EXCLUSIVE: Over 100 Latino actors, artists and storytellers have signed an open letter to Hollywood calling to increase the presence of Latino voices in early stages of development and greenlighting rooms as well as the amount of Latino actors in auditions and non-stereotypical lead roles.
The letter comes shortly after Marty Supreme star Odessa A’zion dropped out of Sean Durkin’s A24 film Deep Cuts, based on the novel by Holly Brickley and starring Drew Starkey and Cailee Spaeny.
“Recent casting decisions around the character Zoe Gutierrez in A24’s Deep Cuts have exposed a troubling pattern. We acknowledge and commend Odessa A’zion for listening, reflecting and deciding to exit the project and become an ally. Yet how did this happen?” the letter asks. “The absence of Latina audition opportunities, and the choice to replace a clearly Latina character with a non-Latina actress, signals a broader, ongoing erasure of our community from the stories that define our culture. This is not about any one actor or project. It is about a system that repeatedly overlooks qualified Latino talent even as our identities, histories, and experiences fuel the most enduring stories.”
Signatories include Eva Longoria, John Leguizamo, Xochitl Gomez, Jessica Alba, Danny Ramirez, Isabela Merced, Diego Boneta, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Michael Pena and many more. Television creator Gloria Calderon Kellett, who wrote a guest column in Deadline earlier today, also signed the letter. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness star Xochitl Gomez sparked the letter and gathered signatures.
A’zion was cast in the role of Zoe Gutierrez, a Jewish character of Mexican heritage, earlier this week, but the actress took to Instagram yesterday to announce that she wouldn’t be proceeding with the role.
“Guys!! I am with ALL of you and I am NOT doing this movie,” the actress wrote. “Thank you guys for bringing this to my attention. I AGREE WITH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU! This is why I love you guys. I’m 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 more attention to all aspects of Zoe before accepting.”
RELATED: Saoirse Ronan And Austin Butler To Star In Feature Adaptation of ‘Deep Cuts’ For A24 And Sean Durkin; Ronan Also Producing
Before Spaeny and Starkey were attached, the adaptation was set to star Saoirse Ronan and Austin Butler with Ronan producing, but the pair had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts.
Eli Bush, Ronald Bronstein, and Josh Safdie are producing alongside Durkin, Anthony Katagas, Jordan Tappis, and A24. Brickley serves as an executive producer.
Here is the open letter in full, along with its signatories:
An Open Letter to Hollywood from Latino Actors, Artists, and Storytellers
Dear Casting Directors, Creative Executives, Writers, Producers, and Hollywood Leaders,
We write to you with urgency, because storytelling is humanity’s compass and Hollywood wields all the power. The stories you choose to tell, and how you tell them, shape public perception, cultural understanding, and who gets to see themselves reflected on screen. In these challenging moments that power comes with real responsibility.
Recent casting decisions around the character Zoe Gutierrez in A 24’s Deep Cuts have exposed a troubling pattern. We acknowledge and commend Odessa A’zion for listening, reflecting and deciding to exit the project and become an ally. Yet how did this happen? The absence of Latina audition opportunities, and the choice to replace a clearly Latina character with a non-Latina actress, signals a broader, ongoing erasure of our community from the stories that define our culture. This is not about any one actor or project. It is about a system that repeatedly overlooks qualified Latino talent even as our identities, histories, and experiences fuel the most enduring stories.
Latino communities are already underrepresented and misrepresented in ways that distort reality and harm real people. Casting decisions carry real weight: they influence who is seen as worthy of authentic storytelling and who gets to tell those stories with care, nuance, and authority.
We are calling for accountability, intentionality, and equity in casting and storytelling. Authentic representation means more than casting a performer who looks like the character; it means involving the communities being portrayed not just in front of the camera, but in the decisions that shape these stories from their inception. Our stories deserve to be shaped with the input, guidance, and leadership of Latino creators, consultants, writers, and performers at every stage.
We implore you to join us in concrete action:
● Audition and hire more Latino actors for a diverse range of roles, including non-stereotypical leads● Hire Latino executives in your greenlighting rooms● Include Latino voices as consultants, writers, and producers from the earliest stages of development● Create and support pipelines: mentoring, scholarships, and opportunities that expand access all levels of the ecosystem
The world is watching.
Aaron DominguezAlma MartinezAmanda DiazAna Navarro CardenasAndrea ChignoliAngel Manuel SotoAngelique CabralAnna TerrazasAnnie GonzalezAntonio NegretBecky GBrandon GuzmanBrandon PereaBricia LopezCamila BaqueroCarla GutierrezCarlo SiliottoCarla HoolCarlos Eric LopezCarlos Lopez EstradaChrissie FitCierra RamirezCyria FialloDaniella PinedaDanny RamirezDavid CastenadaDesi PerkinsDiego BonetaEdher CamposEiza GonzalezElisa CapaiElsa CollinsEmilie LesclauxEnrique MelendezEva LongoriaFabrizio GuidoFelipe VargasFernando GarciaFlavia AmonFrancia RaisaGloria Calderon KellettGregory Diaz IVIlda SantiagoIsabela MercedIsabella FerriaIsis MussendenIsmael Cruz CordovaIvette RodriguezJacob ScipioJavier MunozJazmin AguilarJesse GarciaJessica AlbaJillian MercadoJohn LeguizamoJose VelazquezJulio MaciasJustina MachadoKarrie Martin LachneyKate Del CastilloKlaudia ReynickeKylie CantrallLeo GonzalezLisette OliveraLorenza MunozLynette CollMarcel RuizMaria LegardaMariana OlivaMariem Perez RieraMauro MuellerMayan LopezMelissa BarreraMelissa FumeroMichael CiminoMichael PenaMiguel MoraMonica VillarrealNatalie ChaidezNatalie MoralesNava MauNaz PerezNezza (Vanessa Hernandez)Neysa BoveNicolas CelisNicole BetancurOrlando PinedaPatricia CardosaPatricia RiggenPatty RodriguezPaulina GarciaPetra CostaRafael AgustinRafael CebrianRamon RodriguezRene G. BoscioRobin De JesusRodrigo TeixeiraRudy MancusoTonatiuh ElizarrarzTony RevoloriVictoria AlonsoXochitl Gomez
