If you haven't already gotten yourself to a cinema to watch A24 and Josh Safdie's Oscar-nominated Marty Supreme – what the hell else are you doing? If you're enraptured by the epic needle drops of Forever Young or Everybody Wants to Rule the World, or Timmy Chalamet's bare butt, then at least do yourself the favour of going to see the talent that is Odessa A'Zion.
In just a few short months, the actress has become one of Hollywood’s fastest-rising talents – who didn't fall for her insanity on I Love LA as Tallulah Stiel? And clearly, we're not the only ones enamoured. A'Zion was this week added to the cast lineup for Deep Cuts – an upcoming film by her Marty Supreme director and production studio, Josh Safdie and A24 respectively. But just as quickly as she signed up for the project, she stepped back down with a public apology letter written on her Instagram Stories. Here's what happened.
Why did Odessa drop out?
Odessa was cast in the role of Zoe, a Jewish character of Mexican heritage according to the novel. A'Zion, who is not of Hispanic descent, responded quickly to fans who felt she wasn't fit to play the role of a Latina character. A'Zion then quickly dropped from the film, and penned an open letter apology to fans on her Instagram Stories. She went on to say she auditioned for Percy but was eventually cast as Zoe. "I just cannot do it knowing more about Zoe now," she wrote.
You can read through her Instagram Stories letter, below...
What's the plot?
Based on the novel by Holly Brickley (which was published in February 2025), Deep Cuts unfolds across the early 2000s, focusing on two music-obsessed twenty-somethings who collide in a campus bar and spark a creative partnership that lasts a decade.
The story follows their attempts to balance ambition, longing, artistic frustration, and the universal desire to be heard. Brickley’s novel – an Indie Next Pick and a Best Book selection from People and Barnes & Noble – moves between Brooklyn basements and San Francisco dance floors, examining how love, talent, and ego intertwine.
The film’s current logline suggests a faithful but modernised retelling rooted in that same spirit of chaotic early-adulthood discovery.
Who else is in the cast?
While we now are on the hunt for a new actress to take on the role of Zoe, the film already boast a pretty epic class of actors. Cailee Spaeny (playing Percy Marks) and Drew Starkey (playing Joe Morrow) are set to lead the series.
Spaeny, fresh off Civil War, Priscilla, and Beef Season 2, has quickly become one of the studio’s most trusted collaborators. Starkey, meanwhile, broke out in A24’s Queer and continues to gain momentum with upcoming roles in Apple’s Lucky and Jeff Nichols’ King Snake.
Who else is involved?
Sean Durkin – known for The Iron Claw – will direct and produce alongside A24, with Eli Bush, Ronald Bronstein, and Josh Safdie also producing.
Grammy-nominated musician Blake Mills will create original music, ensuring the film’s sonic identity is as expressive as its narrative.
When will the film be released?
Production for the film begins in early 2026, placing a likely release window in late 2026 or early 2027.
Feature images: one, two.
