Orphan 2 Star Says Playing A 9-Year-Old At 24 Was Disturbing

Orphan: First Kill star Isabelle Fuhrman reveals that she was disturbed by her appearance during filming. The actor is best known for her role as Esther in the 2009 psychological horror centering on a couple who adopt the mysterious nine-year-old girl shortly after the loss of their unborn child. Following a chain of frightening incidents, it is eventually revealed that the presumably innocent Esther is actually a 33-year-old woman named Leena with a rare condition that stunted her physical growth, allowing her to pose as a little girl. Upon its release, Orphan received mixed reviews, although Fuhrman’s performance drew particular praise, and became a relative commercial success. Over the years, Orphan managed to maintain a large and enthusiastic fanbase, and First Kill was officially announced in 2020, serving as a prequel.

The story for Orphan: First Kill was created by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Alex Mace, responsible for writing and creating the original, and directed by William Brent Bell, whose previous credits include multiple horror features such as The Devil Inside, and The Boy and its sequel. The new film will see Leena assume the identity of Esther for the first time, posing as the missing daughter of couple Katie and Richard, attempting to separate the two and committing her “first kill.” The film’s cast includes Julia Stiles, Rossif Sutherland, and Matthew Finlan this time around, along with Fuhrman, who returns to reprise her role, and while initially set to be released on January 28, 2022, a new Orphan: First Kill release date is yet to be announced.

Now, in speaking with THR, Fuhrman discussed playing a child again and the difficulties that came with that. She states that what Orphan: First Kill was able to accomplish is something that has not been done prior. The actress went on to describe the film’s effects, saying it’s “really creepy” because, watching it, viewers will not be able to figure out exactly how she looks so much like a nine-year-old. Fuhrman also adds that she was involved in the creative process and trying to make the Orphan prequel more interesting, noting how even though she was there, acting and on set, she still cannot make sense of how she looks so young again. Read Fuhrman’s quote below:

“I was there every day. I know how we did this. I know all the tricks, and I’m so thoroughly disturbed right now, because I somehow am nine years old again, and it doesn’t make any sense… I was like, how do I revisit this part and then also convincingly play a kid? Because that was the easy part last time, the hard part was trying to be an adult. Now the hard part is I have to be kid.”

Fuhrman, currently 24, was 12 at the time Orphan came out, so de-aging the star in First Kill was a difficult undertaking for Bell and all others involved. Bell previously mentioned how getting Fuhrman to come back was a challenging process in and of itself, and the actor has also been open about distancing herself from the horror genre. However, the timing felt right, and being more involved gave Fuhrman some creative control. She also revealed that no special effects or intricate makeup were used to make her appear younger, something Bell has praised as well. Orphan: First Kill‘s director has said that while some digital help was applied, the majority of the film used practical techniques.

The Orphan fanbase has been wanting a second film for over a decade now, so one can expect the upcoming prequel to be another hit. Fuhrman teased that playing Esther again was fun, and her return will certainly be exciting for many. Seeing the 24-year-old de-aged so significantly will no doubt be an extra drawcard for audiences, who are keen to see just how the production team has pulled off this feat. While Fuhrman’s final look and an official release date has not yet been revealed, fans have plenty to look forward to when Orphan: First Kill hits theaters.

Source: THR