John Leguizamo Calls Out Hollywood’s Latino Underrepresentation at “The Odyssey” Premiere

At the New York premiere of Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of *The Odyssey*, actor John Leguizamo—cast as the Greek swineherd Eumaeus—asserted that Hollywood remains hostile to Latino talent. He framed his appearance in a non-Latino role as evidence of a broader industry bias that limits opportunities for Hispanic performers.

Leguizamo, a Colombian-born actor with a four-decade career that includes *Carlito’s Way*, *Romeo + Juliet*, the *Ice Age* franchise and Disney’s *Encanto*, has long positioned himself as an advocate for Latino representation. In a 2023 podcast appearance he likened Hollywood’s casting practices to Jim Crow segregation, noting that early roles for Latino actors were confined to stereotypes such as “white doctor, white lawyer, white husband, white lover, Latino drug dealer.” He has repeatedly highlighted the disparity between Latino audience spending power—estimated at 30 % to 40 % of box-office revenue and roughly a third of streaming viewership—and their on-screen presence.

No studio or guild representatives have publicly responded to Leguizamo’s remarks at the premiere. The film’s promotional materials emphasize the ensemble cast and production values, but offer no comment on the representation issue raised by the actor.

Commentators have pointed out an apparent contradiction in Leguizamo’s stance: while decrying Hollywood’s exclusion of Latino actors, he continues to accept roles that are not written as Hispanic, such as the ancient Greek character Eumaeus. Critics argue that his casting in a high-profile epic may undercut his call for more authentic Latino representation.

• “It’s always been a battle. Hollywoodis not the most accepting place,” — John Leguizamo

• “Even though we Latin people are 30% to 40% of the box office and a third of streamers, we’re the most aggressively underrepresented group in America.” — John Leguizamo

• “I did it because I got no jobs. There were no jobs for Latin folk. There just weren’t.” — John Leguizamo

• “It was a drug dealer. I shoot this white guy. It was like, I’m perpetuating what they want to see, which is negative Latino images.” — John Leguizamo

• “The pace that he goes at is intense. He's there with you. He is behind the camera, where all directors should be, because that's where you can see an actor's soul, from that length. And he's in the elements, man. If it's freezing, he's freezing. If you're in a windstorm, he's in that windstorm. You never feel alone. He's always protecting you.” — John Leguizamo (on Nolan’s directing style)

Why Eumaeus In Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey Looks So Familiar