DEH Movie Cast Controversy/Dream Cast

[Joshua Rosenthal]

Ive been reading a lot of comments regarding new announcements of the Dear Evan Hansen movie cast. People arent happy that Ben is reprising the role (same), and that Amandla Stenberg (lighter brown skin) plays the role that someone if a darker skin tone plays. Just wanna know what you guys think and what your dream cast would be? Also with my two cents, I feel like Ben is wayyyyyyy too old to pass off as a teen. Yeah his face looks babyish and cute but its not enough to pass as a 17 y/o. That and his overall physique, it just doesnt work. I feel like we should maybe have a newcomer get their shot at the role as it seems to be a bit of a tradition in the movie musical/live musical broadcast world such as Nikki Blonsky in Hairspray, Maddie Ballio in Hairspray Live, and Shanice Williams in The Wiz Live! Lemme know what yall think. No hatred to any of the actors <3

[MollyJeanneMusic]

This would be my dream cast:

Andrew Barth Feldman/Roman Banks as Evan

Alex Boniello/Colton Ryan as Connor (the movie at least got one thing right!)

Sky Lakota-Lynch as Jared

Sammie Williams as Alana

Gabrielle Carrubba/Olivia Puckett as Zoe

Ivan Hernandez as Larry

Ann Sanders as Cynthia

Rachel Bay Jones as Heidi

My thought with this is that it would give the Broadway actors who have worked so hard on this show a chance to show it to even more of the world, it would possibly have a much more diverse cast, and it would have at least one of the Tony winners from the original cast - the one that's actually age-apporopriate!

[BrodyFosse123]

What on Earth are you, talking about?!   This looks like a 16-17 year old!

[Jordan Catalano]

Isn’t the only controversy that people want there to be a controversy where there is no controversy so they pretend there is a controversy in order to push a controversy?

[Broadway61004]

Jordan Catalano said: "Isn’t the only controversy that people want there to be a controversy where there is no controversy so they pretend there is a controversy in order to push a controversy?"

Pretty much.  Regarding Ben Platt, yes, he's entirely too old to be playing it, but I also understand it's one of those iconic performances you want recreated for the film (see the entire original cast of Rent ten years later).

Regarding Amandla Stenberg, with all the focus on inclusiveness and diversity in film and theatre right now, I think we're getting into a really dangerous territory if we start telling black actors they're not black enough for a role.  Yes, she's lighter skinned than many of the actresses who have played it on Broadway, but where exactly in the script does it say exactly what skin tone the character has to have?  I can understand controversies around historical characters (such as Zoe Saldana playing Nina Simone) but this is a fictional character, folks.

[trentsketch]

Amandla Stenberg is a non-binary (she/her and they/their) black actor who actually turned down the role of Shuri in Black Panther because she thought a darker skinned actor should play the role. This is the first I've heard of any controversy about their casting in the Dear Evan Hansen film.

Platt will look close enough to the right age when he's shaved and styled properly. They clearly want him to recreate the role on film. 

[Wick3]

Would love to see Ben Platt in the movie since he originated the role on Broadway.

Ben can still pass as a high school student if he's cleanly shaved. It also matters who the other cast members are and how they look like when standing next to Ben. 

Last year when I saw DEH on Broadway, I thought it was odd seeing Andrew Barth Feldman (Evan) standing next to Alex Boniello (Connor) since they both clearly look so different in age! Andrew was 17 and Alex was 29!

[SouthernCakes]

“They want him to recreate the role on film” = Daddy does

[Broadway61004]

SouthernCakes said: "“They want him to recreate the role on film” = Daddy does"

Well, given that daddy is paying for the movie, I suppose he gets to decide that.

[Tag]

I can't imagine them not going for a bigger name for Heidi (especially with a supporting cast of lesser known actors).  Was thinking about Kate Winslet.  Or Gaga (but she's probably too young against Platt).

[Jordan Catalano]

I love how some people are acting like 20somethings playing high schoolers in movies is this weird new thing that needs to be stopped immediately.

[Tag]

Jordan Catalano said: "I love how some people are acting like 20somethings playing high schoolers in movies is this weird new thing that needs to be stopped immediately."

Let's campaign for a Gabrielle Carteris role!

[hork]

It's not new but it is weird and it does need to be stopped.

[Jordan Catalano]

Tag, if Judd Nelson doesn’t play Connor, I’m gonna boycott the movie!

[Jordan Catalano]

hork said: "It's not new but it is weird and it does need to be stopped."

LOL. Don’t hold your breath waiting for that to ever happen. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Also, they definitely will use de-aging CGI to keep him looking age-appropriate. This is a permanent record of his performance therefore all measures will be taken that the film adaptation of DEH is done to its upmost potential.

If Netflix had the budget to use de-aging CGI on Paul Reubens as Pee Wee Herman so in his early 60s he was able to look identical to how he looked 30 plus years ago, Papa Platt can foot the bill if needed to make Ben look 16.

This is Paul Reubens at 63 with de-aging CGI to look about 25-30. 

[TotallyEffed]

Wigging Platt would help to make him look younger.

[Jordan Catalano]

I bet the studio can afford that.

[hork]

Jordan Catalano said: "hork said: "It's not new but it is weird and it does need to be stopped."

LOL. Don’t hold your breath waiting for that to ever happen."

Oh, I'm not.

[Sutton Ross]

If Ben does the work required to play that part, and really be in the zone, he could nail it. So, losing weight, isolating himself, etc (the things he did while on Broadway) perhaps it will be great. He was never not going to get the part, Daddy wouldn't allow it.

At least they made one correct casting decision in Colton Ryan. He was wonderful in all three parts on Broadway.

[perfectliar]

Sutton Ross said: "If Ben does the work required to play that part, and really be in the zone, he could nail it. So, losing weight, isolating himself, etc (the things he did while on Broadway)perhaps it will be great. He was never not going to get the part, Daddy wouldn't allow it.

At least they made one correct casting decision in Colton Ryan. He was wonderful in all three parts on Broadway."

I will never understand the Ben Platt hate on this board. Why are so many of you acting like Ben doesn't deserve to play the part in the movie? Yeah, his dad's a producer, but he won the Tony, a Grammy, and a Daytime Emmy for this role. If they're doing the film at a time when he can still feasibly look young enough to do the part, of COURSE they're gonna want him to.

And what is this "if he can get in the zone, he'll be good" nonsense? He CREATED the zone Evan occupies, FFS.

[BrodyFosse123]

Ben did not win the Daytime Creative Emmy Award for playing this role, the CAST won for a musical performance on The Today Show. His performance in DEH did not win him a solo Daytime Creative Emmy Award.

[perfectliar]

BrodyFosse123 said: "Ben did not win the Daytime Creative Emmy Award for playing this role, the CAST won for a musical performance on The Today Show. His performance in DEH did not win him a solo Daytime Creative Emmy Award. "

If that's what you took away from my comment, you are proving my point.

[Sutton Ross]

Feeling a little feisty today, are we? Okay, I'll play.

I said nothing about hating anyone. When I saw DEH, I was crying or absorbing his anxious energy the whole time. I have never been happier or more miserable in a theater. Ever. He was brilliant and deserved every award ever for that role. No other person has ever even come close to his portrayal. Not ever. However, he is not exciting or anything special on screen. Much like Audra or Norm, he shines best when he is on stage. 

I am not a fan of nepotism, and I don't like the idea of a 27/28 year old man playing the role if someone could be better on screen. If you honestly think he would be automatically cast in the role (when no other principal actor from the OBC is) if his Father was not producing it, you are delusional. And Ben sacrificed his entire self for that role, his mental and physical health. And the results were staggering. If he is not up for that kind of self sacrifice again, he shouldn't do it. That is what I meant by in the zone. Real simple. 

 

[JSquared2]

Sutton Ross said: "Feeling a little feistytoday, are we? Okay, I'll play.

I said nothing about hating anyone. When I saw DEH, I was crying or absorbing his anxious energy the whole time. I have never been happier or more miserable in a theater. Ever. He was brilliant and deserved every award ever for that role. No other person has ever even come close to his portrayal. Not ever. However, he is not exciting or anything special on screen. Much like Audra or Norm, he shines best when he is on stage.

I am not a fan of nepotism, and I don't like the idea of a 27/28 year old man playing the role if someone could be better on screen. If you honestly think he would be automatically cast in the role (when no other principal actor from the OBC is)if his Father was not producing it, you are delusional. And Ben sacrificed his entire self for that role, his mental and physical health. And the results were staggering. If he is not up for that kind of self sacrifice again, he shouldn't do it. That is what I meant by in the zone. Real simple.

"

Don’t like it? Don’t go see it. Even MORE simple. You’re welcome.