Netflix taps Ayo Edebiri to replace Jenny Slate on Big Mouth

Variety

The comedian and former Sunnyside writer and story editor will take over the biracial role of Missy on the animated puberty series after Slate decided to exit, saying the role should be played by a person of color. While Slate will continue voicing Missy for most of Season 4, Edebiri will assume the role for the penultimate episode. In fact, Edebiri joined Big Mouth's writers' room for Season 5 before being cast as Missy. “I was definitely a very uncomfortable child, so I think the show speaks to that and a lot of those feelings, which still resonate with me as an adult,” Edebiri tells Variety in comparing her adolescent self to Missy. “I’m back home in my childhood bedroom right now and on my bookshelf in between ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’ is Bill Clinton’s autobiography and Nelson Mandela’s autobiography and a translation of The Iliad in Latin. I was a true dork. So I don’t think I have to go too far to connect with Missy.” Edebiri admits “because I had the experience of being in the room and knowing the story, I think that helped with the comfort level” when stepping into the recording booth, especially on such an accelerated timeline.