Ethan Hawke Says Casting Actors Based on Instagram Followers Is ‘Crazy’: Some Young People Think ‘Being an Actor Is Protein Shakes and Going to the Gym’

https://variety.com/2025/film/festivals/ethan-hawke-casting-actors-based-instagram-followers-crazy-1236312855/

26 comments

  1. > “I really feel for these people. It’s really hard,” he said. “Sometimes I’ll be setting a movie up and someone will say, ‘Oh, you should cast Suzie.’ I’m like, ‘Who is she?’ ‘She has 10 million followers.’ I’m like, ‘OK cool, has she acted before?’ ‘No, but…’ And you’re like, ‘Wow, so this is going to help me get the movie made? This is crazy.’”

    > Hawke continued, “So if I don’t have this public-facing [platform], I don’t have a career? And if I get more followers I might get that part? What?”

    > The Oscar-nominated actor, who is premiering “Blue Moon” — his latest collaboration with Richard Linklater — at the fest, went on to say that he meets “so many young actors that think being an actor is protein shakes and going to the gym.”

  2. Look at the quality Hollywood has put out the past 20 years. It’s no surprise.

  3. That’s like how some actors think they are politicians because they have a platform to speak about a subject that near to their heart , but never put their money where their mouth is

  5. You know what else is crazy? A CEO health care billionaire gets shot in broad daylight, and then shortly after the Mcdonald’s CEO announces snack wraps are back. Coincidence? Hell nah

  6. This how we end up with Ow! My Balls! Our entire culture is being drained away by social media.

  7. Since the dawn of moving pictures, some percentage of movie stars have been famous for being famous rather than for respecting the craft. Zsa Zsa Gabor was not a thespian, but she was very good at being in the public eye.

    Ethan Hawke sits at one end of a spectrum ranging from ‘serious actor’ all the way to ‘girl who went viral talking about spitting during oral sex and somehow got a couple months where she could do whatever she wanted.’ Me personally? I’m more interested in the Ethan Hawkes of the world than the Hawk-Tua girls. I think people vote with their wallets, and there seems to be enough room in the marketplace for both.

  8. It’s the same with all art. No following, no career.

  9. He’s absolutely right. It’s also about having a family member already in the industry… I mean, come on.

  11. My daughter recently worked with Ethan Hawke on a movie in filmed Kentucky. She said he was very real and down to earth, the nicest guy on the set, and the ultimate professional. Takes his job seriously, expects the same from those working with him.

  12. It is atrocious that talent, expertise, integrity and intelligence aren’t needed for power positions in the government and now this extends to other fields.

  14. All they are being prepared for is the new show. Nut shots.

  15. Hollywood no longer trains young actors. You have to be ready to act straight away and be hot.

    Think about how many hot male actors there were in the 90s – it’s the same ones now with the addition of Timothee Chalamet and Glenn Powell?

    Hollywood is about marketing these days.

  16. Nah being an actor is literally playing make believe like you’re a fucking child…. Let’s get real it may be a skill, but it’s not fucking rocket science. We all act and pretend somewhat in real life when we tell lies or exaggerate things.

    And I’m being pessimistic for no reason….
    That’s enough internet for me today.

  17. As someone who is more likely to watch an obscure black and white film than a marvel movie…it’s weird to hear people talk about movies over the past 10 years.

  18. I believe influencers ( those without much other talents, but just an influencer) could possibly monetize 1% of their following, that’s being gracious. So, 1 million followers may mean 10,000 ticket sales. Take that for what you will. It may not mean anything for a big budget project, but a smaller project would make that more meaningful.

  19. Just like women have to be attractive, dudes gotta be stacked. Seems fair

  20. Instead we should cast actors based off who their parents are…

  21. Yeah, we should cast actors based on their famous family as its meant to be done. Like…how your daughter got her career, Ethan.

  22. I think the right frame is instead of complaining, just add this to your repertoire. I get what he’s saying, but he and his daughter kind of just sound like they’re above putting in the work of garnering a social media following and it’s annoying. It’s the unfortunate reality that having followers = financing, so instead of complaining, just do the added step of cultivating a social media following. If proper actors did this, they would unilaterally end the reign of this perceived threat of “social media stars are ruining film.”

  24. I mean this in the best of ways, but he’s definitely right, you don’t see nearly as many “unattractive” people in mainstream movies as you did even 15-20 years ago. A lot of talented people with great potential overlooked for superhero physiques

  25. Yup! As an ex-performer (Sag/Equity) who worked very consistently from ages 14-32. Saw this coming as early as 2001 (post 911) The whole biz changed. Too many untalented people getting professional gigs.Sad. The New York pool was the best on planet earth.
    Talented Friends who still are in the biz are completely overlooked by IG/Tic Tock trash. Ethan Hawke is absolutely correct in his assessment.

  26. This has been going on in the music business too and it’s total lunacy.

    Talent still matters.

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