Odessa A’zion’s ‘Deep Cuts’ Replacement Is a Perfect Choice (Especially for Marvel Fans)
After sparking a bit of controversy and concerns over whitewashing earlier this year, we now know who is replacing Marty Supreme star Odessa A’zion in the upcoming film Deep Cuts.
On Tuesday, it was confirmed that Ariela Barer is set to play Zoe Gutierrez in Deep Cuts. Based on the 2025 novel of the same name written by Holly Brickley, the film is written and directed by The Iron Claw‘s Sean Durkin, and is expected to begin production immediately. Barer joins a cast that includes Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla, Wake Up Dead Man) and Drew Starkey (Queer, Outer Banks).
Barer’s work includes the recent second season of The Last of Us, as well as How to Blow Up a Pipeline and See You When I See You. She also starred as fan favorite Gertrude “Gert” Yorkes in Marvel’s Runaways television show.
Deep Cuts is described as a love story about two music-obsessed 20-somethings navigating the messy realities of ambition, belonging and adulthood over the course of an era-defining decade. The film had already gone through a bit of casting overhaul even before A’zion left the project, with Austin Butler and Saoirse Ronan initially cast as the leads, before dropping out due to scheduling issues. Executive producers on the project include Eli Bush, Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie.
Why Did Odessa A’zion Leave Deep Cuts?
The initial casting of A’zion, who has recently made a splash through her work in Marty Supreme and I Love L.A., courted controversy among those who have read Brickley’s source material. In the book, the character of Zoe is described as half-Jewish and half-Mexican, something that A’zion admitted she did not know before signing on to the project.
“Guys!! I am with ALL of you and I am NOT doing this movie. F— that. I’m OUT,” A’zion wrote on social media at the time. “I’m so so sorry that this happened. It is SO important for me to let you in on how it all went down. I went in for Percy, but was offered Zoe instead and instantly said yes! I’m so pissed y’all, I hadn’t read the book and should have paid attention to all aspects of Zoe before accepting…and now that I know what I know? Fuck that. I’m out!”
“I’d never take a role from someone else that’s meant to do it,” A’zion continued. “That SHOULD do it! That’s not me. There are a plentitude of people more than capable of playing this role and I am not one of them.”
When Barer’s casting was officially announced, A’zion once again took to Instagram to celebrate the news, writing” “THAT’S WHAT IM TALKIN ABOUT BABY. Always stand up for what I KNOW is right. I stand by my decision and am so so so so so happy this is the outcome. C’mon baby!! She’s gonna eat it up.” Barer responded on her own Instagram Story with: “A genuine major shoutout to @odessaazion for always leading with integrity and being an absolute real one for as long as I’ve known her.”
(featured image: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images/Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)
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