DEH Movie Cast Controversy/Dream Cast

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

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.

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 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.

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.

Wigging Platt would help to make him look younger.

Updated On: 8/24/20 at 12:25 PM

Oh, I'm not.

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 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 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.