While Brie Larson took home the Academy Award for 2015's Room, it was her then nine-year-old co-star Jacob Tremblay who arguably most impressed critics and audiences with his performance as Larson's son, and fellow prisoner, Jack.
Even at his young age, Tremblay had already made numerous film and television appearances.
The actor has continued to earn critical acclaim since Room, namely as Auggie Pullman in 2017's Wonder and voicing the title role in the Disney/Pixar animated feature Luca.
Tremblay's current role is for another Disney property, lending his voice as Ariel's aquatic sidekick Flounder in the highly anticipated live-action remake of The Little Mermaid.
The film recently had its world premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Tremblay took to the red—or in this case blue—carpet alongside the film's all-star cast, including singer and actor Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, Javier Bardem, Daveed Diggs and Awkwafina.
You can see video here:
\u201cJacob Tremblay at the world premiere of #TheLittleMermaid\u201d— Film Updates (@Film Updates) 1683595611
What struck fans most about Tremblay's appearance at the premiere was not his stylish gray suit or white sneakers, but rather the handsome, tall, young man he has grown into.
Indeed, hard as it is to believe, the adorable Tremblay who broke hearts and dazzled audiences as a young child, is now 16 years old.
Fans took to Twitter to share their amazement at Tremblay's mature appearance, while also bemoaning how old they feel.
\u201cnah time isn\u2019t real\u201d— alice (@alice) 1683643233
\u201c@FilmUpdates Damn this had me like\u201d— Film Updates (@Film Updates) 1683595611
\u201cJACOB?!?? SINCE WHEN?!??\u201d— AANG\u2019S DEFENSE ATTORNEY \ud83d\udca8 (@AANG\u2019S DEFENSE ATTORNEY \ud83d\udca8) 1683640223
\u201c@FilmUpdates He\u2019s all grown up now \ud83e\udd72\u201d— Film Updates (@Film Updates) 1683595611
\u201c@FilmUpdates @kathinveiss \ud83d\ude31\ud83d\ude31 oh my god there is no way\u201d— Film Updates (@Film Updates) 1683595611
\u201c@FilmUpdates ugh so strange to see him all grown up like wasn't 'the room' premiere like last year?\ud83e\udd79\u201d— Film Updates (@Film Updates) 1683595611
\u201c@FilmUpdates I cannot believe he is this old now.\u201d— Film Updates (@Film Updates) 1683595611
\u201c@FilmUpdates Me seeing this\u201d— Film Updates (@Film Updates) 1683595611
\u201c@FilmUpdates woah when did he grow up\u201d— Film Updates (@Film Updates) 1683595611
\u201c@FilmUpdates ??? WHEN DID HE GROW UP ???\u201d— Film Updates (@Film Updates) 1683595611
\u201c@FilmUpdates WASNT HE LIKE 10 WHAT HAPPENED\u201d— Film Updates (@Film Updates) 1683595611
It wasn’t only Tremblay's actual physical appearance that made headlines recently.
The new, more lifelike CGI depiction of Flounder was met with a fairly polarizing response from fans, who were used to the more cuddly, yellow and blue appearance of the animated original, leading Tremblay to come to his on-screen avatar's defense.
He said:
"I actually saw it for the first time in the audition—[director] Rob [Marshall] had showed me. I thought it was really cool because I like how they’re doing it to make them look like real animals."
"I think people should see the movie, and then they can judge."
Tremblay went on to say he is as surprised as his fans on how much he has grown in the last few years, noting he sounds quite different now than when he recorded his role.
“My voice has changed so much that when I was rewatching it I couldn’t really tell it was me. I was like, ‘Is that me? Doesn’t sound like me'.”
While Tremblay is only lending his voice to The Little Mermaid, audiences will have a chance to get used to his new teenage look in one of the young actor's several upcoming projects, including a remake of the horror classic The Toxic Avenger alongside Elijah Wood and Kevin Bacon.
The Little Mermaid, one of several live-action remakes Disney has produced of their animated classics over the last several years, will be released nationwide on May 25.
