Who doesn’t love Malakai in Heartbreak High? Let’s see them so we may shame them because that bi king can do no wrong.
Malakai is a breath of fresh air for bisexual male representation on the small screen, and that is thanks in no small part to Thomas Weatherall.
He brings the vulnerability, confusion, and adorableness that are part of Malakai with flawless ease.
Heartbreak High has resonated with viewers worldwide because it is an honest exploration of current teen life in Australia and has juicy drama.
Weatherall talked to Variety Australia on Tiktok about being on the show and revealed that he had an atypical journey being cast.
He revealed that he was originally considered for Darren but passed up on the role because he didn’t think he would be a good fit. Weatherall then detailed the dramatic events that unfolded before he got the role, saying,
“I had a very different audition process for Heartbreak and I got approached early on to audition for the role of Darren. I just kind of immediately went back and went ‘No, thank you.’ Like there’s no world in which I’m reading for this character.
Thomas Weatherall — Variety Australia
“All the boys who went up for this show auditioned for this character, and then they kind of found which character they might be right for.
“I didn’t realize that, so I just said no and just went, ‘If there’s another role, like, I’d love to be considered for this, but no, like, I’m not gonna do it.’ So then I didn’t get seen for anything.
“One of the writers saw me in another show I had done and kind of went into the room and went, ‘Why haven’t we auditioned him?’ And the rumor is that they were like, ‘Oh, he doesn’t want to be a part of the show. Like he said no.’
“I got the audition through I just went, ‘It’s a Netflix show, like, I’m not going to get it. I’ll just do it.’ And so I did it, and my partner read with me, and I sort of looked at her and was like, ‘I think I’ve got this job,’ and she was like ‘I think you did.’
“A couple days later, they go, ‘Can you do a chemistry read with Ayesha and Bryn — who plays Spider. When Ayesha popped up on the Zoom I went, ‘I’ve got the job,’ and an hour later, I got the call.”
Everything went according to plan because production found the perfect actors for Darren and Malakai.
Weatherall did not expand on what about the character intimidated him. Given that Darren is non-binary, it would have been challenging for a cismale to embody the character without it looking like a caricature.
Eventually, the role went to James Majoos, a non-binary actor who knocked it out park.
‘Heartbreak High’ Will Be Back For One Final Season
In a tweet, Netflix revealed they had renewed Heartbreak High for a third and final season.
A subtitle that accompanied the news hinted at a natural conclusion to the story as the characters graduate from high school.
Seasons 1 and 2 of Heartbreak High are streaming on Netflix.