TikTok star’s big screen debut
A PART in a Hollywood movie could be ‘just the beginning’ for TikTok sensation Jacob Richardson, according to his proud mother Donna.
The six-year-old, who is famous online for his adorable monologues and patter with his family, has landed a part in a ‘fast-paced thriller’ Drop This Week.
Donna said her son is ‘absolutely thrilled, so happy and excited’ to be in the film, which is being made in Ireland.
Details of the film’s plot have not been revealed, though Jacob will star alongside Violett Beane (Death and Other Details), Meghann Fahy (The White Lotus) and Brandon Sklenar (1923).
‘All we can say is it is going to be a fast-paced thriller,’ Donna told the Irish Mail on Sunday. ‘Jacob said you will have to wait and see him on the big screen!’
She said the film could be ‘just the beginning for Jacob – we will have to see,’ but added: ‘As long as he enjoys what he is doing, that will be my priority. Once he is happy then so are his family.’
The young Dubliner’s TikTok channel, managed by his mother, has almost 2.5m followers.
Their latest video was watched by a staggering 90m people. Donna said her boy already gets recognised a lot out and about, and ‘always says hello and gives a high five’ when he does.
‘There’ve been so many who have come up to us just to tell Jacob how much joy he brings and how he makes them laugh,’ she said.
‘He loves to get a photo with his thumbs up when he gets asked.
‘He takes it all in his stride and is a natural performer so it’s all fun to him,’ she said.
The young showman has been in the Cecilian Theatre Arts drama school for more than a year, which he ‘loves’, Donna said this will be his first time on a film set.
And he had to get through his first ever auditions – three rounds of them – to get the role.
‘Jacob loves the camera and loves chatting to people, so he loved doing the audition,’ Donna said. ‘So it was a bonus when he landed the role.’
The opportunity arose through Paradigm Agency, which represents Jacob for acting work, while the Andrea Roche Agency is looking after other opportunities for the young star.
Donna confirmed Jacob, who is in first class at school, will have a tutor ‘for the few days of filming’, to make up for any lost school time.
The movie will be directed by Christopher Landon (Freaky, Happy Death Day) and coproduced by Platinum Dunes (A Quiet Place, The Purge) and Blumhouse (Get Out, Insidious).
Industry magazine Deadline, which announced Jacob’s casting this week, said he ‘became an overnight social media sensation in 2022 for his endearing commentary and amusing ruminations’. Commenters on a post announcing the casting on Donna’s Instagram account – which has a further million followers – advised her to ‘protect’ Jacob ‘at all costs’ as he makes his debut as a child actor.