Jasmine Hottle, the Deaf sister of late Godzilla actress Kaylee Hottle, is stepping into a film role originally intended for her younger sister in the upcoming superhero drama What Doesn’t Kill Us — a decision the filmmakers say will honour Kaylee’s memory while carrying forward a story centred on disability, identity and representation.

The casting was confirmed by the film’s writer and producer in comments reported by PEOPLE on November 11. Jasmine, who is also Deaf, will take the part Kaylee had been expected to play before her death at 18 in July.

The development has drawn attention not only because of the sisters’ family connection, but also because it keeps a Deaf performer in a production whose creative team has made disability representation central to its approach. The filmmakers say the decision is intended to preserve Kaylee’s connection to the project rather than treat her death as a routine casting change.

Why Jasmine Hottle Is Taking Over The Role

According to PEOPLE, the film’s writer and producer said Kaylee’s death was deeply felt by everyone involved. During discussions about how the production should move forward, the possibility of Jasmine taking on the role emerged as a meaningful way to continue the work Kaylee had been preparing to do.

The producer explained that Jasmine’s involvement was about more than finding another actor for the part. Because she shares her sister’s Deaf identity and is part of the same family, her participation offers a personal connection to Kaylee’s intended contribution while giving Jasmine the opportunity to bring her own performance to the character.

That distinction matters. Jasmine is not being presented as a substitute who can reproduce Kaylee’s performance. She is taking on a role that had been intended for her sister, and the finished character will be shaped by Jasmine’s own interpretation. The production has not publicly released detailed information about the character’s name, the extent of filming or a release date.

Kaylee Hottle as Jia in a scene from Godzilla x Kong
Kaylee Hottle as Jia in the Godzilla x Kong films. Film still: Warner Bros. Pictures/Legendary, via Portal Leo Dias.

What Doesn’t Kill Us: A Superhero Story About Disability And Strength

What Doesn’t Kill Us is described as a superhero feature about people with disabilities who discover that characteristics society may regard as limitations can also be sources of strength. Its themes include identity, resilience, belonging and the meaning of heroism.

The project is being developed around an ensemble made up entirely of actors with disabilities. Among the cast members identified in reports are Alaqua Cox, known for playing Maya Lopez in Marvel’s Hawkeye and Echo, and actress Maddie Haining.

The creative team’s stated ambition is to move beyond familiar stories in which disability is portrayed only as an obstacle to be defeated. Instead, the film aims to place disabled characters at the centre of an action-oriented story and treat their lived experiences as an essential part of who they are.

This approach is significant in an industry where disabled performers have often faced limited opportunities, narrow character types and stories told without meaningful participation from the communities being represented. A cast made up of disabled actors does not, by itself, guarantee a thoughtful production, but it can create room for performers to contribute experiences and perspectives that are frequently missing from mainstream superhero films.

Kaylee Hottle’s Breakthrough As Jia In Godzilla

Kaylee Hottle at the Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire premiere
Kaylee Hottle at the premiere of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. Photo: Getty Images via Biography.com.

Kaylee became widely known for playing Jia, the Deaf girl who forms a powerful bond with Kong, in Godzilla vs. Kong (2021). She returned to the role in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024), continuing Jia’s story as she navigates a world shared by humans and enormous creatures.

Jia was an important character in the franchise because her relationship with Kong was built around communication, trust and empathy rather than fear. Through American Sign Language, she was able to connect with the giant ape in a way other characters could not. Kaylee’s own Deaf identity brought an added layer of authenticity to the performance.

Her casting also helped bring wider visibility to Deaf representation in a major Hollywood production. In an interview with ABC7 in 2024, Kaylee spoke about wanting young Deaf people to see that they could succeed and pursue ambitious careers. Her co-stars also discussed the experience of working with her and communicating on set.

Kaylee’s performance in the 2024 sequel earned her a Saturn Award nomination for Best Younger Performer in a Film, further recognising the promise she had shown early in her acting career. She also appeared in an episode of the television series Magnum P.I.

Kaylee Hottle Died At 18 In A Maryland Car Crash

Kaylee died on July 21, 2026, following a car crash in Frederick County, Maryland. She was 18. The Guardian reported that her death was confirmed by her father in an American Sign Language video, while the Frederick County authorities’ account, reported by CBS News, said she had been a passenger in a vehicle that left the road and struck a culvert.

Her death prompted tributes from people connected to the films and from members of the Deaf community. The Guardian reported that co-stars Rebecca Hall and Alexander Skarsgård had learned American Sign Language to communicate with Kaylee while working on the films. Her passing was widely mourned as the loss of a young performer whose career had only begun to develop.

Kaylee’s work had meaning beyond the box-office success of the MonsterVerse films. She helped demonstrate that Deaf actors can play substantial roles in large-scale productions without their characters being reduced to their hearing status. Her performances also gave younger viewers an opportunity to see a Deaf character portrayed as courageous, capable and central to the story.

A Casting Decision With Wider Significance

Jasmine’s involvement gives What Doesn’t Kill Us an emotional connection to Kaylee’s unfinished plans, but it also places a new performer in a position to make the role her own. The film’s message will be judged not simply by its casting announcement, but by how fully its characters are developed and how authentically disabled people are represented throughout the production.

For audiences who remember Kaylee as Jia, the project may become a way to recognise the work she hoped to continue. For Jasmine, it is also a significant acting opportunity in her own right. The sisters’ shared Deaf identity makes the casting especially resonant, while their individual experiences and performances should remain distinct.

At the time of publication, the filmmakers had not announced a confirmed release date for What Doesn’t Kill Us. Further details about production and distribution are expected to clarify when audiences will be able to see the project.

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