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‘Peter Pan’ Remake Features First Lead Actor With Down Syndrome

A 15-year-old British actor is making a huge impact on Disney filmmaking history in the new Peter Pan remake!

Noah Matthews Matofsky is becoming the first actor with Down Syndrome to play a main character and lead role in a Disney movie.

 

Noah, who apparently possesses an incredibly extensive “knowledge of film”, learned about Disney’s casting process for Peter Pan & Wendy via the talent agency called Zebedee (which is a talent agency that prioritizes inclusivity).

He was cast in the role of Slightly, the leader of the Lost Boys from Neverland.

Peter Pan and Wendy Poster
Peter Pan and Wendy stars Alexander Molony as Peter Pan, Ever Anderson as Wendy Darling, and Jude Law as Captain Hook. Credit: Disney

“It was an amazing experience,” Noah told The Sun. “I had my own trailer and made lots of fantastic friends. We all learned sword fighting, which I loved.”

Noah has openly encouraged other people with Down Syndrome to “always dream big” and pursue their goals. Now, Noah himself is starring alongside A-list actors like Jude Law and accomplished actress Yara Shahidi (whose casting as Tinker Bell caused controversy among Disney fans)!

Disney has been criticized often lately when it comes to Disney movies’ inclusivity — with some audience members complaining that Disney is too inclusive, and other audience members (and institutions like GLAAD) saying that Disney is not doing enough to be inclusive.

Disney Under Fire for Casting, Again
Yara Shahidi plays Tinker Bell in ‘Peter Pan and Wendy’.

Disney is currently facing demands from audiences for trans characters, particularly trans Disney princes or Disney princesses, as well as disabled Disney princesses or heroines — but judging by Noah’s casting in Peter Pan and Wendy, it looks like Disney is also keeping inclusivity in mind when it comes to the actors who are playing the characters in future Disney movies, not just the characters themselves!

Are you excited to see Peter Pan and Wendy when it comes to Disney+?

Sharon

Sharon is a writer and animal lover from New England. Sharon's two main focuses in her work are Disney's correlations with pop culture and the significance of Disney princesses (which was the basis for her college thesis). When she's not writing about Disney, Sharon spends her time singing, dancing, and cavorting with woodland creatures!

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