Why Do Mckenna Grace's Fans Find Her Next Role So Weird?

Despite her tender age, Mckenna Grace has successfully carved a niche for herself in contemporary television, attracting a considerable following. Many viewers recall the exceptional actress from her childhood roles: Grace has been an actor since age seven.

Grace has played younger versions of many cherished, iconic characters, such as the young Caroline from The Vampire Diaries and young Emma from Once Upon a Time.

However, she has also depicted some intriguing independent characters, like Mary from Gifted and Paige Swanson from Young Sheldon. As she matures, her career evolves accordingly, with Grace taking on more mature roles, but it seems that not all fans are prepared for this transition.

Recently, it was announced that Grace had secured a role in the new teen romance film 99 Days, adapted from a Katie Cotugno novel. In it, Grace will portray the story's protagonist, Molly, who finds herself spending a summer vacation in a paradise-like location, caught in a complicated relationship with two brothers from her past. One of these brothers and Molly's principal romantic interest, Gabe, will be portrayed by Shazam!'s Asher Angel.

News of Grace's latest film venture sparked a range of reactions from fans. On the one hand, there is the acknowledgement of her talent and the belief that she deserves every opportunity that comes her way. However, there is also an element of discomfort at the transition from child star to roles exploring more adult themes. At 16 years old, some fans question if it is too soon for Grace to tackle romantic storylines, especially given the four-year age gap between her and Angel, who is 20.

A fan expressed concerns, stating,'Read the synopsis and they REALLY couldn’t have found someone who was near Asher’s age? Mckenna is 16 and he’s 20, that’s a little weird.'

Others concurred that the casting felt unusual. While a four-year difference would be no big deal for adult actors, having a minor involved in a romantic storyline with an adult appears awkward and borders on impropriety. The consensus among fans is that, where there's a hint of romance, either both actors should be minors of comparable age, or all actors should be 18 or older.

Despite the controversy, it's important to note that the premise of 99 Days inherently suggests that the protagonist is several years younger than her love interest, which the casting accurately reflects. Furthermore, Grace has previously demonstrated her aptitude for adult and complex roles, most notably as Esther Keyes in Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale. Nevertheless, the filmmakers are walking a fine line here, and fans fervently hope they don't push any boundaries too far.

Source: Reddit.