Hollywood’s New Obsession: Casting Creators
Via Netflix
This isn’t new. Hollywood has been flirting with influencers for years. TikTok stars in dance movies, YouTubers sneaking into voice roles. MrBeast himself has already popped up in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Kung Fu Panda 4, and Love, Death & Robots.
But the difference here is that he’s not a cameo. He’s being positioned as part of the Angry Birds cast, and that feels like a turning point.
The Business Logic
On paper, it makes sense. MrBeast has the biggest YouTube channel in the world. His videos pull hundreds of millions of views. Studios think: “Why not tap into that fan base? Why not let those kids who scream at his chocolate bar giveaways scream in the theater, too?”
The same logic applies to Salish Matter. She’s 15, she dances, she does challenges, and she launches her own skincare line. For Paramount, she’s a pipeline to a generation that barely watches traditional TV anymore.
It’s marketing dressed up as casting.
The Problem: Fame isn’t the Same as Talent
Here’s where I roll my eyes. Voice acting is a craft. The best animated films live or die on whether you believe the voices. Think Robin Williams in Aladdin, or Josh Gad as Olaf. These aren’t just celebrities reading lines; they’re performances.
But when studios cast influencers, it often feels like stunt casting. MrBeast isn’t here because his voice fits a character. He’s here because his name sells tickets and gets TikTok edits.
And maybe that’s fine for a quick cameo. But does it make Angry Birds 3 a better movie? Unlikely.
The Angry Birds Dilemma
Let’s be honest: nobody is expecting Angry Birds 3 to win an Oscar. The first film made $352 million globally; the sequel dropped to $152 million. Paramount clearly wants to reverse that slide.
So what do you do? Bring in YouTubers. Hope their loyal fans follow them into theaters. Maybe even convince them to post about it to their millions of subscribers.
But that strategy can backfire. Adults, the ones actually buying the tickets, don’t want to pay to hear MrBeast yell in Dolby Atmos. And kids? They already watch him for free at home.
When Influencer Casting Works (and When It Doesn’t)
There are examples where unconventional casting has worked. Awkwafina turned her online presence into a real voice-acting success (Raya and the Last Dragon, Kung Fu Panda 4). But she’s also an actor and comedian with range.
With creators like MrBeast, the question is: can he actually act? Or is he just going to sound like MrBeast?
If it’s the latter, then Angry Birds 3 risks becoming less about characters and more about cameos.
Do I hate MrBeast being cast in this? Kind of, yeah. Not because I think creators don’t deserve opportunities. They do. But it feels lazy. Hollywood isn’t elevating new talent; it’s chasing followers.
Maybe Paramount thinks that plugging a YouTuber into Angry Birds 3 will revive a fading franchise. Maybe they’re right. But it also risks reducing animation to a marketing gimmick, less about story, more about synergy.
And as someone who actually loves animation, that’s depressing.
Final Thought
Will MrBeast ruin Angry Birds 3? Probably not. He’ll have a couple of lines, some fans will cheer, and the movie will roll on.
But for me, the casting says more about where Hollywood’s priorities are in 2025: less about finding the perfect voice, more about finding the biggest platform.
And I don’t know about you, but I don’t need my YouTube feed following me into the theater.
