it seems for the most part that fans (and Alexandra Daddario) cant wait to see Leah Jeffries play everyones favorite daughter of Athena. In the second film, Alexandra dyed her hair blonde to resemble Annabeth more. Riordan saidhis goal with casting was to find performers who could "inhabit and bring to life the personalities of these characters" regardless of what they looked like. It is worth noting that in the book Annabeth is described as having blonde hair, Percy is described as having black hair, and Grover is described as having brown hair. Leah Jeffries is going to be an incredible Annabeth!! In comparison to Elba, the backlash against Thompson was more violent and consistent. Alexandra Daddario hasnt been the only Percy Jackson-related vet to support Leah Jeffries. Saying I am not racist! is simply declaring that you deny your own biases and refuse to work on them. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. New York, Muscles can be built. Chiron, who was a white man in the novel, is now being portrayed by a Black actor. Leah won the role of Annabeth out of ten thousand other girls. You should never judge someone by how well they fit your preconceived notions. Everyone was too old. Two-thirds of the main trio would no longer be white like they had once been in the books. Percy Jackson creator Rick Riordan had to pen a letter supporting Leah Jeffries after she had been cast as Annabeth Chase in the Disney+ series. If they could act, Disney wanted their tapes. ", You are judging [Leah]s appropriateness for this role solely and exclusively on how she looks. Copyright 2023 ComicBook.com. We publish narratives intentionally and specifically to enlighten and transform the world. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief hit theaters in 2010. ", The author added that those saying Jeffries doesn't fit the role because she's not white are dismissing her "years of hard work honing her craft, her talent, her tenacity, her focus, her screen presence. By Aaron Perine That neurodivergent kid who has failed out of six schools, for instance, may well be the son of Poseidon. Alexandra Daddario originally portrayed the role of Annabeth in Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, as well as its sequel The Sea of Monsters. In the movie version, the characters were portrayed by Brandon T. Jackson and Alexandra Daddario. 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. She is a Black girl playing someone who was described in the books as white. Friends, that is racism. I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. Riordan also reiterated that, as the man who created these characters, he is inarguably best suited for knowing who should play them, and is confident that audiences will fall in love with Jeffries as Annabeth. Jeffries also reaffirmed her confidence in herself, and thanked the supportive fans for their positive comments. 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. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please check your email to find a confirmation email, and follow the steps to confirm your humanity. 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. The idea of blackwashing is a clear example of misogynoir. Rick Riordan created Percy Jackson and the Olympians as a way for his son to see himself in the neurodiverse characters of the world. But I am not racist, you say. We should be able to agree that bullying and harassing a child online is inexcusably wrong, Riordan wrote. The actress, who is Black, is set to star as one of the leads in the upcoming adaptation set to release on Disney+. 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. If you have a problem with this casting, however, take it up with me. The Percy Jackson backlash is similar to what Halle Bailey experienced when she was cast as Ariel in the live-action The Little Mermaid. 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? !May 10, 2022. 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. Leah Jeffires definitely isnt the first Black actress to be the target of racist commenters after being cast in a role that was initially written as and played by a white person. Halle Bailey being cast as Ariel in the upcoming live-action remake of The Little Mermaid had some people saying it was scientifically impossible for a mermaid to be Black. Even now, Thompson still faces intense criticism while Elba was eventually accepted as Heimdall. Nevertheless, when Idris Elba was cast as Heimdall in Thor, a similarly undervalued character, the backlash was horrific. In the replies to that announcement, there were people commenting on her race and body type. By Petrana Radulovic May 5, 2022, 1:48pm EDT Image: Disney The main trio of Percy Jackson and the Olympians has officially been cast for the upcoming Disney Plus ", 'Percy Jackson' author Rick Riordan not a fan of the film adaptations, calls them a 'mess', He continued: "You are judging her appropriateness for this role solely and exclusively on how she looks. ", "If you don't get that, if you're still upset about the casting of this marvelous trio, then it doesn't matter how many times you have read the books. WebAnnabeth Chase is a fictional character in Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus series. Its a The movie is slated for an August 2022 release. The response to Diors casting is colored by her being an antagonist, meanwhile, Leah is playing a hero. There was a problem. Hopefully, hearing from the previous live-action Annabeth may help to quiet the naysayers, as unlikely as that may be. The Old Kids Wont Talk to Him, Make New Ones: Report Claims Gary Owen Is Having Twins with New Girlfriend, Fans Bring Up His Strained Relationship with Older Children, She Did Doing What Tami Roman Did: Malaysia Pargo Fans Support Her Departure from Basketball Wives Over Jennifer Williams Hurtful Comment, Kandi Its Angela Davis: Fans Call Out Kandi Burruss After She Tagged the Wrong Angela In IG Post About Legendary Women of Impact. Anyone can be a hero. The children of Greek gods attend a summer camp known as Camp Half-Blood, where they train and hone their abilities. The show is based on the best-selling middle grade series, which takes palce in a world where Greek gods, heroes, and monsters are real. You either are not aware, or have dismissed, Leahs years of hard work honing her craft, her talent, her tenacity, her focus, her screen presence. At times, her character gets into situations that are not pretty. "Buckle up, demigods. She also starred in the comedy Rel on the same network. WebPercy Jackson Author Shuts Down Backlash to Casting Black Actress as Annabeth Chase: Friends, That Is Racism 10 May 2022 by Andi Ortiz The Wrap Rick Riordan will not stand "These thoughts are mine alone. However, like clockwork, racist trolls came out of every dank corner of the Internet. newsletter, Destiny 2 power level guide, all caps and Powerful and Pinnacle gear sources explained, The best way to increase your Power level in Destiny 2s new Lightfall expansion, Marvel still doesnt know what to do with its most popular hero, Spider-Man, Spider-Man endures, almost in spite of many Spider-Man stories, Sign up for the In fact, it happens almost every time a traditionally white character is played by a Black actress. From the outset of casting for the Disney+ series, Rick says he made it This entitlement is intertwined with white supremacy. 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. She is not even a teenager. We did that. In the book, Gabe is also described as fat. In the books, Rue was a dark-skinned Black girl, and Amandla is light-skinned. And now, at least on Disney+, she always will be. The author noted, We did that, and The casting process was long, intense, massive and exhaustive.. Previously Walker Scobell (The Adam Project) was cast in the lead role of Percy Jackson. She might be perfect and a great actress but Annabeth is supposed to be blonde hair with grey eyes like Athena., I really wanted them to do everything by the book. He is heavily involved with the show, however, and most recently welcomed the two new cast members on his blog, highly praising both actors (and sharing a picture of him and the three leads). Leah Jeffries was announced as Annabeth and Aryan Simhadri was announced as Grover. 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Next, on June 21, 2022, Variety announced three additional She is a Black girl playing someone who was described in the books as white. [1] References https://rickriordan.com/2022/05/the-trio-is-complete/ Others like you also viewed Annabeth Chase Percy Jackson Percy Jackson and the Olympians (TV series) Walker Scobell and The Doobie Brothers have nothing in common - except great books out this week, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Whatever else you take from this post, we should be able to agree that bullying and harassing a child online is inexcusably wrong. However, no one is saying the same thing about Tim Sharp. If you have a problem with this casting, however, take it up with me. 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. The things that distinguish us from one another are often our marks of individual greatness. 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. She was the daughter of Olivia Lyon, Jamals ex wife, who claimed she was his daughter, but it turned out she wasnt. Weve got you covered! 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+. She doesnt look the way I always imagined.. In fact, this should be the norm. Riordan made a point to clarify that he was not instructed by Disney or anyone else on who he should pick to play the beloved half-bloods. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Leah Sava Jeffries has an exciting new role she Who would take roles as the gods and, more importantly, who would be Annabeth? Gender and race. Riordan noted that he made quite clear a year ago that when he began his hunt for actors in the highly anticipated project, we would be following Disneys company policy on nondiscrimination before providing what that entails: We are committed to diverse, inclusive casting. Leah Sava Jeffries has an exciting new role she will be playing Annabeth Chase in the upcoming Percy Jackson and the Olympians series! Let us know down in the comments! I am so excited for the kids that are going to be cast in that and how theyll inspire a new generation of young women. Actress Alexandra Daddario took to social media to share her support for Leah Jeffries. Annabeth Jenna Ortega Starring in New Movie with The Weeknd, Cady Heron's Mom Has Been Cast for 'Mean Girls' Movie Musical. This post is specifically for those who have a problem with the casting of Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase. NY 10036. But thats another article altogether.) WebLeah Sava Jeffries (born September 25, 2009) is an actress who will portray Annabeth Chase in the Disney+ adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. While the response to Leah Jeffries casting was indeed mostly positive, the young actress was subject to some intense bullying on her social media accounts. WebBest of 2022 Oscars Best Picture Winners Best Picture Winners Emmys STARmeter Awards San Diego Comic-Con New York Comic-Con Sundance Film Festival Toronto Int'l Film There is power in plurality. You didnt learn anything from them. You feel I must have been coerced, brainwashed, bribed, threatened, whatever, or I as a white male author never would have chosen a Black actor for the part of this canonically white girl. 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. You have decided that I couldnt possibly mean what I have always said: That the true nature of the character lies in their personality. It was groundbreaking, yes, but calls of gingercide and intense hate were thrown at Patton. Whatever else you take from this post, we should be able to agree that bullying and harassing a child online is inexcusably wrong., The New York Times bestselling author said that although he and Leah discussed the potential for this kind of reaction and the intense pressure this role will bring, the negative comments she has received online are out of line. He added, They need to stop. It is only natural that a new generation of kids will get to see themselves in these characters now. I have it. Alexandra Watch the show or dont. The same cannot be said for the comments under Dior Goodjohns casting announcement. This page was last changed on 26 October 2022, at 04:22. The main trio of Percy Jackson and the Olympians has officially been cast for the upcoming Disney Plus show. On April 11th, Walker Scobell was introduced to the world as our new Percy. An open casting call was put out where people could submit auditions regardless of race. On Tuesday, the author issued a lengthy statement defending the casting of Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase. 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. Now., After the announcement, fans of the mythological adventure called out the cast for not staying true to the book, like one Twitter user who said, I really wanted them to do everything by the book. They do not necessarily reflect or represent the opinions of any part of Disney, the TV show, the production team, or the Jeffries family. 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. 2013 saw the release of a sequel that garnered an even worse reception. And not just white people like me. The Chris Columbus-directed film was greeted with a lukewarm reception from critics and even worse reactions from devout fans of the series. This is not unique to the Percy Jackson fandom. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy. Amandla was fourteen. You will receive a verification email shortly. Tessa Thompsons casting as Valkyrie, on the other hand, unleashed a hellfire of vitriol. They need to stop. You have it. 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. They do not necessarily reflect or represent the opinions of any part of Disney, the TV show, the production team, or the Jeffries family. You refuse to believe her selection could have been based on merit. 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 Some of you have apparently felt offended or exasperated when your objections are called out online as racist. How The Mandalorian Wrote Out Gina Carano Is Cara Dune Still Alive? She should not have to be strong in the face of blatant misogynoir by people who want to put her in her place or dim her shine. Its either something we recognize and try to work on, or its something we deny. Jacob Elordi, Will Poulter & Sasha Calle Will Star In New Book to Movie Adaptation. IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. People cannot fathom that Black actresses, who auditioned for a role, were better than the white people who tried out. From look I didnt want to be a half-blood, I was hooked. You should never judge someone by how well they fit your preconceived notions. WebThen, on June 2, 2022, Variety and Rick Riordan announced five adult cast members joining the Percy Jackson crew. Take a look at her message below: Leah Jeffries is going to be an incredible Annabeth!! Jeffries takes over the mantle of Annabeth Chase after the character was originally brought to life in the Percy Jackson movies by Alexandra Daddario. 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. May 10, 2022 Shannen Michaelsen Last week, it was announced that Leah Sava Jeffries would portray Annabeth Chase and Aryan Simhadri would portray Grover 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. Her story is one of constant heartbreak, but also unflinching resilience and triumphs. A number of fans objected to the African-American actress being cast in the role. It's going to be a fantastic, exciting ride! The relatively muted outrage can be attributed to a lack of enthusiasm surrounding the character. That neurodivergent kid who has failed out of six schools, for instance, may well be the son of Poseidon. They need to stop. By Allison Schonter - May 12, 2022 09:18 am EDT. These thoughts are mine alone. What is it about black girls that make people so ready and willing to tear them down or put them in their place?. 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