Desperately Seeking Diversity: Challenges and Breakthroughs in the Casting of Netflix’s Zero

Thanks to its cast of predominantly second-generation afro-Italian actors, Netflix’s original series Zero (2021) has been celebrated as “Italy’s first TV show with a majority black cast” (Povoledo 2021) by both critics and viewers. However, Zero’s casting process was made challenging by the stark underrepresentation of non-white actors in national film schools and talent agencies. This contribution features a commented interview with Cristina Proserpio, Zero’s casting co-director and member of Unione Italiana Casting Directors, which explores the theme of “diversity casting”, and how Italian casting professionals are adapting their practices to the demand of more diverse onscreen representations from SVOD players.