Aubrey Plaza Joins ‘Olga Dies Dreaming’ on Hulu Cast

Aubrey Plaza, famous actress and star of hit TV shows such as “Parks and Recreation” and “Legion,” has been officially cast in Hulu’s drama pilot Olga Dies Dreaming based on the forthcoming novel of the same name by Xochitl Gonzales, Deadline has reported last August 4.

Plaza will star as the titular character Olga Acevedo, a Puerto Rican wedding planner for the wealthy, who resides in the Sunset Park, Brooklyn, New York. The story is about two Nuyorican siblings, Olga, and her brother Pedro Pietro’ Avecedo (to be played by “Gang Related’s” Ramon Rodriguez) who is a popular congressman representing their gentrifying Latinx neighborhood and is a proud Puerto Rican himself. The siblings, despite their overachieving careers, have to grapple with their long-held family secrets that has subconsciously affected their lives, as well as their absent, politically radical mother, Blanca, who have come back in their lives. Set in New York City in 2017, during the most destructive hurricane in Puerto Rico’s history, Olga Dies Dreaming is a story that will examine corruption in politics, familial issues, and the idea of the American dream by Latinx people – while also raising the question on how to weather a storm.

The half-Puerto Rican actress catapulted her fame for her role as the hilariously deadpan character April Ludgate in the series “Parks and Recreation” opposite comedy veteran Amy Poehler, and the love interest of Andy Dwyer played by Chris Pratt, who also stars as Peter Quill/Starlord in various Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. Plaza has gained a cult following especially among social media users from all around the world for this role as well as her wit on social media such as Twitter. Ever since, Plaza has had roles in other hit series such as starring as the superpowered Lenny Busker in the Marvel series “Legion,” as well as lending her voice for the character of Eska in the popular hit kid’s TV show “Avatar: The Legend of Korra.” She has also starred in critically acclaimed films such as “Safety Not Guaranteed,” Ingrid Goes West,” “The To-Do List,” “Black Bear,” and “Happiest Season.” Plaza’s role of Olga in the series is her newest series regular role, but she will also be acting as a producer for the one-hour drama series.

In her personal Instagram, series and novel writer Xochitl Gonzalez shared: “This character is hilarious and awkward but also sophisticated and tormented and (torturously) tries to fit in so many different worlds. I can’t wait to see her rock Olga’s Air Force 1’s.”

Series writer Xochitl Gomez will be making her small-screen debut with Olga Dies Dreaming. She received her MFA from the University of Iowa Writer’s Workshop where was she the recipient of the prestigious Michener-Copernicus Fellowship for Fiction. She was also an Iowa Arts Fellow in the university. In 2019, she won another prestigious award, the Disquiet Literary Prize. She is a proud alumna of Ney York City’s public school system and graduated from the Brown University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history and visual art. Prior to beginning her MFA, she worked as an entrepreneur and as a strategic consultant. Her works can be read in publications such as Vogue, The Cut, Ninth Letter, and Joyland Magazine.

Gonzales is joined by director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) who had read her manuscript for the forthcoming novel to be release in January next year. They developed the series, and they serve as the executive producers for the pilot, which received the green light from Hulu last April this year only, with Twentieth Television slated to produce the show.

Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon directed and critically acclaimed and award-winning film “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” starring Thomas Mann, Olivia Cooke, and RJ Cyler, as well as “The Current War: Director’s Cut” among others. One of his more recent film involvements is as executive producer and director on “Hunters.”

From Gonzalez’s Instagram post where she announced Plaza’s casting, she highlights the diverse cast and crew for Olga Dies Dreaming, saying: “Watch this space as I have the privilege of sharing with you more of this incredibly diverse and dynamically talented, almost completely, Latinx cast.” Plaza, Rodriguez, Gonzalez, and Gomez-Rejon are all proud Latinx people and this is the best new casting news since we heard Luis Guzman will play Gomez Addams on Netflix’s Wednesday.