Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief hit theaters in 2010. The key differences between the two actors? "This post is specifically for those who have a problem with the casting of Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase. 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. Ten thousand other actresses of various backgrounds auditioned for Annabeth and Rick Riordan hand-picked Leah. 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 Now. Hopefully, hearing from the previous live-action Annabeth may help to quiet the naysayers, as unlikely as that may be. If they could act, Disney wanted their tapes. 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. Heres how it works. People were in her Instagram comments calling for her death. The things that distinguish us from one another are often our marks of individual greatness. Please check your email to find a confirmation email, and follow the steps to confirm your humanity. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Leah Sava Jeffries has an exciting new role she Rick Riordan, the author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, is speaking out against racist backlash from fans upset with the casting of Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase in the upcoming Disney+ adaptation. The most watched K-pop music videos of the year have been revealed. Meet the 'Percy Jackson' Series' Annabeth Chase! 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. 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. In the movie version, the characters were portrayed by Brandon T. Jackson and Alexandra Daddario. And before you resort to the old kneejerk reaction I am not racist! lets examine that statement too. In a post on his website, Riordan who wrote the Percy Jackson and the Olympians book series, will write the pilot of the Disney+ series, and executive produce the series noted that most of the responses to Jeffries being cast have been overwhelmingly positive and joyous. But there are still some out there who are upset that Annabeth, who is described as a white girl in the books, will be played by a Black actress and thats who Riordan directed his post at. 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. She will be a role model for new generations of girls who will see in her the kind of hero they want to be. May 10, 2022 Shannen Michaelsen Last week, it was announced that Leah Sava Jeffries would portray Annabeth Chase and Aryan Simhadri would portray Grover 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. Some of you have apparently felt offended or exasperated when your objections are called out online as racist. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. At times, her character gets into situations that are not pretty. 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. Meet the 'Percy Jackson' Series' Annabeth Chase! Her story is one of constant heartbreak, but also unflinching resilience and triumphs. They need to stop. WebThen, on June 2, 2022, Variety and Rick Riordan announced five adult cast members joining the Percy Jackson crew. Watch the show or dont. Something went wrong. They need to stop. When I was 10 years old, I discovered a book series called Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan. Will Alert: Missing Persons Unit Be Renewed For Season 2 On Fox After Finale? 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. His blonde hair was a negligible non-issue that was largely brushed aside. They also cannot imagine a little Black girl playing a hero. In comparison to Elba, the backlash against Thompson was more violent and consistent. Everyone was talking about the show; Percy trended on Twitter all day. A weekly roundup of the best things from Polygon. 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. Please enter a valid email and try again. By submitting your email, you agree to our, Disneys Percy Jackson show casts two more main characters, Sign up for the She also is playing the (10-year-old spoiler alert!) Dislikes: cilantro, the NJ Turnpike, sneaker wedges. Luckily, that hasnt stopped Disney from continuing to diversify its screen projects, as evidenced by Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Elba himself has described playing Heimdall as torture. Lets not even get into the complete disregard of the story from the source material. 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. In fact, it happens almost every time a traditionally white character is played by a Black actress. NY 10036. We did that. They claim that Annabeths story was about overcoming the dumb blonde stereotype in a world full of brunettes. The actress, who is Black, is set to star as one of the leads in the upcoming adaptation set to release on Disney+. In fact, this should be the norm. She was left defenseless by the writers and producers at the CW. That neurodivergent kid who has failed out of six schools, for instance, may well be the son of Poseidon. She is a Black girl playing someone who was described in the books as white. Tessa Thompsons casting as Valkyrie, on the other hand, unleashed a hellfire of vitriol. Many non-Black people can wrap their minds around a Black villain just not a Black good guy. 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. 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. 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. The trio had been finalized and they will soon begin filming in March. No actor should have to bear their job. Jenna Ortega Starring in New Movie with The Weeknd, Cady Heron's Mom Has Been Cast for 'Mean Girls' Movie Musical. For them, a world where a child of Athena is not white cannot exist because all of Athenas children are blonde. Now. This page was last changed on 26 October 2022, at 04:22. You can keep up with Leah Sava Jeffries by following her on Instagram @leahsavajeffries! Dior is not as big as Clarisse was described in the book. Alexandra Daddario Supports Percy Jackson Series Casting Of Annabeth Role As Leah Jeffries Speaks Out About Online Bullying, Hoda Kotb Absent From Today Due To Family Health Matter, Savannah Guthrie Still Out After Positive Covid Test, Hoda Kotb's Today Absence Due to 'Family Health Matter', iPhone GIFs Not Working? 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 Nevertheless, when Idris Elba was cast as Heimdall in Thor, a similarly undervalued character, the backlash was horrific. Gender and race. Its either something we recognize and try to work on, or its something we deny. 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. 0. Who would take roles as the gods and, more importantly, who would be Annabeth? An open casting call was put out where people could submit auditions regardless of race. But thats another article altogether.) Leah brings so much energy and enthusiasm to this role, so much of Annabeth's strength. You should never judge someone by how well they fit your preconceived notions. They said that Clarisse was white and built. The things that distinguish us from one another are often our marks of individual greatness. May 5th was D-Day. Fan entitlement is far-reaching. 1:58. Why does no one seem to care that much? By Aaron Perine Fans are already excited to see the young actress in the role, and Percy Jackson author Rick Riordan is also praising her. However, no one is saying the same thing about Tim Sharp. When Anna Diop was cast as Starfire in the DC show Titans, people could not fathom it. Arguably, Pattons role as Iris West started the trend of race-bending originally white characters with Black actors. The only gift her mother ever gave her was an invisibility hat. 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 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. Annabeth has always been incredibly important to me. Except not quite. People rejoiced. Alexandra Daddario hasnt been the only Percy Jackson-related vet to support Leah Jeffries. There is power in plurality. 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. With their casting announcement came waves of backlash. She will be a role model for new generations of girls who will see in her the kind of hero they want to be.". They say that they could not picture Annabeth as Black, however for myself and many other Black women she was never anything other than that. 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 The same cannot be said for the comments under Dior Goodjohns casting announcement. On April 11th, Walker Scobell was introduced to the world as our new Percy. There was a problem. One of the main gripes that anchored discourse in online circles was the way the characters looked. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. She was the daughter of Olivia Lyon, Jamals ex wife, who claimed she was his daughter, but it turned out she wasnt. 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, Riordan wrote. 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. Leah Sava Jeffries has an exciting new role she will be playing Annabeth Chase in the upcoming Percy Jackson and the Olympians series! Who would play Percy? Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy. Furthermore, Annabeth did not have blonde hair or grey eyes. Unlike the movie, the show will keep the characters closer to their book ages. Leah Jeffries is going to be an incredible Annabeth!!! Lets not forget that mermaids are literally fictional creatures living under the sea. and The Doobie Brothers have nothing in common - except great books out this week, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Jeffries takes over the mantle of Annabeth Chase after the character was originally brought to life in the Percy Jackson movies by Alexandra Daddario. Previously Walker Scobell (The Adam Project) was cast in the lead role of Percy Jackson. Thu, 05 May 2022 at 6:56 pm Tweet Who Is Leah Sava Jeffries? 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. By Aaron Perine - May 10, 2022 01:25 pm EDT 0 Percy Jackson creator Rick Riordan had to pen a letter supporting Leah Jeffries after she had been cast as Annabeth This entitlement is intertwined with white supremacy. We did that. Not even 24 hours after the worst of the attacks had begun, Riordan published a blog post where he called the trolling what it was, racist, and demanded that it stopped. You have decided that I couldnt possibly mean what I have always said: That the true nature of the character lies in their personality. We all do. ", Later in the letter, Riordan argues, "The core message of Percy Jackson has always been that difference is strength. This is not unique to the Percy Jackson fandom. This is untrue. Rick Riordan will not stand for any racism toward or bullying of the new Percy Jackson cast. 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. This trio is the best. People feel as though they have a claim to the characters, and therefore their word is law. 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. 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. There were also people in the comments pretending to care about fat people to veil their racism. What did you think about his statement? Oops. "If you have a problem with this casting, however, take it up with me. What is it about black girls that make people so ready and willing to tear them down or put them in their place?. Uncle Rick officially welcomes them to the Percy Jackson cast. 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. 2013 saw the release of a sequel that garnered an even worse reception. , Leah shared on Instagram. Rick Riordan will not stand for any racism toward or bullying of the new "Percy Jackson" cast. She will be a role model for new generations of girls who will see in her the kind of hero they want to be., Riordan dared those with a problem with this casting to take it up with me. He added, You have no one else to blame. Now.. Leah brings so much energy and enthusiasm to this role, so much of Annabeths strength. Aryan Simhadri (Disneys Spin) and Leah Sava Jeffries (Empire) will join the show as Grover Underwood and Annabeth Chase, respectively. She is not even a teenager. But the author added not every response has been supportive. 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