Producer of late Godzilla star Kaylee Hottle’s final film explains why her sister is taking over

Kaylee Hottle’s sister Jasmine Hottle is stepping in to take over her role in the upcoming film What Doesn’t Kill Us after the Godzilla x Kong star tragically died earlier this year. And the producer has opened up about why this means so much more than just a casting replacement. 

The 18-year-old actress died on July 21 after being involved in a car crash in Ijamsville, Maryland. According to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, Kaylee was a passenger in a car driven by a 19-year-old man when it veered off the road and struck a culvert.

She was rushed to a nearby trauma centre but was later pronounced dead. Police said excessive speed was believed to have contributed to the crash, although the circumstances were still under investigation. The driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries, while another passenger declined medical treatment.

Kaylee was best known for playing Jia Andrews, a deaf orphan who forms a close bond with Kong, in the 2021 movie Godzilla vs. Kong and its 2024 sequel The New Empire.

Following her death, Kaylee’s Godzilla co-stars, including Millie Bobby Brown and Rebecca Hall, paid tribute to the young actress. Her father, Joshua Hottle, also shared an emotional video in American Sign Language confirming the devastating news.

Prior to this, Kaylee had been cast in What Doesn’t Kill Us, an upcoming superhero film about a group of friends with disabilities who discover they can turn what others see as limitations into extraordinary strengths. 

She was set to play a deaf character with heightened pattern-recognition abilities, alongside a cast which includes Marvel’s Echo star Alaqua Cox. 

Writer and producer Andy Mingo has emphasised the importance of disability representation both behind and in front of the camera. And this is a big part of why Kaylee’s older sister, Jasmine, was chosen to take over the role. 

Speaking to People, he said, “Like Kaylee, Jasmine is deaf, and her involvement allows us to honor Kaylee’s memory while continuing the work she was going to be part of.

“Kaylee’s passing was an unimaginable tragedy, and her loss is felt deeply by everyone involved with the project. When we began discussing how to move forward, the possibility of Jasmine taking on her sister’s role emerged as something particularly meaningful.”

Mingo went on to say, “As filmmakers, we’ve been committed from the beginning to authentic disability representation, both in front of and behind the camera. 

“We believe audiences are ready for a different kind of superhero story, one in which disability isn’t something to be overcome or erased, but an essential part of what makes these characters extraordinary.

“For us, Jasmine stepping into Kaylee’s role isn’t simply a casting replacement. It’s an opportunity to preserve something of Kaylee’s legacy while telling a story that we hope will resonate with audiences far beyond the disability community.”

Featured image credit: Rob Latour/Shutterstock/TikTok/@jasminehottle