The Goldbergs: Unveiling the Surprising Reason Behind Jackie's Recasting in Season 6

Summary

Rowan Blanchard's departure from "The Goldbergs" as the character Jackie was her own choice, not a result of being fired or recast.

Initially, show creator Adam F. Goldberg intended to retain Jackie's character on the show, but he had to write her off when Blanchard declined to continue. Following her departure from "The Goldbergs," Blanchard has been involved in various other projects, including taking on prominent roles in films such as "A Wrinkle in Time" and the TV series "Snowpiercer."

Rowan Blanchard, the star of Girl Meets World, made the decision to leave The Goldbergs, resulting in Jackie Geary being recast for season 6. This change was unexpected and had an impact on the show's autobiographical nature, as The Goldbergs is based on the creator, Adam F. Goldberg's, childhood and family experiences in the 1980s. Despite the characters being inspired by real people, the decision was made to replace Blanchard with Alexis G. Zall, who brought a new punk aesthetic to Jackie's appearance and personality.

The Reason Jackie Was Recast On The Goldbergs

Jackie on The Goldbergs was recast because Rowan Blanchard decided not to continue with the show. Adam Goldberg, the creator of the show, responded to a tweet in October 2018, where a user expressed disappointment about the recast and mentioned that it was the reason why the show didn't feel the same anymore. Goldberg clarified that he did not choose to recast anyone and that the actress had decided not to return for the season.

Almost two weeks later, Goldberg addressed more Twitter comments and made it clear that Blanchard had not been fired, as some had speculated. He explained that it was Blanchard's choice to leave the show, possibly because she wanted to pursue other projects as her career was gaining momentum. This decision not only surprised viewers with a different actor in the role but also brought a change in the character's personality, adopting a more punkish version. However, this change is not uncommon for teenagers in the real world.

The Goldbergs’ Creators Recast Jackie Instead Of Writing Her Off

Rather than simply writing off Jackie after Blanchard's departure, The Goldbergs' creator initially intended to keep her character in the show. He expressed on Twitter that it was a complex decision due to the personal attachment he had to the show. "She declined, which meant that the character wouldn't suddenly disappear, but Jackie was a part of my life," he mentioned in a tweet. However, in the season 6 finale of The Goldbergs, Jackie didn't make a reappearance and her character was never mentioned again. It is implied that Jackie went to college and broke up with Adam. The reason for Zall not returning to portray Jackie remains unclear.

Other The Goldbergs Cast Changes

Apart from Jackie's departure, The Goldbergs underwent another casting change in season 7 with the introduction of Ren, Erica's friend from the University of Philadelphia, portrayed by Kelli Berglund. Ren eventually became Barry's romantic interest. Although Berglund was prepared to reprise her role in The Goldbergs season 8, Carrie Wampler from Big Little Lies joined the cast as her replacement. This change occurred because Berglund had to drop the role due to prior commitments, exacerbated by production delays caused by the pandemic.

Rowan Blanchard: Where Is She Now?

Rowan Blanchard, known for her portrayal of Jackie in seasons four through six of The Goldbergs, has ventured into various compelling projects. Notably, she has taken on leading roles in two kids' sci-fi/fantasy movies, A Wrinkle in Time (2018) and A World Away (2019). In A Wrinkle in Time, Blanchard portrays Veronica Kiley, a classmate who bullies Meg, while in A World Away, she takes on the role of Jessica Patterson. Moreover, Blanchard has made a mark by playing Alexandra Cavill in TNT's Snowpiercer series.

As the daughter of the series' antagonist/anti-hero Melanie Cavill, Alexandra initially appeared in season 1 of Snowpiercer but has since gained a more substantial presence in seasons 2 and 3. In 2022, Blanchard secured a prominent role in the Hulu original coming-of-age film, Crush, where she impressively portrayed high-school artist Paige. Departing from her character on The Goldbergs marked a significant change for the show, but Blanchard's decision has proven to be beneficial as she has since embraced other career-advancing roles.