We may have to wait just a little bit longer until a Mexican-American cyborg takes over our TVs, but Marvel has already started casting for its new Hulu series, Runaways. On Thursday, Marvel revealed that two Latinas – Ariela Barer as Gert Yorkes and Allegra Acosta as Molly Hernandez – form part of the main cast. Victor Mancha, a cyborg who is the son of Ultron, plays a key role in the comic book. There’s no word on whether Marvel’s cutting the character from the show, though the studio promised to release additional casting information later on.
Runaways follows a group of teens who rebel against their supervillain parents. So far, we only have details on six cast members, but it’s a good sign that Hulu and Marvel aren’t shying away from a diverse cast, with Rhenzy Feliz and Lyrica Okano joining the majority person of color group. In the case of Molly, they even changed her last name from Hayes to Hernandez. We hope to see a third Latino join the cast eventually. For now, we know we’ll see two Latina actresses portray strong female characters with Gert and Allegra.
For Barer, Runaways is her second foray into original shows for streaming companies. Most recently, she appeared on Netflix’s One Day at a Time, where she played Goth Carmen, Elena’s BFF. This time, her closest friend is a genetically engineered dinosaur with whom she shares a telepathic bond.
For Acosta, Runaways is the biggest role in her young career, having previously appeared in Just Add Magic and 100 Things to Do Before High School. With just a few roles under her belt, playing such a popular character is a great step for the newcomer. On-screen, she’ll portray Molly. Although she’s the youngest member of the group, she possesses super strength, and she’s not the one to trifle with, as even Wolverine knows.
Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage – the same creative duo behind teen dramas The O.C. and Gossip Girl– will adapt the series for Hulu. The series is based on Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona’s comic book. There’s no information about a release date since Hulu has only committed to shooting a pilot episode, but with this casting news the show is one step closer to becoming a reality.