Rick Riordan and the rest of the Percy Jackson crew immediately came out against the racist trolls. Previously Walker Scobell (The Adam Project) was cast in the lead role of Percy Jackson. ", '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. Will Alert: Missing Persons Unit Be Renewed For Season 2 On Fox After Finale? 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. You didn't learn anything from them," the creator notes. 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+. Eli Lilly cuts insulin prices up to 70% amid federal pressure to lower costs of life-saving medication, Joshua Cohen's 'The Netanyahus,' more awarded 2022 Pulitzer Prizes in books, drama, music, Notorious B.I.G. Let us know down in the comments! THEY ARE CHILDREN GIVE THEM LOVE INSTEAD BC THEYRE THE PERFECT CASTING FOR THE PERCY JACKSON TV SHOW., A REMINDER THAT NO HATE FOR WALKER SCOBELL, LEAH SAVA JEFFRIES, AND ARYAN SIMHADRI ARE ALLOWED THEY ARE CHILDREN GIVE THEM LOVE INSTEAD BC THEY'RE THE PERFECT CASTING FOR THE PERCY JACKSON TV SHOW . Why can we not have both brand new characters and race-bend whatever characters we want? Two-thirds of the main trio would no longer be white like they had once been in the books. !May 10, 2022. The most watched K-pop music videos of the year have been revealed. There were also people in the comments pretending to care about fat people to veil their racism. Now.. When Anna Diop was cast as Starfire in the DC show Titans, people could not fathom it. Thank you for signing up to CinemaBlend. Rick Riordan has strong words for fans upset with the casting of "Percy Jackson and the Olympians," an upcoming Disney+ show based on his book series of the same name. How The Mandalorian Wrote Out Gina Carano Is Cara Dune Still Alive? Heres how it works. The Chris Columbus-directed film was greeted with a lukewarm reception from critics and even worse reactions from devout fans of the series. 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If that doesnt speak to the Black girl experience, I dont know what does. 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 "If you have a problem with this casting, however, take it up with me. Who would be Grover? "If you have a problem with this casting, however, take it up with me. Whatever else you take from this post, we should be able to agree that bullying and harassing a child online is inexcusably wrong. But the author added not every response has been supportive. ", 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. The casting process was long, intense, massive and exhaustive. Please refresh the page and try again. It was groundbreaking, yes, but calls of gingercide and intense hate were thrown at Patton. 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 Sava Jeffries has an exciting new role she will be playing Annabeth Chase in the upcoming Percy Jackson and the Olympians series! The character could not be Biracial. "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 are out of line. 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. The idea of blackwashing is a clear example of misogynoir. Anyone can be a hero. She doesnt look the way I always imagined.. (As a fat person myself, I am happy with this change as the way they were written in the original books was to be insulting. Like its so cool, Annabeth is a really inspiring character to people, she said. She will be a role model for new generations of girls who will see in her the kind hero they want to be," the creator observed. An open casting call was put out where people could submit auditions regardless of race. Some of you have apparently felt offended or exasperated when your objections are called out online as racist. But thats another article altogether.) Jacob Elordi, Will Poulter & Sasha Calle Will Star In New Book to Movie Adaptation. "Leah brings so much energy and enthusiasm to this role, so much of Annabeths strength. 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. The things that distinguish us from one another are often our marks of individual greatness. They also cannot imagine a little Black girl playing a hero. Let's examine that statement. Leah brings so much energy and enthusiasm to this role, so much of Annabeth's strength. What much of this outcry boils down to is fan entitlement, anti-blackness, and misogynoir. "The response to the casting of Leah has been overwhelmingly positive and joyous, as it should be. You have it. You are judging her appropriateness for this role solely and exclusively on how she looks. She is a Black girl playing someone who was described in the books as whitethat is racism.#LeahIsOurAnnabeth Read Ricks statement at the link below:https://t.co/DGeOzrjZuw. From look I didnt want to be a half-blood, I was hooked. There is power in plurality. The trio had been finalized and they will soon begin filming in March. 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. And not just white people like me. You refuse to believe me, the guy who wrote the books and created these characters, when I say that these actors are perfect for the roles because of the talent they bring and the way they used their auditions to expand, improve and electrify the lines they were given. 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. When I was 10 years old, I discovered a book series called Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan. 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. She is a Black girl playing someone who was described in the books as white. The common narrative being used to justify the backlash against Jeffries is that she is not blonde. 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. Percy Jackson film vet Alexandra Daddario has weighed in. 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. If they could act, Disney wanted their tapes. While Walker does not have Percys signature Black hair, Riordan assured everyone that he embodied Percy the best. Alexandra Daddario hasnt been the only Percy Jackson-related vet to support Leah Jeffries. "Some of you have apparently felt offended or exasperated when your objections are called out online as racist. 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 have no one else to blame. On January 25th, 2022, author Rick Riordan announced that his first television series was finally greenlit by Disney+ and would soon be gracing our screens. Author Rick Riordan, who wrote the original Percy Jackson novels, released a statement on his website defending the young actress. He stated his intent to cast the series without regard for factors like ethnicity and gender, and that Leah Jeffries was the best actress to embody Annabeths strength. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. They join Walker Scobell, who will portray the titular Percy. Since then, there has been significant backlash to the casting of Jeffries, a Black actress, as Annabeth, described as white with blonde hair in the original books. Author Rick Riordan, who is also writing the series and cast the actors, has responded to the backlash on his blog. Please check your email to find a confirmation email, and follow the steps to confirm your humanity. And by the way, these criticisms have come from across the political spectrum, right and left. Everyone was too old. 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. That should mean something. 2 min read Actress Alexandra Daddario has weighed in on the backlash against Leah Jeffries casting as Annabeth Chase in the upcoming In comparison to Elba, the backlash against Thompson was more violent and consistent. If you have a problem with this casting, however, take it up with me. Amandla was fourteen. Back in December, Daddario told WrapWomens UnWrapped podcast that she has no involvement in the new Disney+ series, but was excited to see who would be tapped to play the daughter of Athena next. They need to stop. What did you think about his statement? It's a shame such posts need to be written, but they do. 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. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Watch the show or dont. She also starred in the comedy Rel on the same network. SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER, FIRST TAKE, Percy Jackson Disney+ Series Sets The Adam Project Breakout Walker Scobell in Lead Role, Alexandra Daddario Talks Percy Jackson Disney+ Series and the Chances of Her Return (Video). Leah Jeffries is going to be an incredible Annabeth!! By Allison Schonter - May 12, 2022 09:18 am EDT. Annabeth has always been incredibly important to me. She was left defenseless by the writers and producers at the CW. You are judging her appropriateness for this role solely and exclusively on how she looks. 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. In fact, when the author himself says that you have misunderstood the character as he wrote her, then you know youre wrong. Fans are already excited to see the young actress in the role, and Percy Jackson author Rick Riordan is also praising her. She is a Black girl playing someone who was described in the books as white. Its either something we recognize and try to work on, or its something we deny. She is a Black girl playing someone who was described in the books as white. Rick Riordan has strong words for fans upset with thecasting of"Percy Jackson and the Olympians," an upcoming Disney+ show based on his book series of the same name. Elba himself has described playing Heimdall as torture. You refuse to believe her selection could have been based on merit. Friends, that is racism.. This is not something new. 0. She will be a role model for new generations of girls who will see in her the kind of hero they want to be. Leah is a twelve-year-old child. We publish narratives intentionally and specifically to enlighten and transform the world. ! the actress wrote of her successor in a Twitter post earlier this week. 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. All rights reserved. The anticipation for who would play Annabeth and Grover was even more excruciating after Percys announcement. Whats more? Muscles can be built. last updated May 12, 2022 Percy Jackson film vet Alexandra Daddario has weighed in. NY 10036. Annabeth Chase Is Black Now, Deal With It: How Race-Bending Gives Way to Misogynoir. Empire fans may recognize Leah from her role as Lola on the hit Fox drama. This is untrue. Now. Other notable castings include Glynn Turman as Chiron, Timm Sharp as Gabe Ugliano, and Dior Goodjohn as Clarisse La Rue. 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? They need to stop. Web1 Percy Jackson Annabeth Chase TV Mini Series 2017 8 episodes IMDb Best of 2022 Discover the stars who skyrocketed on IMDbs STARmeter chart this year, and explore more of the Best of 2022; including top trailers, posters, and photos. Meet the 'Percy Jackson' Series' Annabeth Chase! A number of fans objected to the African-American actress being cast in the role. In the movie adaptions of Rick's book, Annabeth is played by white actress Alexandra Daddario. 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 shared on Instagram. Even now, Thompson still faces intense criticism while Elba was eventually accepted as Heimdall. Of course, these people lack a basic understanding of the human body. 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. 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