Why Mae Whitman won't be back for Independence Day 2
Several young actresses who grew up in the film industry have blasted Hollywood for its sexist standards. Kristen Stewart called it "disgustingly sexist" in a recent interview, and Emma Watson has been fighting gender equality everywhere with her #HeForShe campaign, launched last year. Now, a new row has broken out over Hollywood's treatment of women, when Fox announced that Mae Whitman, 26, would not reprise her role in its upcoming Independence Day 2, scheduled for release in 2016.
Mae Whitman at the premiere of The DUFF, February 2015, and Maika Monroe at the premiere of The Guest, September 2014.
Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman are both due to reprise their roles, but Mae, who was 7 when she played the president's daughter in the 1996 blockbuster, has been recast with Maika Monroe, 21, a more conventionally-pretty, Megan Fox type of actress who's been waiting for her big break. Mae herself retweeted this article, where Drew McWeeny writes: "The oh-so-cute actors whose names were on the list all seem to be more of a conventionally 'hot' type than Whitman, making it look clearly like they were chasing a certain something. It's an ugly way of thinking, and an ugly way to cast a film."
What does it say about Fox that they recast Mae Whitman in 'Independence Day 2'? http://t.co/ZtHbpxjGJb pic.twitter.com/kUTSH7IOfs
- HitFix (@HitFix) April 28, 2015
Supposedly, Mae was never even under consideration for reprising her role, and fans are livid that she was recast due to her looks. The studio's would be understandable if Mae had stopped acting, like her contemporary Mara Wilson, or if she was no longer a well-known actress. But neither is the case. Mae has been acting virtually her whole life, earned rave reviews for her work on Parenthood, and just starred in a hit teen movie, The Duff. But despite her impressive body of work, Fox apparently didn't think an actress who played the "designated ugly fat friend" a believable love interest for Liam Hemsworth (who'll be playing the hero of Independence Day 2) and so they passed right over this beautiful, talented, and completely bankable young actress.
What the actual fuck? @maebirdwing is talented as hell, and JUST proved she can carry a film. Smh. https://t.co/Njrsb7Gb1Z
- Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47) April 28, 2015
We live in a world where talented, gorgeous Mae Whitman isn't "hot" enough. Hollywood is gross.
- Carrie Raisler (@TVandDinners) April 29, 2015
I would say Whitman fell prey to looksism and she did but good lord the standards are way too high. She's lovely.
- Austin Shinn (@untitleduser) April 29, 2015
Independence Day - Where strippers can be people, but the President's daughter better grow up to to be fuckable.
- Donna Dickens (@MildlyAmused) April 28, 2015
Mae Whitman at the premiere of The DUFF, February 2015, and Maika Monroe at the premiere of The Guest, September 2014.
Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman are both due to reprise their roles, but Mae, who was 7 when she played the president's daughter in the 1996 blockbuster, has been recast with Maika Monroe, 21, a more conventionally-pretty, Megan Fox type of actress who's been waiting for her big break. Mae herself retweeted this article, where Drew McWeeny writes: "The oh-so-cute actors whose names were on the list all seem to be more of a conventionally 'hot' type than Whitman, making it look clearly like they were chasing a certain something. It's an ugly way of thinking, and an ugly way to cast a film."
What does it say about Fox that they recast Mae Whitman in 'Independence Day 2'? http://t.co/ZtHbpxjGJb pic.twitter.com/kUTSH7IOfs
- HitFix (@HitFix) April 28, 2015
Supposedly, Mae was never even under consideration for reprising her role, and fans are livid that she was recast due to her looks. The studio's would be understandable if Mae had stopped acting, like her contemporary Mara Wilson, or if she was no longer a well-known actress. But neither is the case. Mae has been acting virtually her whole life, earned rave reviews for her work on Parenthood, and just starred in a hit teen movie, The Duff. But despite her impressive body of work, Fox apparently didn't think an actress who played the "designated ugly fat friend" a believable love interest for Liam Hemsworth (who'll be playing the hero of Independence Day 2) and so they passed right over this beautiful, talented, and completely bankable young actress.
What the actual fuck? @maebirdwing is talented as hell, and JUST proved she can carry a film. Smh. https://t.co/Njrsb7Gb1Z
- Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47) April 28, 2015
We live in a world where talented, gorgeous Mae Whitman isn't "hot" enough. Hollywood is gross.
- Carrie Raisler (@TVandDinners) April 29, 2015
I would say Whitman fell prey to looksism and she did but good lord the standards are way too high. She's lovely.
- Austin Shinn (@untitleduser) April 29, 2015
Independence Day - Where strippers can be people, but the President's daughter better grow up to to be fuckable.
- Donna Dickens (@MildlyAmused) April 28, 2015