Casting Backlash Sparks Exit

Odessa A’zion has exited A24’s upcoming adaptation of Deep Cuts just 48 hours after her casting was announced.

The 25-year-old actress confirmed her departure late Wednesday, January 28, via Instagram Stories, saying she agreed with criticism over her casting as Zoe Gutierrez, a character described in Holly Brickley’s novel as half-Mexican and half-Jewish. Addressing the backlash directly, A’zion wrote, “Guys!! I am with ALL of you and I am not doing this movie.”

In additional posts, A’zion explained that she initially auditioned for a different role and accepted the part of Zoe without fully understanding the character’s background. After revisiting the material and learning more about Zoe’s identity, she said she felt it was not appropriate for her to continue and emphasized that the role should go to someone better suited to represent the character authentically.

Deep Cuts, based on Brickley’s 2025 novel, centers on college students Joe and Percy, whose lives intersect through their shared devotion to music as they chase Joe’s dream of becoming a successful indie artist. The film is being developed by A24, with Sean Durkin directing the adaptation. Cailee Spaeny and Drew Starkey remain attached in the lead roles of Percy and Joe.

Brickley’s novel has been praised in publishing circles for its nuanced portrayal of ambition, intimacy, and cultural identity—elements that made the casting of Zoe particularly sensitive for longtime readers. The project also reflects A24’s continued focus on literary adaptations, a strategy championed by studio leadership including co-founders David Fenkel and Daniel Katz as the company balances prestige storytelling with commercial reach.

A’zion’s decision comes amid a breakout period in her career. She recently appeared opposite Timothée Chalamet in the Oscar-nominated Marty Supreme, a performance that elevated her industry profile. Speaking to W Magazine last fall, she highlighted the experience as a formative collaboration and a turning point in her approach to her craft.

Production on Deep Cuts is expected to move forward, with casting for Zoe now reopened as the filmmakers search for an actor who more closely aligns with the character’s heritage.