In a society where Hollywood isn’t valued as much as it used to, what’s with these frazzled castings…?
“The Fab Four” for the Beatles Biopic, starring some of Hollywood’s most relevant and upcoming actors, sparked controversy in online discourse among the general public and the media.
The biographical movies will consist of four solely on “The Fab Four”, with a theatrical release planned for 2028.
The project features the attached cast, starring Paul Mescal (Gladiator II), Harris Dickinson (Baby Girl), Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things), and Barry Keoghan (Saltburn).
The project’s announcement sparked online discourse about the film, with one post on X (formerly Twitter) reading, “Does Hollywood realize there are more than 10 actors in Hollywood?” The post garnered over 13,000 likes.
Controversy arose as a highly successful band has actors who people deem don’t resemble the actors and actresses associated with the biopic. Several people online have also expressed their disappointment about the trilogy being made, given that Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are still living healthy lives and performing.
The announcement sparked debate, opening the door to several “terrible” casting choices in Hollywood. Another notable casting choice, most recently announced with the news that Euphoria will star online celebrity Trisha Paytas (Celebrity Big Brother). With one post on X starting “Oh yeah, I ain’t watching this.” The now actress has also faced criticism for starring in the Broadway adaptation of Beetlejuice this Fall.
Another casting choice causing controversy is the newest adaptation of the 1847 novel Wuthering Heights, which will be directed by Emerald Fernell and slated for a theatrical release in February of 2026.
The controversy was designed to unfold due to the fact that the novel rejected many aspects of life during the Victorian era. It was heavily criticized when first published for its ideologies, ideas about religion and class systems, and ideas of Social Darwinism, which are explored in the novel.
With a novel so heavily criticized, it was bound to spark buzz in its movie adaptation, which is why many internet users took to social media to share their opinions once the announcement was made.
Many fans began sharing their thoughts on the casting choices for the two leads: Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein) as Heathcliff and Margot Robbie (Barbie) as Catherine Earnshaw. Fans of the novel criticized the age difference between the actors. The characters in the book are teenagers, whereas the actors portraying them are in their mid-30s. Another casting difference fans mentioned was the “whitewashed cast,” as noted in a post on X that garnered 53,000 likes. Heathcliff is portrayed as a man of color, “as dark as it came from the devil”.
With a test screening planned to gather audience and critics’ reactions, many said it steered away from the original plot, deeming it “erotic and abrasive to the original story.”
It immediately sparked attention with the trailer going viral, and not to mention a rendition of Charli XCX’s song used in the trailer, “Everything is romantic,” with over 240,300 uses on TikTok, and the song selling 17,000 copies that week alone.
Is Hollywood not giving new actors a chance?
Or many wonder whether these Hollywood productions only want to be as hot as their last blockbuster.
From horrible plots, to ill castings, and a viral song. These all tell a story and a way to garner an audience. Whether you think these castings are bad or “ill-intended”, debates over frazzled castings will only rise within the years to come.
