Darren Criss returning to Broadway's ‘Maybe Happy Ending' after casting backlash
'Maybe Happy Ending' writers Will Aronson and Hue Park have announced that the show's original star, Darren Criss, will return to the lead robot role of Oliver this fall.
'This Model 3 is anything but retired,' the Tony-winning musical posted via Instagram on Wednesday. 'Darren Criss returns to Maybe Happy Ending on Broadway as Oliver beginning November 5th.'
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10 Helen J. Shen and Darren Criss in 'Maybe Happy Ending.'
YouTube / Maybe Happy Ending the Musical
10 Helen J. Shen and Darren Criss bow on stage during the 'Maybe Happy Ending' Gala celebration at Belasco Theatre in New York City, November 11, 2024.
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The news that Criss, 38, will return to 'Maybe Happy Ending' comes after the show's creators faced serious backlash for recasting the half-Filipino actor with Andrew Barth Feldman, who is not of Asian descent, last month.
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Although Broadway insiders tell The Post that Criss was always scheduled to take a two-month leave of absence from the musical, and that Feldman was only cast to fill in for Criss for a nine-week limited engagement, there was still public outcry about the decision.
Feldman is also married to Helen J. Shen, who plays the female lead Claire in 'Maybe Happy Ending.'
10 Helen J. Shen and Andrew Barth Feldman attend the 2025 Town Hall Spring Shout Benefit Concert at Town Hall in New York City on May 19, 2025.
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10 Andrew Barth Feldman and Helen J. Shen pose at the 2024 Tony Awards After Party hosted by Rick Miramontez and John Gore at the Carlyle Hotel in New York City on June 9, 2025.
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Playwright and actor BD Wong penned an open letter criticizing Aronson and Park's choice to temporarily replace Criss with a non-Asian actor, and the lengthy essay garnered more than 2,400 signatures.
'This deserves attention,' the 'M. Butterfly' star charged. 'To put it simply: Asian Actors and the Asian Theatergoing Community are fiercely wrestling over a non-Asian actor replacing the Asian male lead in the Broadway musical 'Maybe Happy Ending.''
'Please google this responsibly,' Wong added. 'It's a real, eternal outcry about race and representation, not an irrational rant about robots.'
10 BD Wong attends 'Call Me Izzy' Broadway opening night at Studio 54 in New York City on June 12, 2025.
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Aronson and Park, who later responded to the backlash on Instagram, said that they were 'extremely saddened' that their show 'could ever become a source of confusion, anger or pain.'
'We would like to share some thoughts on the collective casting decision of Andrew Barth Feldman in Maybe Happy Ending,' the pair began.
'Our dream at the outset was that our allegorical robot show could one day miraculously become part of the American musical theater canon – a modern Fantasticks, able to be comfortably performed by anyone, anywhere – yet distinctly set in Korea,' they added. 'This went against prevailing wisdom that we needed to set our show in America.'
10 Darren Criss attends Macy's 4th of July fireworks at the Rooftop at Pier 17 in New York City on July 4, 2025.
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10 Darren Criss and the cast of 'Maybe Happy Ending' perform at the 2025 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on June 8, 2025.
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'We're so grateful for the artists and audiences who've embraced this story, and we will continue our conversations as Maybe Happy Ending continues its journey onstage,' Aronson and Park concluded.
But while countless Broadway fans were happy to learn that Criss will return to 'Maybe Happy Ending' later this year, some questioned whether it was only because of the ongoing casting backlash.
'So like… was this the plan all along?' one person asked.
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10 Darren Criss as Oliver in 'Maybe Happy Ending.'
YouTube / Maybe Happy Ending the Musical
10 Darren Criss as Oliver in 'Maybe Happy Ending.'
YouTube / Maybe Happy Ending the Musical
'So are you going to fire [Andrew Barth Feldman] or not?' commented another.
'I see y'all finally read the room,' wrote a third 'Maybe Happy Ending' fan, while yet another user added, 'Well, they learned their lesson.'
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'Maybe Happy Ending,' which premiered in Korea in 2016 before coming to Broadway last year, follows robots Oliver and Claire (Helen J. Shen) as they develop a connection in Seoul in the year 2060.
10 Darren Criss accepts the Best Actor in a Musical award for 'Maybe Happy Ending' during the 2025 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on June 8, 2025.
Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions
Criss, who will have starred as Oliver from the beginning of the musical's Broadway run until his brief leave of absence starting Sept. 2, became the first Asian American to win a Tony for Best Actor in a Musical earlier this year.
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'What a night!' he began his acceptance speech on June 8. 'I have such immense pride to get to be part of this notably diverse and exquisite Broadway season this year.'
'Maybe Happy Ending' also went on to win Best Musical at the 2025 Tony Awards.
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