When Lucas Jade Zumann first stepped onto the set of Anne with an E, he wasn't exactly the seasoned heartthrob the world now remembers him as. He was a kid from Chicago. A teenager who had mostly done neighborhood theater and a horror movie about creepy kids in a basement. But the second he smirked as Gilbert Blythe, something clicked.
It’s been years since the show was controversially canceled by Netflix and CBC, yet the obsession with the gilbert anne with an e actor hasn't faded. Fans are still scouring the internet to figure out if he's still acting, why he seems to have disappeared from the Hollywood "scene," and what he’s actually doing with his life in 2026.
Honestly? The reality is way more interesting than the typical "child star" narrative.
How He Actually Landed the Role (It Wasn't Traditional)
Most people think there was some massive global search for the perfect Gilbert. While casting directors did look everywhere, Lucas Jade Zumann actually got the job because of a recommendation.
He had just finished filming 20th Century Women—an indie darling where he played Jamie Fields alongside Annette Bening and Greta Gerwig. The director of that film, Mike Mills, worked closely with the producers of Anne with an E. They saw an early cut of the movie, saw Lucas's performance, and basically said, "That’s him. That’s our Gilbert."
He didn't spend months in a waiting room. He did a chemistry read with Amybeth McNulty (Anne Shirley-Cuthbert), and the rest was history. You’ve probably seen the behind-the-scenes clips—they had an instant, easy rapport that made the "Shirbert" ship feel real to millions of people.
The Mystery of the "Missing" Actor
If you look at his IMDb lately, you might think he’s retired. You've got Sinister 2, Every Day, To the Stars, and Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets. But after 2021, the big-budget roles seemed to slow down.
Did he get blacklisted? No.
Did he quit? Sorta, but not really.
Lucas has always been vocal about the fact that he doesn't want to be just an actor. He’s described himself as a "human, pilot, and craftsman" first. While most young stars in his position would have moved to a penthouse in West Hollywood to chase Marvel roles, Lucas stayed grounded in his values.
He spent a significant amount of time traveling in a tiny home he built himself. Think about that for a second. The guy who played one of the most romanticized characters in literary history was literally living in a sustainable wooden box on wheels, figuring out how to make his own electricity.
What He's Doing Now in 2026
If you’re looking for the gilbert anne with an e actor today, you’re more likely to find him in a cockpit or a workshop than on a red carpet. He officially earned his Private Pilot License (PPL) with an instrument rating. He flies. A lot.
He’s also leaned heavily into his passion for plant medicine and meditation. Back in 2017, he mentioned in interviews that his ultimate goal was to be a spiritual healer and provide medicine to people without profit. Most people thought it was just "teen talk." It wasn't. He’s been practicing Buddhist meditation since he was five years old, attending "Dharma camps" throughout his childhood.
But for the fans who miss his face on screen, there is good news. He didn't leave the industry entirely. He recently worked on a project called No Address (released around 2025), a film focused on the homelessness crisis—a cause he’s deeply passionate about. He plays a character named Jimmy. It’s a grit-and-dirt role, far removed from the polished schoolboy of Avonlea.
Why Lucas Jade Zumann’s Gilbert Was Different
Every generation has "their" Gilbert Blythe. For some, it’s Jonathan Crombie from the 1985 version. For Gen Z and the Netflix crowd, it’s Lucas.
What made his portrayal of the gilbert anne with an e actor stand out was the vulnerability. He didn't play Gilbert as a cocky jock. He played him as a boy who was grieving his father, working a farm alone, and trying to figure out how to be a man in a world that demanded he grow up too fast.
- The Smirk: Let's be real, the "carrot" scene was iconic.
- The Empathy: Lucas has stated he tried to bring a "mature empathy" to the role.
- The Maturity: He was 15-18 during filming, yet he carried himself with a weight that made the medical school storyline believable.
Common Misconceptions About the Actor
There are a few rumors that always seem to bubble up on TikTok and Reddit. Let’s clear the air.
- Is he dating Amybeth McNulty? No. They are close friends and have a massive amount of respect for each other, but they were never a couple. Lucas has been in a long-term relationship with his girlfriend, Shannon Sullivan, for years. They even have a YouTube channel together where they’ve documented their life and travels.
- Does he hate the show? Not at all. He’s expressed frustration with the industry’s "machine" but has always spoken fondly of the cast and the character of Gilbert.
- Is he Jewish? Yes. He grew up in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago and attended Hebrew school.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you’re a fan trying to keep up with the gilbert anne with an e actor, stop looking for him in the tabloids. He isn't there.
Instead, look into his advocacy for sustainable housing and plant medicine. He often supports projects that focus on environmentalism and social justice. If you want to see his latest work, check out No Address or his indie film Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets, which features some of his most raw acting to date.
The story of Lucas Jade Zumann isn't one of a "forgotten" actor. It’s the story of a guy who hit the jackpot of fame and decided he’d rather be a pilot and a carpenter. In an era of manufactured influencers, that’s probably the most "Gilbert Blythe" thing he could have done.
To see what the rest of the Avonlea crew is up to, you can track the current projects of Amybeth McNulty (who recently appeared in Stranger Things) or Dalila Bela. Most of the cast has remained incredibly tight-knit, often supporting each other's indie ventures and social causes.