‘Superman’ Actor Reveals Grueling Makeup Transformation: “I Was Sewn In, Tied In, Roped In”

Anthony Carrigan, who plays Metamorpho in the upcoming Superman movie, went through a long and tough process each day to look like his character. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Carrigan shared how intense the transformation was and how much work it took to pull off the look.

To become Metamorpho, Carrigan had to sit in the makeup chair for about five to six hours every day. The process involved not just gluing pieces to his body, but also painting over them and adding even more layers.

He described the experience in detail, saying, “I’m not kidding when I say that I was glued in, I was sewn in, I was completely enveloped. I was tied in… roped in, basically.”

Despite how exhausting it sounds, Carrigan said it was all worth it. He likes when movies use real, physical effects rather than just relying on computer graphics. “It’s worth it because you can actually feel the texture of something. Your brain notices the difference,” he said.

The actor explained that being in full makeup helped him get into character and made the emotional side of Metamorpho feel more real. His character, Rex Mason, is someone who didn’t choose to become a metahuman and struggles with the changes to his body.

Carrigan said this made the role feel personal for him, especially since he has alopecia, a condition that causes hair loss. He and director James Gunn both felt this connection helped bring a deeper emotion to the character.

Metamorpho is not a typical hero in the film. Carrigan revealed that the character is forced to use his powers to harm Superman, which causes inner conflict. He said, “You’re in a situation where it’s having to hurt someone, having to be an agent of the bad guy. And at the same time, there’s this struggle to want to be good.”

Though the costume took hours to put on, Carrigan shared that he found a way to stay calm during it. He joked that growing up with two older sisters who put makeup on him helped prepare him for this kind of patience.

Superman will hit theaters on July 11, and fans can expect to see not only big action but also some very human stories behind the superpowers.

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