Andrew Garfield participates in the viral horse meme “We live in time”

We live in time Star Andrew Garfield is giving credit where it's due: namely to the carousel horse from his upcoming comedic romantic drama, which set the internet abuzz when the first images of the A24 Florence Pugh vehicle emerged last month.

“I haven't heard from him since we were filming, but I'm praying he shows up because without him we really are nothing,” the two-time Oscar nominee told Canadian entertainment channel Etalk, holding back her laughter.

In mid-August, movie fans and social media users had fun with the bright yellow plastic horse featured in one of the first images from the Toronto International Film Festival entry. While all eyes initially focused on the chemistry between Garfield and Pugh on the popular ride, talk quickly turned to the horse's face – which looks like it's screaming in delight (if perhaps pain).

The viral phenomenon spawned a Vulture article on the subject, with the delightful title “Everything We Know About the Crazy Carousel Horse from We live in time.” Talented X-users quickly began Photoshopping the animal's confused, frightened expression onto classic horse paintings and overlaying the image with text like “Here's how to find your email.”

“Nobody would know this movie if it weren’t for that damn horse,” Garfield joked on the TIFF red carpet before the film’s world premiere.

We live in timeby filmmaker John Crowley and writer Nick Payne, unravels the ten-year-old relationship and marriage between Pugh's Almut and Garfield's Tobias, amid life-threatening illness and the challenges and joys of parenthood. Deadline's critic said of the film: “I wish We had more time with both in this slim but worthy addition to the romantic comedy genre, or perhaps I should say rom-dram-com as there are also a number of powerful dramatic scenes from this marriage.”

The emotional film, which moved both audiences and stars to tears, is also a personal matter for Garfield, as his mother died of cancer several years ago.

We live in time Cinema premiere on October 11th.