The Stand: Henry Zaga Opens Up About Approaching Deaf Role Truthfully and Respectfully
The Stand debuted on Thursday, but the eagerly anticipated limited series event is already drawing a bit of controversy with the key role of Nick Andros, who is deaf and mute in King s novel, being played by hearing actor Henry Zaga. Deaf community members have even called for a boycott of the series over the casting, but Zaga recently told ComicBook.com that he doesn t take the role lightly and explained the work that he put into the role to portray the character as truthfully and respectfully as possible.
The Stand Met With Boycott Threat From Deaf Community Over Casting of Hearing Actor
TV
Stressing that the casting of Henry Zaga as deaf-mute Nick Andros on the series not acceptable, members of Hollywood s Deaf community declares, enough is enough! Dec 18, 2020
AceShowbiz -
The Stand is facing a stumbling block from the get-go. On the same day CBS All Access premiered its first episode, the miniseries based on Stephen King s 1978 novel received a boycott threat from members of Hollywood s Deaf community over its casting of hearing actor
Henry Zaga as deaf-mute Nick Andros.
On Thursday, December 17, #DeafTalent owner Jade Bryan tweeted a protest letter that deemed Zaga casting unacceptable. As a Black Deaf filmmaker/TV Creator, advocate of diversity & inclusion, acting instructor, & creator/owner of #Deaftalent campaign, I believe in change. It shouldn t be that difficult to cast the right person for the role, he wrote alongside the letter.
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
in
News
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.
USA TODAY
A group of deaf entertainment industry professionals has called out the CBS All Access series The Stand for not casting a deaf actor in a deaf role.
The new adaptation of Stephen King s epic includes a deaf character, Nick Andros, who is played by a hearing actor, Henry Zaga. Another hearing actor, Rob Lowe, played the character in the 1990s The Stand miniseries. As a Black Deaf filmmaker/TV Creator, advocate of diversity & inclusion, acting instructor, & creator/owner of #Deaftalent campaign, I believe in change. It shouldn’t be that difficult to cast the right person for the role, activist and owner of the #DeafTalent® trademark, Jade Bryan, wrote on Twitter.
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.