This student created some Disney magic on TikTok, and Bob Iger took notice
It’s no secret that popular social media platforms have opened up a world of possibility for young, aspiring stars. From Twitter to Instagram, TikTok and beyond, talented personalities around the world are using their respective platforms to shoot their shot. And now? Julian Bass is, too.
On July 2nd, 20-year-old Georgia State University theatre student Julian Bass took to Twitter to share a TikTok video in which he 'magically' transforms into his favourite superheroes, with the help of some pretty impressive visual effects. The viral video has since been retweeted over 430K times and boasts over a million likes on Twitter alone. You know, all in a day’s work for a social media star-to-be.
Set to (the impossibly catchy) "Watermelon Sugar" by Harry Styles, Julian begins by pulling a lightsaber out from behind his back as a Jedi, before splitting the screen with his lightsaber to transform into Ben 10, and then finally, your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man.
if y’all can retweet this enough times that Disney calls, that’d be greatly appreciated pic.twitter.com/GrKlIRxg3J
— Julian Bass (@thejulianbass) July 2, 2020
Sharing the video, Bass asked his followers to "retweet this enough times that Disney calls," and, well, let's just say it worked. Within hours, Disney Executive Chairman and former CEO Bob Iger replied to the video with some VERY encouraging words.
[video_embed id='1988798']Disney fan turns into his favourite characters[/video_embed]The world’s gonna know your name!!!
— Robert Iger (@RobertIger) July 3, 2020
Bass didn’t miss a beat, quickly replying back to the legendary businessman, announcing, “This is the beginning!!!” and, “Let’s schedule a time to talk!!!”
Woah… ask the Twitterverse, and you shall receive, so it seems.— The Happiest Things (@TheHappiesthing) July 3, 2020
It didn’t end there though. While Bass and Iger were busy coordinating schedules (or so we hope, based on their wholesome and blossoming virtual friendship), Sony also caught wind of the video.
In response to the tweet, they replied with the oh-so-appropriate 'mind blown' and 'side-eye' emojis (because in 2020, an emoji speaks a thousand words). James Gunn, the director responsible for the Guardians of the Galaxy films and 2021's upcoming The Suicide Squad, also hopped on board, tweeting a ‘praise-hands’ emoji at Bass. Zach Braff chimed in, tweeting, “Hire this man, Gunn!”
?
— Sony (@Sony) July 3, 2020
Hire this man, Gunn!
— Zach Braff (@zachbraff) July 3, 2020
Twitter fans are equally as enthusiastic about the whole thing, and one Marvel enthusiast pointed out that Julian would make for a perfect Miles Morales in a live-action version of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Clearly, a little creativity (okay, a LOT, and some impressive video editing skills!) can go a long way.
[video_embed id='-1']BEFORE YOU GO: Watch this toddler drill a long distance basketball shot with ease[/video_embed]
