EXCLUSIVE: Ariela Barer (The Last of Us, See You When I See You) has joined the cast of A24‘s Deep Cuts, in a recasting of Odessa A’zion.
Deep Cuts, from writer and director Sean Durkin (Iron Claw, The Nest) and based on the debut novel by Holly Brickley, is a love story set in the 2000s about two music-obsessed twentysomethings (to be played by Cailee Spaeny and Drew Starkey) navigating the messy realities of ambition, belonging, and adulthood over the course of an era-defining decade.
Barer will play the role of Zoe Gutierrez, who is described in the novel as being half Mexican and half Jewish. The actress is both Mexican American and Jewish.
A’zion, who is Jewish, was originally cast as Zoe and was unaware that the character was written as a Jewish Latina, she revealed via social media on January 29. After reading a barrage of messages she was sent on Instagram explaining she was miscast, A’zion agreed to graciously bow out. Additionally, more than 100 Latino artists in Hollywood also signed an open letter asking for more authenticity in casting.
Previously, there was also a recasting of the original leads, Saoirse Ronan and Austin Butler, due to scheduling conflicts, with Spaeny and Starkey taking over the roles. Production is gearing up to begin imminently.
Durkin will serve as the film’s writer and director. Eli Bush, Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie will produce through their Central Pictures banner. Durkin will also produce along with Anthony Katagas, Jordan Tappis and A24. Brickley will serve as an executive producer. Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and producer Blake Mills will create original music.
We understand that Barer’s work on HBO’s The Last of Us, the hit video game adaptation series she joined in Season 2 as Mel, will not be affected by her participation in Deep Cuts.
Additionally, Barer is coming off a whirlwind of promotions for her latest film, See You When I See You, a dramedy written by Adam Cayton-Holland and directed/produced by Jay Duplass. The feature had Sundance abuzz with great reviews following its premiere on January 27. She also recently wrote, produced and starred in Neon’s How to Blow Up a Pipeline.
Her TV credits include series regular roles in the ABC series Rebel, playing Ziggie, and as Gertrude Yorkes in Marvel’s Runaways. She has also appeared in Netflix’s One Day at a Time and Atypical, Fox’s New Girl, Peacock’s Saved By The Bell, ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, and Nickelodeon’s Yo Gabba Gabba! Barer is repped by OPE Partners, Paradigm, and Felker Toczek Suddleson.
On Monday, Deadline revealed exclusively that A’zion had been cast in Cody Fern’s as-yet-untitled directorial debut alongside Naomi Watts, Dianne Wiest, and Sarah Paulson.
