The Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies are classic films. In fact, they basically made up our childhood. The next installment of the franchise, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul, has an entirely new cast — and some fans aren’t having it. In the week since the first full-length trailer for the film was released, the internet has been up in arms about the change, even sparking the hashtag, #NotMyRodrick.
Devon Bostick played Rodrick Heffley in the first three movies, but The Long Haul features Charlie Wright in the role of Greg Heffley‘s emo older brother.
The movie follows the Heffley family as they go on a road trip together — AKA “the long haul.” After the trailer was released, some fans quickly decried the film, tweeting messages that showed they were not happy about the change.
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Some said that nobody else could replace Devon as Rodrick, while others made mean comments about Charlie’s portrayal of the character.
i will always💯put my king 👑 rodrick heffley😩 above everyone else 🔛🔝no one🚫can replace him😈🔥 #notmyrodrick #NOTMYHEFFLEYS pic.twitter.com/rcGeGgbt2n
— em👻🎃 (@emilymaddie14) March 27, 2017
As part of this trend, the hashtag #notmyheffleys started circulating on Twitter as well, targeting the entire re-cast Heffley clan.
this whole #NOTMYHEFFLEYS thing got me so shook…how dare jeff kinney do this to us…i refuse to stand for it
— spooky mags 🎃🌙 (@heavydirtykth) March 27, 2017
#NotMyRodrick more like #NOTMYHEFFLEYS what have they done to them. This upsets me and my childhood. pic.twitter.com/T7XzISo6GY
— The Flame Princess (@theflameprncess) March 27, 2017
The hashtag #NotMyRowley has also been gaining traction.
Justice for my boy Rowley the only one who zoo wee mama'd when I needed it the most 👊😡#NotMyRodrick #NotMyRowley #NotMyGreg pic.twitter.com/uZ9eHdvbsT
— ㅤrebecca 🥀 (@rebecca_hvc) March 27, 2017
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Clearly, there’s a lot of controversy over the casting! So how does the old Rodrick feel about all this? In a now-deleted tweet, Devon wrote that he was “excited to see Charlie Wright carry on the legacy” in the latest installment of the franchise.
Fans also uncovered a video of the OG actor “passing on the torch” to Charlie, after FOX reportedly asked Devon to make a reaction video of The Long Haul trailer.
The 100 actor joked, “I just wanted to say to Charlie Wright, the new Rodrick, it’s time that I…gracefully pass on this torch to you as Rodrick. It’s time [for me] to let go and know there’s a new man in town. Someone’s got to rock ‘n roll, and it’s you. I wish you all the best and keep punishing Greg.”
It seems like he has come to terms with the new casting!
Since the film is such a childhood classic, it’s understandable that people feel so passionately about it. However, the last Wimpy Kid movie, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, was released all the way back in 2012. That’s five years! Since then, the cast has grown up so much and moved on to other projects. Even though it’s strange to see different actors in each role, it’s an understandable decision.
Devon is 25 years old now. He’s a lot older than a high school kid!
Maybe he could come back if Jeff Kinney writes another book about the Wimpy Kid crew all grown up? The author addressed the casting controversy to USA Today, admitting that he was surprised that fans had such a strong reaction.
“We got a lot of laughs [at the test screening for the movie]. Then the lights came on and people started asking, ‘Why didn’t they use the old cast?'” he revealed.
Hung out with Charlie Wright at a screening of The Long Haul in Atlanta today. Awesome, funny guy. #ThatsMyRodrick pic.twitter.com/KO9LKIYiIx
— Jeff Kinney (@wimpykid) May 15, 2017
“They were genuinely confused about why we would replace such a good cast. It took us a little bit off guard.”
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This article was originally published on March 28, 2017.
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