Overview
- More than 100 Latino actors, artists and storytellers signed the letter, including Eva Longoria, John Leguizamo, Jessica Alba and Xochitl Gomez.
- The signatories cite A24’s Deep Cuts as a recent example, noting Odessa A’zion’s exit from the role of Zoe Gutierrez and framing the issue as systemic; the film is directed by Sean Durkin and stars Cailee Spaeny and Drew Starkey.
- A’zion said she auditioned for a different role, was later offered Zoe, had not read the book, and chose to withdraw after learning more about the character.
- The letter calls for tangible steps: more Latino auditions and hires, Latino executives in greenlighting rooms, Latino participation in development, and mentorship and scholarship pipelines.
- Gomez told the Los Angeles Times that Latinas were not given a real shot due to an exclusive offer, as broader data show Latino leads at just 1% in 2024’s top theatrical releases per UCLA’s 2025 report.