Breaking: Jewish actors on show about Jews

Well, would you like to take a look at this – some b’nei mitzvah are about to play in FX on Hulu Fleishman is in trouble. Commercial publications revealed Thursday that the titular role of the long-awaited adaptation, a nebulous doctor faced with unprecedented sexual freedom, will be played by Jesse Eisenberg. The news of her casting came a day after the discussions announcement that the show’s other lead actor, journalist Libby Epstein, will be played by Lizzy caplan.

Just like the characters they will play — and Fleishman executive producer Taffy Brodesser-Akner, who also wrote the excessively Semitic novel which the series is based on – Eisenberg and Caplan are Jewish. It shouldn’t be a big deal. But that sounds like one, because their casting follows a conversation that has recently dominated certain niche (read: Jews) corners of the internet – the bizarre tendency of Hollywood projects to recruit non-Jewish actors, and in particular non-Jewish women, to embody Jewish characters marked and shaped by their religious and ethnic identity.

“If there is a role, it’s a Jewish woman, which is rare as it is” Sarah silverman Recount Howard stern Last year, “If that role is that of a Jewish woman, but she is courageous, or deserves love, or has bravery, or is selfless in any way, she is played by a non-Jewish. ” Think Rachel Brosnahan like Midge on The wonderful Mrs. Maisel, Where Felicity jones as Ruth Bader Ginsburg in Based on gender.

The debate shifted into high gear (grand schmear?) Last month, when word broke that Catherine hahn– who was raised in the Catholic religion, but frequently plays Jewish women on shows like Transparent and the new Apple TV + series The narrowing next door– would play the role of pioneering member of the Joan Rivers tribe in a limited Showtime series called The Return Girl. “She’s a brilliant actress and… she’s going to be amazing,” said Silverman. on his podcast after the casting announcement. Still, the comedian added, the ad angered her: “At a time when the importance of representation is seen as so essential, and so prominent, why is ours constantly being violated, even today? hui in the heart of the action?… None of these actresses are doing anything wrong but, collectively, it’s fucked up.

A few weeks after Silverman recorded this podcast, Hahn’s Joan Rivers Project died on the vine, apparently due to issues with acquiring the rights to Rivers’ life. Fleishman, however, seems to be going full steam ahead and avoiding representational pitfalls in the process. (Although the cast of Rachel, Fleishman’s also Jewish ex-wife, has yet to be announced.) Is it too early to call this a Chanukah miracle?

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