Michael Wilkinson talks collaborating with the cast, details to look out for and the new-look batsuit.
[dropcap size=small]W[/dropcap]e’re used to hearing actors and directors talk to the media about their upcoming projects; it’s not so often we hear from a costume designer, but then it’s not often a film’s wardrobe is as highly anticipated as Batman v Superman‘s. Dawn of Justice costume designer Michael Wilkinson this week spoke to People’s Choice to reveal some of what we’re in for next March.
‘We tweaked the Superman suit only slightly from our suit from Man of Steel. We streamlined plus sharpened the details of the costume a little to suit the more earthly context of this film. Everything else is new!’
So how are the Batman and Wonder Woman suits different to what we’ve seen before?
‘Wonder Woman has never been seen in a film before, so there was nothing to compare it to! There is of course the costume from the TV show, but Zack wanted our character to be a fierce and intimidating warrior – gritty, battle-scarred and immortal. The batsuit is a complete 180 degree turn from the previous film incarnations: our Batman’s power comes from his incredible physical strength and fighting skills, not from armor. Zack Snyder wanted him to look as much like the comic book version as possible to be respectful to the original source.’
So Wilkinson studied the long history of the Dark Knight, and he also delved into Superman and Wonder Woman’s pasts.
‘To get ready to design the costumes for Batman v Superman, I really did my homework. I studied how these iconic characters have been portrayed over the last 75 years on film, on TV, in comic books, graphic novels and video games. I studied what they mean to people, what they stand for, why they are important. I started an exhaustive search for new materials and technologies — original ways of portraying these characters that would be unlike anything audiences have seen before. I wanted the costumes to help make the characters inspirational and relevant to modern audiences.’
Snyder’s input was ‘phenomenal’, said Wilkinson, before he revealed some of the little details he and the director decided to include in the final costumes.
‘Zack was there every step of the way. He had a great idea to have some Kryptonian script subliminally included in the details of [one of the] suits, so we made that happen. There is ancient Greek script on Wonder Woman’s weapons too. My favorite details of the batsuit are the brass knuckles on the gloves.’
According to Wilkinson, Ben Affleck took to the batsuit from the very first fitting, while stars Jason Momoa (Aquaman) and Amy Adams (Lois Lane) had similar experiences.
‘From the moment Ben had the suit on in the first fitting he was hooked. He liked the way it made him feel – powerful and intimidating. Amy was rather attached to her winter coats and trenches, and it was pretty hard to get Jason out of his Aquaman costume. It really became a part of him.’
And will Wilkinson continue to be a part of the DC Universe in years to come?
‘My lips are sealed.’
I don’t know what we expected.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice hits theaters March 25th, 2016.
