'Godzilla' actress Kaylee Hottle's sister to take over her role in final film

The sister of late Godzilla actress Kaylee Hottle will step in to play the role originally intended for her in an upcoming film following her death at 18.

Jasmine Hottle, Kaylee's older sister, will take over her role in What Doesn't Kill Us, the film's writer and producer Andy Mingo confirmed to PEOPLE.

“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,” Mingo said. "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,” he added.

Mingo clarified that Jasmine's involvement goes beyond simply replacing Kaylee in the cast.

“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,” he said.

What Doesn't Kill Us, directed by Anna Campbell, is an upcoming superhero film about people with disabilities who discover that characteristics society has taught them to view as limitations can be extraordinary strengths.

The film explores identity, resilience, and what it means to be a hero. Its ensemble cast is made up entirely of actors with disabilities, including Deaf actress Alaqua Cox, known for her roles in Marvel's Echo and Hawkeye, and Maddie Haining.

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

Kaylee died at 18 following a car accident in Frederick, Maryland, on July 21. Her father, Joshua Hottle, confirmed her death, later sharing the news in a now-deleted Facebook video delivered in American Sign Language.

The young actress was best known for playing Jia, a Deaf girl who forms a special bond with King Kong, in the MonsterVerse franchise. She made her feature film debut in 2021's Godzilla vs. Kong and reprised the role in 2024's Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.

She also appeared in an episode of Magnum P.I. and earned a Saturn Award nomination for Best Younger Performer in a Film for her work in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.