Hey there, movie buffs and tech enthusiasts! If you think the only thing cooler than a superhero’s powers is their flashy costume, think again. We’ve compiled a list of the most jaw-dropping prosthetic transformations in Hollywood’s biggest movies. From scarred wizards to robotic warriors, these prosthetics go beyond just enhancing an actor’s appearance; they completely transform them into unrecognizable characters.
Ryan Reynolds / Deadpool
So, we all know Ryan Reynolds is a total heartthrob, right? But in Deadpool, he went from hot to… not so much. Thanks to some gnarly special effects makeup, Reynolds transformed into the scarred vigilante.
To make it look even more realistic, the makeup team had to pile on layer after layer of prosthetics – NINE silicon pieces just on his noggin alone. That’s dedication, folks! And to think, all we need is a good hair day to feel like a superhero.
Johnny Depp / Alice in Wonderland
Johnny Depp had a lot of input into his Mad Hatter makeup in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. He researched and found out about Hatter’s Disease, which was caused by toxic chemicals used in hat-making.
So, they made his skin super pale and added orange accents. Depp wanted to look like a madman who had been exposed to noxious fumes, and they nailed it.
Angelina Jolie / Salt
In the movie Salt, Angelina Jolie goes undercover as a man to throw off the bad guys. Let’s just say it was a pretty convincing disguise. Apparently, Jolie’s son Maddox even came to the set and didn’t recognize her until she said: “Mad.”
Can you imagine being such a good actor that your kid can’t spot you? But not everyone was a fan of her manly makeover — Brad Pitt allegedly refused to kiss her while she was all done up. Hey, we get it, Brad. Sometimes it’s hard to smooch someone wearing a fake mustache.
Richard Brake / Game of Thrones
Creating a character for a movie or TV show isn’t always a quick and easy process. Just ask the Night King from Game of Thrones. His look took weeks to design! According to Barrie Gower, the prosthetic designer, “It’s such a complex department, and the builds that go into these things are quite time-consuming.”
For example, they had to make a cast of the Night King’s head and face molds, which took a whopping six weeks. That’s not even counting the hours Richard Brake spent sitting in the makeup chair to bring the character to life. Talk about commitment!
Naomi Grossman / American Horror Story
Naomi Grossman’s transformation into Pepper on American Horror Story was seriously impressive. And even though it took some time to complete, Grossman loved every minute of the process. She recognized the serious talent and artistry that went into creating such an intricate look.
Hey, who wouldn’t feel lucky to be a part of such a cool show? The transformation process was like a work of art, and Grossman was lucky enough to be the canvas. All we can say is bravo, Naomi!
Roddy McDowall / Planet of the Apes
Transforming the cast for Planet of the Apes was a monumental task requiring much prosthetic work. John Chambers was the top dog for makeup artistry for the movie, and he wanted all the actors to know what they were getting into before signing on.
Apparently, many actors passed on the opportunity once they heard how much time was needed for makeup. But luckily, Chambers and producer Arthur Jacobs agreed that the actors needed to be somewhat visible under all that hair and makeup, so viewers could still relate to the characters.
Johnny Depp / Black Mass
In the movie Black Mass, Johnny Depp transformed into James “Whitey” Bulger, an Irish-American crime boss. The makeup team went all out to make Depp look like the real deal, even using bald caps with glued-on hair.
They didn’t want to mess with Depp’s luscious locks. Who would? And to really make those baby blues pop, they added some blue contacts. Talk about a full-on transformation!
Jack Nicholson / Batman
So, in 1989, Jack Nicholson took on the iconic role of the Joker in Batman, and the makeup team had to work hard to get his look just right. Lead makeup artist Nick Dudman took loads of pictures of Jack’s expressions to nail the prosthetics.
But the real challenge was finding a white that didn’t make him look like a ghost, especially against the dark set. No wonder they say it takes a village to make a movie!
