Actor Geno Segers is no longer joining the cast of the Broadway production Hadestown. Producers confirmed the decision on Sunday, August 2, noting that both the actor and the show agreed to part ways after online controversy surfaced regarding past remarks made by the actor.
Reports indicate the departure follows the resurgence of comments Segers previously made, which were viewed as anti-transgender. This development arrives just days after the production announced its principal cast for the upcoming run at the Walter Kerr Theatre, scheduled to begin on September 1.
Segers maintains a career spanning stage and screen, with prior roles in international productions of The Lion King, the Disney XD series Pair of Kings, and the drama series Banshee. He also performed voice work for projects such as Fortnite.
This marks a continued period of scrutiny for the casting of the Hades role. The previous actor, Gary Dourdan, faced his own public controversy earlier this year due to legal history involving battery charges and drug arrests dating back over a decade.
Hadestown, created by Anaïs Mitchell and directed by Rachel Chavkin, remains a successful property. It won eight Tony Awards in 2019 and recently reached a milestone as the highest-grossing live stage capture film. The production moves forward with its planned schedule as it prepares for the September opening.