When we heard that this year would bring a new adaptation of Stephen King’s Pet Sematary, the biggest question wasn’t who would be cast as protagonist Louis Creed or whether significant changes would be made to the original’s story of a grieving family and a spooky magic cemetery. No, what everyone needed to know was the identity of the actor-cat set to play the role of Church.
Well, he’s here. Striding into the Hollywood limelight with a confidence that could only come from knowing there’s no vacuum cleaner around, Tonic, who Vulture points out is one of the five cats to portray the new Pet Sematary’s most important character, has arrived.
As shown on his Instagram—Tonic is, of course, a cat with an Instagram—the fluffy little fella arrived on the red carpet ready for his moment with neatly groomed fur and a smart plaid tie.
A Giphy collection shows Tonic in action and shares important background on his rise to fame. We learn that he was “rescued by his trainers,” which means Tonic, unlike so many of his peers, “is not a classically trained actor” and that Pet Semetary was his first movie role.
Nonetheless, the Maine Coon mugged for the camera like a seasoned pro. He was clearly born for this, bringing an instinctual understanding of how to work his angles for the people.
Tonic is the latest in the purely good trend of feline-centric movies and TV shows bringing their frequently snubbed stars to pose for their fans—and the second cat to understand the power of a smart tie as a way to really make your striped fur pop.
These mavericks know that the time is now for movie cats to slink out of the shadows cast by their human co-stars and take their rightful place in the spotlight. With any luck, this streak will continue unabated, Hollywood understanding it is nothing without the raw charisma and blinding star power of this new wave of celebrities, the 21st century’s very own Anti-Rat Pack.
[via Vulture]
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