I gotta say, I love when shows utilize flash-forwards, and every once in a while, I like a good time jump.
One thing that really bothers me when shows do this, though, is when they cast a bafflingly wrong actor to play the older version of a character. Like, I'm sorry, but in what world is this the same character?
But when the casting is right...well, I get very impressed. Here are 21 times they cast the perfect person as the older version of a character!
1. Let's start with an upcoming one: Rhaenyra Targaryen from House of the Dragon, currently played by Milly Alcock.
In a time jump, she'll soon be replaced with Emma D’Arcy.
Here they are side by side.
2. Alicent will also be changed out for an older actor. Here's Emily Carey, who plays the character now.
And here is Olivia Cooke as Alicent after the time jump.
Here are the two side by side.
3. Yellowjackets does an amazing job of this. Here's Sophie Nelisse as Shauna when she's younger.
And here's Melanie Lynskey as older Shauna when it flashes forward.
Here's a side by side.
4. Also on Yellowjackets, here's Taissa when she's young, as played by Jasmin Savoy Brown.
And here's her as an adult, played by Tawny Cypress.
Here they are side by side.
5. One more Yellowjackets one — here's Misty as a teenager, as played by Samantha Hanratty.
And here's Misty as an adult, played by Christina Ricci.
Here they are together:
6. Another show known for multiple timelines, This Is Us, has done some great casting. Probably the most impressive is Deja. Here is Deja in the main timeline of the show, as played by Lyric Ross.
Here's Deja in the future, played by La Trice Harper.
Here they are next to each other.
7. Tess is another great This Is Us example. Here's Tess as a kid/teenager, played by Eris Baker.
Here she is as an adult, played by Iantha Richardson.
Here they are side by side.
8. The Walking Dead featured a prominent time jump in Season 9, causing Judith to age up from a young kid to a preteen. While I don't think these two actors look that similar, I do think the Season 9 actor looks just like a version we saw of Judith in a future vision in Season 8, as played by Kinsley Isla Dillon.
This is Judith after the time jump, as played by Cailey Fleming.
Here they are side by side.
9. Kids often have to be recast on shows, as their appearances change more quickly. Like on Desperate Housewives – here are Preston and Porter before the time jump, played by Brent and Shane Kinsman.
Here they are after, played by Charlie and Max Carver.
Here they are side by side.
10. Penny was also recast multiple times. Here she is as a kid, played by Kendall Applegate.
Here she is as a young teenager, played by Darcy Rose Byrnes.
Here they are side by side.
11. It's not just TV shows — there are also movies that jump forward. Like Big — here's David Moscow as the younger version of Josh.
And here's Tom Hanks as the older version.
Here they are side by side.
12. 13 Going on 30 also rapidly ages its protagonist. Here's Jenna as a teenager, played by Christa B. Allen.
13. Here's Jenna as an adult, played by Jennifer Garner.
And here they are side by side.
14. Lucy in also super well cast. Here's Lucy as a kid, played by Alexandra Kyle.
Here she is as an adult, played by Judy Greer.
And here they are side by side.
15. Another movie example — The Notebook. Here's Rachel McAdams as the younger version of Allie.
And here's Gena Rowlands as the older version of Allie.
And here they are side by side.
16. Another big movie one is Latika in Slumdog Millionaire. Here she is played by Tanvi Lonkar as a teenager.
And here she is played by Freida Pinto as an adult.
Here they are side by side.
17. Back to TV — when Season 7 of Once Upon a Time recast Henry as much older, I was surprised at how similar the new actor looked! Here's Henry as a teenager, played by Jared S. Gilmore.
Here he is as an adult, played by Andrew J. West.
Here they are side by side.
18. The Crown spans so much time that they've had to recast many of their actors. For example, Queen Elizabeth II was originally played by Claire Foy.
They then recast her with Olivia Coleman.
Here they are side by side.
19. They also had to recast Prince Philip. Here he is as a younger adult, played by Matt Smith.
And here he is older, played by Tobias Menzies.
Here they are side by side:
20. Finally, let's end on some ones from It, because the casting was stellar for those films. Here's Stanley as a kid in It: Chapter One, played by Wyatt Oleff.
Here he is as an adult in It: Chapter Two, played by Andy Bean.
And here they are side by side.
21. Here's Eddie, played by Jack Dylan Grazer, in It: Chapter One.
And here's Eddie, played by James Ransone, in It: Chapter Two.
