They claim that Annabeths story was about overcoming the dumb blonde stereotype in a world full of brunettes. Author Rick Riordan, who wrote the original Percy Jackson novels, released a statement on his website defending the young actress. The actress, who is Black, is set to star as one of the leads in the upcoming adaptation set to release on Disney+. Jenna Ortega Starring in New Movie with The Weeknd, Cady Heron's Mom Has Been Cast for 'Mean Girls' Movie Musical. This contributes to the severity of the attacks on these actresses despite vocal support from the author himself. People were in her Instagram comments calling for her death. Who Is Leah Sava Jeffries? "Buckle up, demigods. Empire fans may recognize Leah from her role as Lola on the hit Fox drama. Saying I am not racist! is simply declaring that you deny your own biases and refuse to work on them. 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 This was the moment of redemption that everyone had been waiting for. Rick Riordan will not stand for any racism toward or bullying of the new Percy Jackson cast. The trio had been finalized and they will soon begin filming in March. Alexandra Daddario hasnt been the only Percy Jackson-related vet to support Leah Jeffries. These three roles are interesting to note because of the reaction to the corresponding casting announcements. People cannot fathom that Black actresses, who auditioned for a role, were better than the white people who tried out. Gender and race. She is not a woman. Tessa Thompsons casting as Valkyrie, on the other hand, unleashed a hellfire of vitriol. That's your call. ", Related:Joshua Cohen's 'The Netanyahus,' more awarded 2022 Pulitzer Prizes in books, drama, music. Fan entitlement is far-reaching. ", 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. Meet the 'Percy Jackson' Series' Annabeth Chase! Annabeth must work ten times harder than everyone around her to be seen as powerful and worthy of being a hero. Like its so cool, Annabeth is a really inspiring character to people, she said. These thoughts are mine alone. Additionally, it was One of the main gripes that anchored discourse in online circles was the way the characters looked. 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. She is a Black girl playing someone who was described in the books as white. The children of Greek gods attend a summer camp known as Camp Half-Blood, where they train and hone their abilities. If you have a problem with this casting, however, take it up with me. Contribute to Atlanta Black Star today and help us share our narratives. , Leah shared on Instagram. Except not quite. You have decided that I couldnt possibly mean what I have always said: That the true nature of the character lies in their personality. 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. But thats another article altogether.) 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. Next, on June 21, 2022, Variety announced three additional Instead, it was about how audiences could not imagine Rue as anything but white, despite her being Black in the book. Shes real and fleshed out. Once you see Leah as Annabeth, she will become exactly the way you imagine Annabeth, assuming you give her that chance, but you refuse to credit that this may be true, he wrote. Even now, Thompson still faces intense criticism while Elba was eventually accepted as Heimdall. Twelve-year-old actress Leah Sava Jeffries is being harassed simply because she is Black, while the character she will play, Annabeth Chase, was described as white in 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? In the movie version, the characters were portrayed by Brandon T. Jackson and Alexandra Daddario. !May 10, 2022. It should mean almost everything. The main trio of Percy Jackson and the Olympians has officially been cast for the upcoming Disney Plus show. Who would play Percy? The author noted, We did that, and The casting process was long, intense, massive and exhaustive.. 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. Actress Alexandra Daddario has weighed in on the backlash against Leah Jeffries casting as Annabeth Chase in the upcoming Disney+ show Percy Jackson and the Olympians. "The response to the casting of Leah has been overwhelmingly positive and joyous, as it should be. Unlike the movie, the show will keep the characters closer to their book ages. The character could not be Biracial. And by the way, these criticisms have come from across the political spectrum, right and left. Dior herself has mentioned that she is in the gym, as if that matters. You refuse to believe her selection could have been based on merit. You should never judge someone by how well they fit your preconceived notions. The most watched K-pop music videos of the year have been revealed. In fact, it happens almost every time a traditionally white character is played by a Black actress. Here's What You Can Do To Fix Them, Charlize Theron and Jisoo Wow at Diors Fall-Winter 2023 Womens Show in Paris, Mayfair Witches: Jack Huston Talks Show vs. Book Lasher in Season 1 Finale, 'Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches' Season 1 Finale Recap: The Prophecy Is All Relative, The Mysterious Benedict Society Canceled By Disney+ After 2 Seasons, Why 23 Jump Street Never Happened (Is There Still A Chance? His blonde hair was a negligible non-issue that was largely brushed aside. Friends, that is racism.. newsletter, recently welcomed the two new cast members on his blog, Every movie and show coming to Netflix in March, All the big new games coming out in March, Pokemon Go leader counters for Sierra, Arlo, and Cliff in March 2023, Pokmon Go Rocket Giovanni counters, team in March 2023, PlayStation VR 2 games releasing in March, all upcoming titles for 2023, The official BTS Lego set is now available. Daddario has already given the new series her blessing, but after the news went public that Leah Jeffries' casting sparked negative reactions and insults on her social media accounts, Alexandra Daddario stepped up to cheer her on, though without addressing any of the blowback directly. Alexandra Daddario is talking all about Disney+s upcoming Percy Jackson series, which is expected to debut sometime in 2022. The things that distinguish us from one another are often our marks of individual greatness. What is it about black girls that make people so ready and willing to tear them down or put them in their place?. The Chris Columbus-directed film was greeted with a lukewarm reception from critics and even worse reactions from devout fans of the series. Thats your call. 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. That should mean something. At times, her character gets into situations that are not pretty. James Gunn Reveals New Superman, Batman Movies and More, John Boyega and Kelly Marie Tran were treated, Percy Jackson Creator Pens Letter Supporting Annabeth Chase Actress Leah Jeffries, Everything Coming to Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max & Other Major Streaming Services in March 2023, Stranger Things: The First Shadow Stage Show Coming to London's West End, The Mandalorian Reveals What Happened to Cara Dune, Schitt's Creek Star Says "Never Say Never" to Possible Revival, The Mandalorian Director Says Season 3 Is a "Culmination" of Star Wars Plans, Mayfair Witches: Michelle Ashford on Ciprien's Surprising Journey (Exclusive), Yellowstone Star Breaks Silence About Season 5 Future Amid Kevin Costner Feud Reports, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Teases Gritty Cameo. Some of you have apparently felt offended or exasperated when your objections are called out online as racist. Other notable castings include Glynn Turman as Chiron, Timm Sharp as Gabe Ugliano, and Dior Goodjohn as Clarisse La Rue. 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. WebAlexandra Anna Daddario (born March 16, 1986) is an American actress most notable for her portrayal of Annabeth Chase in Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. All people. She is a Black girl playing someone who was described in the books as white. She will also be starring in the upcoming Prime Video movie Something From Tiffanys, alongside Zoey Deutch, Kendrick Sampson and Shay Mitchell. Heres how it works. Who would be Grover? "Watch the show or don't. Why can we not have both brand new characters and race-bend whatever characters we want? When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief hit theaters in 2010. 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. ", '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. 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. 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. Percy Jackson Author Shuts Down Backlash to Casting Black Actress as Annabeth Chase: Friends, That Is Racism We should be able to agree that bullying and Alexandra reprises her role of Annabeth in the film adaptation of The Sea of Monsters. In a lengthy blog post published earlier this week, Riordan condemned the racist remarks made toward the young star set to play Annabeth Chase in Percy Jackson and the Olympians., This post is specifically for those who have a problem with the casting of Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase, Riordan wrote. The only other thing she has is her wisdom and her ambition. Weve got you covered! 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 They need to stop. 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. No actor should have to bear their job. Will Alert: Missing Persons Unit Be Renewed For Season 2 On Fox After Finale? Leah won the role of Annabeth out of ten thousand other girls. There is power in plurality. How The Mandalorian Wrote Out Gina Carano Is Cara Dune Still Alive? Lets Go!! Leahs co-star, Aryan Simhadri, was not met with the same backlash, nor should he have been. New York, Now.. This post is specifically for those who have a problem with the casting of Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase. Mother's Day / My First Week at the Studios. The movie is slated for an August 2022 release. "The response to the casting of Leah has been overwhelmingly positive and joyous, as it should be," Riordan wrote on his website. Following the release of Riordans statement, #LeahIsOurAnnabeth began trending on Twitter, with fans voicing their support for the young actress. In the series, we follow 12-year-old Percy Jackson as he stumbles into the world of Greek gods and monsters. Leah Jeffries is going to be an incredible Annabeth!!! 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. The things that distinguish us from one another are often our marks of individual greatness. The anticipation for who would play Annabeth and Grover was even more excruciating after Percys announcement. Thompson remarked that she had to weather the storm and just act through it. Cinemablend is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. What much of this outcry boils down to is fan entitlement, anti-blackness, and misogynoir. It's going to be a fantastic, exciting ride! When Anna Diop was cast as Starfire in the DC show Titans, people could not fathom it. If you dont get that, if youre still upset about the casting of this marvelous trio, then it doesnt matter how many times you have read the books. We took a year to do this process thoroughly and find the best of the best. 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. While Walker does not have Percys signature Black hair, Riordan assured everyone that he embodied Percy the best. You have no one else to blame. 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. The response to the casting of Leah has been overwhelmingly positive and joyous, as it should be. 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. They said there was no way that she could be Starfire, a fictional alien from a make-believe planet. Please refresh the page and try again. 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 fact, when the author himself says that you have misunderstood the character as he wrote her, then you know youre wrong. ", More:Notorious B.I.G. Its a ", "You have decided that I couldnt possibly mean what I have always said: That the true nature of the character lies in their personality. Dior is not as big as Clarisse was described in the book. Something went wrong. In 2012, Amandla Stenberg was cast as Rue Barnette in The Hunger Games. Arguably, Pattons role as Iris West started the trend of race-bending originally white characters with Black actors. ", You are judging [Leah]s appropriateness for this role solely and exclusively on how she looks. 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. 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 All rights reserved. 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. Now. Atlanta Black Star is a narrative company. ! the actress wrote of her successor in a Twitter post earlier this week. 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