Producers of new series, The Stand criticized for hiring hearing actor to play Deaf character
3 months 2 weeks 4 hours ago
Friday, December 18 2020
Dec 18, 2020
December 18, 2020 11:33 AM
December 18, 2020
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Source: BBC News
Henry Zaga
Some members of the Deaf community are questioning a casting decision in a new Stephen King television series.
According to the BBC, when hearing actor, Henry Zaga was chosen to portray a Deaf character, Nick Andros in Stephen King s adapted-for-television series The Stand, a resulting wave of frustration swept across the nation s Deaf community, motivating some to speak out against the decision.
For example, more than 70 people signed a letter saying it was not acceptable that the CBS All Access series cast Zaga in a role that was tailor-made for a Deaf actor.
CBS’ ‘The Stand’ Series Faces Boycott for Casting Hearing Actor in Deaf Role
“It is time for industry professionals to create opportunities for Deaf talent,” members of Hollywood’s Deaf community write in a statementMargeaux Sippell and Tim Baysinger | December 17, 2020 @ 1:19 PM Last Updated: December 18, 2020 @ 9:14 AM
James Minchin/CBS
Members of Hollywood’s Deaf community are boycotting “The Stand” after a hearing actor was cast to play a Deaf character in the CBS All Access limited series “The Stand.”
On Thursday, Dec. 17 the day the series based on Stephen King’s 1978 novel premiered a statement was posted to Twitter signed by 70 Deaf professionals who protested the show’s lack of Deaf representation after hearing actor Henry Zaga was picked to play Deaf character Nick Andros.