10 times TV shows and movies nailed casting younger versions of characters

In prequels, the lead actor is often primarily responsible for the film's success or failure, even though the screenplay and direction are also crucial. The majority of prequels center on a character from the original film, either as the protagonist or in a supporting role, and it can be quite risky to cast a younger actor to play them. While casting younger versions of characters can be challenging, it can be effective if it adds value to the tale. People watching can find out how a character ended up in their situation. For the casting to succeed, the younger actor must look and act like the elder version.

Several TV dramas and movies have accomplished this by matching how characters behave, feel, and look as children and as adults. Casting younger versions of characters raised the emotional connection between the audience and the show, as fans followed the events many years later.

Disclaimer: This article is solely the writer's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.

---

Here is the list of the 10 times TV shows and movies nailed casting younger versions of characters:

10. Lulu Wilson as Young Shirley Crain (The Haunting of Hill House)

In the episode Open Casket of The Haunting of Hill House, Lulu Wilson's character, young Shirley, helps her mother's body prepare for an open-casket viewing at the funeral. In this intense moment, Shirley is shown dealing with death and learning how to handle it early in life. Wilson depicts Shirley's yearning as well as her vulnerability, as Elizabeth Reaser experiences in the adult Shirley sequences.

People have praised the performers' resemblance to the book's Tar and their skill in seamlessly transitioning between the young and adult Shirley.

Younger versions were used because they consistently displayed both mannerisms and emotional expressions that matched those shown by the adults.

---

9. Kyra Adler as Young Cassie Howard (Euphoria)

Kyra Adler played young Cassie Howard in the flashback scenes of Euphoria. One key scene shows Cassie competing in beauty pageants, emphasizing how this exposes her to society's beauty standards and the influences that influence her. Adler's performance depicted Cassie as innocent and undergoing significant transformations, which become obvious when Sydney Sweeney takes over the character in her mature years. People have been surprised by who was chosen for the role.

The way Adler and Sweeney appear and act is very similar, which highlights the skill in casting kids to play adult characters.

---

8. Bailee Madison as Young Snow White (Once Upon a Time)

Bailee Madison plays Snow White in an emotional section of the episode The Queen Is Dead of Once Upon a Time, where her mother, Queen Eva, is sick and about to die. Madison shows Snow's innocence and sadness, just as Ginnifer Goodwin does in the series as adult Snow.

During her preparation, Streep examined Goodwin's performance to maintain consistency. Viewers discovered from this attention to detail that younger versions of characters might add poignancy to the story because there was no discernible change in the actor as Snow grew older.

---

7. Ben Savage as Young Jason Gideon (Criminal Minds)

The episode Nelson's Sparrow of Criminal Minds featured a young Jason Gideon, played by Ben Savage, in several flashbacks from his early work at the BAU. Savage put a lot of effort into mimicking Gideon's tone and mannerisms, which were similar to those of Mandy Patinkin.

Dorothy Barton Lynch, a Facebook user, commented on the Criminal Minds post.

"I miss Gideon (still), so I am looking forward to this. It should be cool seeing young Gideon & young Rossi together."

In a notable scene, Patinkin and Savage play an older and a younger version of Rossi, respectively, and Savage’s acting skills seem very similar to Patinkin’s. Donnie Yen's portrayal of Jedha at a younger age contributes to the series' overall connection to the rebellion in Rogue One.

---

6. McKenna Grace as Young Sabrina Spellman (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina)

McKenna Grace has been cast as young Sabrina Spellman in the holiday special episode, A Midwinter’s Tale of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. In one scenario, little Sabrina uses a séance to try to communicate with her mother after she dies.

Sabrina's desire to learn magic is evident in this scenario. She mimics Kiernan Shipka’s performance in the same way that teenage Sabrina is convinced and bold. Grace and Shipka share similarities in appearance and behavior, which helps to maintain the plot's coherence and facilitates comprehension of the characters' feelings.

---

5. Ariana Greenblatt as Young Gamora (Avengers: Infinity War)

Ariana Greenblatt has been cast as a younger Gamora during a moving flashback in Avengers: Infinity War. The MCU fans have seen Thanos offer her a sword after he has taken over her house, which soothes her and causes her to forget everything else. Greenblatt demonstrates Gamora's strength and vulnerability during the early phases of her relationship with Thanos.

Viewers appreciated that Gamora has been through a lot in her life, and that Thanos views twisted behavior as love. Greenblatt portrays a young Gamora, and her portrayal blends in with Zoe Saldaña's adult Gamora to provide context for Gamora's past and give her actions more significance.

---

4. Martin Freeman as Young Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit Trilogy)

Martin Freeman has been cast as Young Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. The young cast shows his hesitation at first and his bravery as the story progresses. A pivotal moment occurs when Bilbo joins the dwarves on a perilous adventure rather than remaining at home.

Freeman copies many of Ian Holm’s movements and vocal habits as he acts out Bilbo. Seeing young versions easily replace adult roles highlights that this can maintain the plot’s clarity and involve viewers more.

---

3. Josh Brolin as Young Agent K (Men in Black III)

Josh Brolin plays Young Agent K in the 1969 setting of Men in Black III. When Agent J travels back in time to combat an alien menace, he meets a younger K, who is genuinely and beautifully portrayed by K. Brolin, matching Tommy Lee Jones's distinct presence. According to critics' reviews by Entertainment Weekly,

"MIB3 is one giant leap for mankind because Josh Brolin shows up to play the younger Agent K.,........than a simple imitation of drawl and speech patterns."

A famous sequence shows young K and J meeting the alien Boris at Cape Canaveral. Brolin's performance as K is different, happier, and hilarious than we saw when he was older. Casting younger versions of characters demonstrates how it enhances the tale and draws in more viewers because the characteristics remain the same.

---

2. River Phoenix as Young Indiana Jones (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade)

The start of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade features River Phoenix as a young Indiana Jones, accompanied by a circus troupe on a runaway train. This sequence highlights Indy's fear of snakes and his need for a whip for defense.

Phoenix portrays the fearless and determined aspects of the role that align with the character Harrison Ford presents as the adult Indy. The way Phoenix and Ford appear and behave in the movie illustrates how introducing younger versions of popular characters helps to clarify their past.

---

1. Robert De Niro as Young Vito Corleone (The Godfather Part II)

In The Godfather Part II, Robert De Niro was selected to portray a younger version of Vito Corleone. This choice was made to help viewers better understand the background and development of the character originally played by Marlon Brando. Robert De Niro received the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for his portrayal of a younger Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II, while Marlon Brando won the Best Actor Academy Award for his role as Vito Corleone in The Godfather.

In a crucial role that aids in his rise to prominence in the criminal underworld, young Vito murders Don Fanucci. Vito's journey to become a well-respected and morally upright leader is highlighted by Robert De Niro's committed acting, which involved learning the Sicilian dialect. Here, the casting team gives extra weight and realism to the story.

---

It is concluded that the examples above demonstrate that casting younger versions of characters adds power to the part when done correctly. Each young actor contributed more than just a look. They demonstrated personality, emotions, and progress. The flashbacks revealed how the child versions of the adults first learned to be daring and then afraid. The portrayal of the characters in the plays provided fans with an opportunity to learn more about them.

The actors chosen for either the series or the film helped bring the past and present together. These sequences remained memorable, demonstrating that care was taken to depict each character's experience believably and entertainingly.