Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
More On:
The Stand (2020)
-
Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Montana Story’ on Hulu, a Smart, Contemplative Movie-for-Adults That They Really Don't Make Anymore
-
Stream It Or Skip It: 'Kaala Paani' On Netflix, An Indian Thriller Where A Mysterious Illness Traps Residents And Visitors To Two Remote Islands
-
Streamin' King: 'Pet Sematary: Bloodlines' Sadly Makes The Case That "Dead Is Better" When It Comes To This Franchise
-
Stream It Or Skip It: 'Black Knight' On Netflix, A Post-Apocalyptic Korean Drama About A Deliveryman Who Does More Than Just Drop Off Packages
The Stand has come under fire less than 24 hours after its first episode dropped on CBS All Access. A letter that’s gathered over 70 signatures has called out the series for casting a hearing actor, Henry Zaga, to play the character Nick Andros, who is deaf and mute, in the Stephen King series adaptation, the Hollywood Reporter reports.
The letter claims that “not one” Deaf actor was called upon to audition for the Nick Andros role. “The decision was made without respect to and for Deaf professionals, union and non-union alike,” the statement reads. “There was no acknowledgement given to the psyche of a Deaf character; being Deaf is more than just not hearing.
“We will not endorse, watch, or support your miniseries on CBS All Access. We will share our displeasure of the casting decision and airing of the miniseries on CBS All Access with our Deaf community, signing community, friends, and family of Deaf individuals; together we make up 466 million worldwide.”
The letter, which deems the casting choice “not acceptable,” includes signatures from Deaf community members Antoinette Abbamonte (The New Normal, Curb Your Entusiasm), Reverse Polarity director Jules Dameron, James Caverly (Chicago Med, A Bennett Song Holiday), Dickie Hearts (Tales of the City, Grace & Frankie) and actor Andrew Morrill. Filmmaker and TV creator Jade Bryan shared the statement on Twitter along with the hashtag #StandAgainstTheStand.
Following the backlash, CBS plans to meet with the Deaf artists’ community who created the statement today. While Zaga was cast in the role over a year ago, The Stand premiere reignited frustration in the Deaf community that had been sparked earlier when the casting news was first announced. Nyle DiMarco, a Deaf advocate, model and actor, called out Zaga and CBS in 2019, tweeting, “Hollywood takes pride in diversity to ensure representation & authenticity.., BUT CONTINUES TO EXCLUDE people with disabilities.”
In 1994, when The Stand was first turned into a miniseries, Rob Lowe, another hearing actor, played the role of Nick Andros. Like the first series, the latest adaptation takes place in a world where a deadly disease has wiped out much of the population, leaving those left to fend for themselves and split into two groups: the good, led by all-knowing Mother Abigail (Whoopi Goldberg) and the bad, drawn to Las Vegas by the Dark Man, Randall Flagg (Alexander Skarsgard). Nick joins the followers of Mother Abigail, who have congregated in Boulder, Colorado.
