Big Mouth creators address recasting mixed-race character Missy in Netflix series: ‘We always had questions’

The creators of his animated comedy Big Mouth have addressed the recasting of mixed-race character Missy.

It was announced last year that the character was being voiced by writer and actor Ayo Edebiri, following the news that Jenny Slate stepped down from the Netflix show last year.

Jenny had voiced Missy in the coming of age comedy since it first aired in 2017.

Now, co-creators Mark Levin, Andrew Goldberg and Jennifer Flackett and executive producer Kelly Galuska spoke during a virtual panel for the USC Comedy Festival about the recasting.

Mark said: ‘It’s very complex, actually, because over the course of several seasons, Missy, as a mixed-race character, has been growing and [a lot of that] has been driven by the Black writers on our staff.’

Speaking about original voice actor Jenny, Mark added that she ‘always had questions and some hesitancy about whether it’s appropriate to represent a character who…presents to the world as Black and identifies that way.’

The end of production on season four coincided with George Floyd’s killing, with Mark adding: ‘We all agreed that it was the appropriate time to make the change.’

Discussing the character’s future, Mark added: ‘We had already been deep in exploring Missy’s journey, her own awakening to her Black identity, and then also her struggle with self. In the ninth episode, she is in a funhouse and sees all different versions of herself, and they shatter.

‘She puts together a mosaic, and that mosaic of Missy comes to life, and that’s the moment [where] we trade off. It was a combination of events that led to a moment we were already exploring, but with the decision to change the casting, we discovered, this is the perfect moment to do that handoff.’

Commenting on the casting to Variety after taking over the role in November, Ayo said: ‘I was definitely a very uncomfortable child, so I think the show speaks to that and a lot of those feelings, which still resonate with me as an adult.’

Big Mouth is available to watch on Netflix.

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