Why Did Kristen Bell Leave ‘Central Park’?

At long last Apple TV+’s ode to one of the most beloved parks in America is finally back. But Central Park has returned without one of its main voice actors. As Decider covered in July of 2020, Kristen Bell will not be playing a main role in Central Park Season 2.

Bell played Molly, the mixed-race teenage daughter of this show’s family. When she wasn’t stalking her crush-turned-boyfriend, Molly spent most of Season 1 drawing superheroes and commenting on her dad’s shorts. Here’s everything you need to know about why Kristen Bell left Central Park and who’s playing Molly in Season 2.

Why Did Kristen Bell Leave Central Park?

Kristen Bell originally voiced Molly Tillerman, the mixed-race daughter of Owen (Leslie Odom Jr.) and Paige (Kathryn Hahn), in Central Park‘s first season. In June of 2020 Bell as well as the show’s creative team decided that Bell would step down from the role. A statement from the creative team said, “casting of the character of Molly is an opportunity to get representation right — to cast a Black or mixed race actress and give Molly a voice that resonates with all of the nuance and experiences of the character as we’ve drawn her.”

Bell also made a statement about the casting change on Twitter. “This is a time to acknowledge our acts of complicity,” Bell posted on the social media platform. “Casting a mixed race character w/a white actress undermines the specificity of the mixed race & Black American experience.”

The announcement of Bell’s departure came amidst a Hollywood-wide racial reckoning following the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. Around the same time Jenny Slate, who played the mixed-race Missy in Netflix’s Big Mouth, also stepped down from her role. At the end of Season 4 Ayo Edebiri took over the role from Slate.

Who Plays Molly on Central Park Season 2?

First, we have to tip our hats to the Central Park team. Through the magic of great casting, Season 1’s Molly sounds indistinguishable from Season 2’s. That being said, our new Molly is none other than Emmy Raver-Lampman.

Where Have I Seen Emmy Raver-Lampman Before?

There really isn’t a better option than Raver-Lampman. The actor certainly has the singing cred this complex show requires. Raver-Lampman has starred in Hair, Jekyll & Hyde, Wicked, and Hamilton. But you probably know her best from Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy where she stars as Number Three aka Allison Hargreeves aka The Rumor. She’s also appeared in American Dad!, Robot Chicken, Jane the Virgin, and A Million Little Things. Basically she has the voice, the comedic chops, and she can carry a dramatic moment. Truly what more could you want?

Watch Central Park on Apple TV+