Digitally De-Aged Robert De Niro in 'The Irishman' Is Getting Mixed Reactions

The movie isn't set to hit Netflix until Nov. 27, but will be available in select theaters on Nov. 1.

Robert De Niro
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Image via Getty/Jesse Grant

Robert De Niro

Martin Scorsese's The Irishman cost a whole lot of money, and not just because of the caliber of talent involved.

The budget was estimated to be somewhere north of $140 million last year, making it one of the director's most expensive efforts yet. The primary reason behind the high budget, however, is due to the extensive de-aging visual effects employed to make Robert De Niro appear younger during certain parts in the film. 

Before Jimmy Fallondebuts the new trailer for Scorsese's Netflix film on Wednesday evening, the official Twitter account has given viewers an idea of what to expect. Set over the course of 25 years, The Irishman will follow De Niro's Frank Sheeran throughout a multitude of time periods. The first trailer offered a hint of the lengths visual artists went to make De Niro look younger, but the latest tease shows an even younger version of the legendary actor.

A lot can happen in a lifetime. pic.twitter.com/S2eLY1dB88

— The Irishman (@TheIrishmanFilm) September 25, 2019

Some have reacted to the image of the youngest instance of De Niro's character negatively, comparing it to a video game and FaceApp. Others said that it "looks fine" and have even called it "impressive CGI" while some used the images as an opportunity to highlight the running time of the film, which is three and a half hours long.

Check out reactions below.

I see everyone dunking on this de-aged De Niro, but I think it looks fine? pic.twitter.com/5lZrUP7h6K

— Chris Evangelista (@cevangelista413) September 25, 2019

I am fine with all of these, and don’t think they look bad at all. Of course, it might look like absolutely garbage in motion. All I know is I want to see this movie immediately pic.twitter.com/4M3l1viN3S

— Chris Evangelista (@cevangelista413) September 25, 2019

A proper glimpse of de-aged De Niro in THE IRISHMAN. This is him at 24, the youngest he’ll play. Pacino goes as young as 44. Pesci: 55. pic.twitter.com/fmSothTX7R

— Nick de Semlyen (@NickdeSemlyen) September 25, 2019

Me at the beginning of The Irishman vs. me at the end pic.twitter.com/cXKIa4PMsc

— Josh Kurp (@JoshKurp) September 25, 2019

The Irishman (2019) pic.twitter.com/F7o8Blr0Ls

— Tim Duffy™ (@TimDuffy) September 25, 2019

Praying most of THE IRISHMAN's 3-plus runtime has De Niro playing his age. Impressive CGI, but there's no mistaking it's just that. pic.twitter.com/VtkTEjPssU

— Nigel Smith (@nigelmfs) September 25, 2019

Judging by these expressions, The Irishman is three hours of DeNiro's character accidentally walking in on his parents fucking. https://t.co/6uNM3vixmf

— Jon Bershad (@JonBershad) September 25, 2019

The Irishman is no longer eligible for the Oscars because it has been deemed a video game. pic.twitter.com/2FdobPgJWy

— Derek Lawrence (@derekjlawrence) September 25, 2019

I honestly thought this image of a de-aged Robert De Niro in THE IRISHMAN was from a kind of crappy-looking new videogame. 😬 https://t.co/xR9PsNm1gu

— Dan Hassler-Forest 🏳️‍⚧️ (@DanHF) September 25, 2019

I know there are more serious things that should be keeping me up at night, but just let me be unreasonably worried about the de-aging CGI in Scorsese's THE IRISHMAN. Thanks. pic.twitter.com/pEXFWi2beO

— Nathan Weinbender (@ntweinbender) September 25, 2019

A lot can happen in a lifetime. pic.twitter.com/c0X3B6xL7D

— ชื่อไม่สามารถเว้นว่างได้ (@MonNotMon) September 26, 2019

A lot can happen in a lifetime. pic.twitter.com/EUDMDWjxcW

— Thijs Meuwese (@ijsthay) September 26, 2019

The de-aged De Niro has since become a meme on film Twitter, comparing either screenshots of actors throughout their career or actors who could conceivably be older versions of younger people.

A lot can happen in a lifetime. pic.twitter.com/71pOOXV6CX

— A.A. Dowd (@AADowd) September 25, 2019

The movie isn't set to hit Netflix until Nov. 27, but it will be available in select theaters on Nov. 1.

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