What Peter Pan child star looks like now 22 years on from film as he prepares for acting return

The star of Peter Pan has changed a lot in 22 years as he prepares to re-enter the acting world.

He might have found stardom as the boy who never grew up, but Jeremy Sumpter is now 36 and has grown up a lot since taking on that classic role.

A lot has happened in those years, with Sumpter just 13 when he portrayed Peter Pan in the film, which also starred Harry Potter and White Lotus star Jason Isaacs as both Captain Hook and George Darling.

Following his big break, he starred in a few other films, and in 2022, the former child actor married Elizabeth Treadway. They welcomed their daughter in April the following year.

Stumper spoke to Page Six about his plans to return to movies after decades away from the industry. And despite having changed a lot since he starred in the 2003 adaptation of the classic book, Sumpter says that he still gets recognized.

Jeremy Stumper won over a lot of young girl's hearts as Peter Pan in the 2003 film (Universal Pictures)

"It happens every day," he said, adding: "The movie never really grows up, does it? To be part of that movie, it’s been a blessing."

But what has actually happened since the movie?

"I had a daughter, so my life was around her," he told Page Six. "Now it’s time for me to buckle down and go full force into my dreams, continue the career that I’ve had and turn it into something that’s going from a child actor to now being a leading man and director."

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Sumpter took a break from acting after becoming a dad to focus on raising his daughter.

Now, though, he has plans to get back into acting, with upcoming roles in films including Miami Nights, where he will perform alongside Terrence Howard, Sydelle Noel, and Jeremy Piven, as well as Alterity, where he will act with Mina Sundwall, as well as starring in a new rom-com called Strawberry Roan.

Not only that, but Sumpter said he will also be making his directing debut.

The couple welcomed their daughter in 2023 (Instagram/jeremysumpterofficially)

"I’ve been wanting to direct my whole entire life," he said. "When I was younger, the son of the director of Peter Pan and I would make short films."

He also hopes that his experience will help him in his directing journey, saying: "Living life on set has taught me a lot of things … I really know exactly how everything works and what it entails to make a movie.

"I’ve been told by a lot of people that I would be a great director. I just never had the opportunity to."

Not only that, but one of his former co-stars might be joining him, his Wendy Darling, Rachel Hurd-Wood, as he said that the pair have remained long-time friends.

"I told Rachel, ‘It’s my first time directing, and I would not have it any other way than to have you as my leading lady for my directorial debut," he said.