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Odessa A’zion was set to lead in the A24 indie drama Deep Cuts, a film that had been quietly gaining attention for its music-centric narrative. Known for her performances in Grand Army, Hellraiser, and Marty Supreme, A’zion was to be the prominent face of the film. However, she recently decided to exit the project following a controversy surrounding her casting. The departure came after fans voiced their displeasure over her selection for the lead role.
Odessa A’zion says she’s ‘out’ after ‘Deep Cuts’ casting controversy
Initially, A’zion was chosen to portray Zoe Gutierrez in the A24 film adaptation of Holly Brickley’s 2025 novel, Deep Cuts. The casting choice quickly became a topic of debate among fans of the book due to the character’s specific ethnic background. In the novel, Zoe is described as having both Mexican and Jewish heritage. While A’zion is Jewish, she does not share the character’s Mexican background, leading to widespread discussion about authenticity and cultural representation.
In response to the criticism, A’zion revealed that she had originally auditioned for a different role and had accepted the part of Zoe without reading the novel. She acknowledged that she became fully aware of the character’s cultural identity only after fans brought it to her attention.
On January 28, 2026, A’zion addressed the situation via her Instagram Stories, stating, “Guys!! I am with ALL of you and I am NOT doing this movie. F*** that. I’m OUT.”
She further elaborated, saying, “I’d never take a role from someone else that’s meant to do it. That SHOULD do it! That’s not me. There are plenty of people more than capable of playing this role and I am NOT one of them. I can’t wait to see who it ends up being.”
“I’d never take a role from someone else that’s meant to do it. That SHOULD do it!” she continued after her explanation of attaining the role. “That’s not me. There are a plentitude of people more than capable of playing this role and I am NOT one of them. I can’t wait to see who it ends up being.”
A’zion thanked her fans for calling the situation to her attention. While she adores the story and wanted to work with those involved in its production, she doesn’t want to take this acting opportunity over someone more fitting for the character.
Saoirse Ronan and Austin Butler were both attached to Deep Cuts in its earlier development phase. However, they exited the A24 adaptation before filming began, according to Variety.
Industry reports indicate the project’s production timeline shifted, making it difficult for both actors, each juggling multiple high-profile commitments, to remain involved. Ronan was already committed to an intensive 2026 filming schedule that includes Sam Mendes’s Beatles projects, while Butler had several major films in active development or production, including Miami Vice and Heat 2. Their departures prompted a recasting of the film’s leads, with Cailee Spaeny and Drew Starkey stepping in.
Some fans suspect that there was more going on behind the scenes aside from scheduling conflicts. “‘Scheduling conflicts’ almost always means ‘behind the scenes conflicts,’” a fan on Reddit wrote.
“Scheduling conflict is general PR speak, but often true,” another fan wrote. “Sometimes the actor wants to do the movie, the director wants the actor, and they just can’t get the money with that actor.”
Fans are divided on the fate of the film
Some fans are keeping a careful eye on the fate of Deep Cuts following Odessa A’zion’s departure. While many remain hopeful that the film will turn out well, others think the early casting shakeups are a bad omen.
“Sean Durkin has made nothing but excellent movies, so it probably will be good,” a fan on Reddit commented. “And actors drop out of movies all the time for reasons that have nothing to do with the quality of the project.”
We look forward to seeing the final product and hearing more about production for Deep Cuts, which is scheduled to begin in February 2026.
