Are flashbacks better with younger or de-aged actors? | The Tylt

Time has yet to be controlled (as far as we know). Honestly, based on some of the de-aging that’s happened in movies, that’s probably for the best. Digitally erasing an actor's age has results leaning more towards bad than good. One of the best-known instances was Robert Downey Jr. in “Captain America: Civil War,” whose technically-rendered youth ends up making him look like a gingerbread man with hair. 

Using a younger actor that’s physically similar to another is the perfect way to handle a flashback. In fact, some of the younger actors in flashback scenes can have an uncanny resemblance to their older counterparts. For example, Dutch-Australian actor Anthony Ingruber played a younger version of Harrison Ford in “The Age of Adaline” to great effect. The resemblance between himself and Ford is astounding, and the portrayal gave audiences something that didn’t elicit feelings of extreme discomfort. While Ingruber wasn’t involved with the film (to some fans' dismay), imagine if they did “Solo” with a totally de-aged Harrison Ford instead? 

To a new extreme, Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” will feature a Robert De Niro de-aged by about thirty years. This isn't just for flashback purposes; it's for the entire film. So far the trailer promises a Bobby that looks alright, but who knows how the effects will look throughout the whole screening? Some people already feel as if Scorsese should’ve just casted younger, if not just to save money on the CGI alone. 

Granted, de-aging got off to a rocky start. Over the years, however, there have been some pretty impressive strides in de-aging technology. One success story takes places in yet another Marvel movie, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.” The opening scene shows a de-aged Kurt Russell interacting with his lady love who—with a mixture of makeup, CGI, and a well-placed wig—looks pretty good compared to his other de-aged counterparts. 

Then there’s Will Smith’s upcoming movie, “Gemini Man.” The basic premise of the film is that an older version of Will Smith fights a younger version of Will Smith but, man, does this appear to be a job well done. It's even more proof that the Fresh Prince remains eternally fresh. 

Using the same actor in multiple time periods not only adds to the plot’s authenticity, but consistency as well. Plus, think of all the comeback opportunities de-aging technology could afford us?