The filmmakers behind an upcoming film Kaylee Hottle was chosen to star in are seeking to "preserve" her legacy by re-casting her role with her sister.
The "Godzilla" franchise actress, who died at 18 in a single-car crash in July, had been slated to appear in "What Doesn’t Kill Us." Her sister, Jasmine Hottle, will now take on the role in what appears to be her onscreen debut.
"Like Kaylee, Jasmine is deaf, and her involvement allows us to honor Kaylee’s memory while continuing the work she was going to be part of," Andy Mingo, one of the film's writers and producers, told People on Nov. 11.
According to the movie's logline on IMDb, "A group of disabled friends aspire to be superheroes and use their disabilities to their advantage."
Describing
Kaylee Hottle's death as "an unimaginable tragedy," Mingo explained, "When we began discussing how to move forward, the possibility of Jasmine taking on her sister's role emerged as something particularly meaningful."
He continued, "For us, Jasmine stepping into Kaylee’s role isn't simply a casting replacement. It's an opportunity to preserve something of Kaylee’s legacy while telling a story that we hope will resonate with audiences far beyond the disability community."
Kaylee Hottle's next role had 'eerie' parallel with actress' real life
The cast includes "Hawkeye" actress Alaqua Cox, Maddie Haining and twin brothers Lucas and Elliott Woolrich, who cowrote and star in the movie.
Elliott Woolrich opened up about Kaylee Hottle's character in a July 22 Facebook post, sharing that the team had been in talks with the actress and her father Joshua since late 2024.
He and his twin brother, Lucas, "find it heartbreaking that Kaylee’s role died in the script and her character was 19 years old," he wrote, adding that the coincidence was "really eerie." He added, "Kaylee was a great actress and a great basketball player. A real and authentic soul. She seemed very caring. She will be missed."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Godzilla' child star's next role recast with sister after death at 18
