A young lad from County Armagh was chosen from a long list of hopefuls to star in the festive short, The Boy and the Octopus.
A young County Armagh boy has been chosen to star in a new Disney Christmas short called The Boy and The Octopus.
Ten-year-old Solomon Horta was chosen from a long list of children to feature in the festive Christmas ad. It tells the emotive story of a friendship between a boy and an octopus.
The ad has since gone viral on social media. It was directed by Taika Waititi, who is known for his work on projects including Thor and Jojo Rabbit.
Building up to the festive season – getting in the Christmas spirit
The movie, set to the soundtrack of The Little Mermaid’s ‘Part Of Your World’, follows the tale of a young boy who finds a curious octopus during a seaside holiday.
Returning home, we witness a beautiful friendship begin to blossom. The boy and the octopus spend many precious moments together as he introduces the sea creature to life on land.
We witness the pair harnessing the Force using lightsabers, playing with action figures, and even imagining the route Santa Claus is taking around the world.
A one-in-a-million chance – a talented young actor
The young County Armagh boy spoke to The Irish News about his once-in-a-lifetime chance to star in the new Disney Christmas short.
He said, “It was such a fantastic experience and a dream come true to work with Taika. He really guided me through the process to allow me to give my best performance.
“I wanted to do my very best for Taika and make him happy. During filming, he would say, ‘Go Solomon, I believe in you!’ and I felt supported the whole way through.”
The video went live on YouTube on 13 November and has since racked up almost five million views. Watch the magical short film for yourself below:
