As Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice draws near and with Justice League: Part One to begin filming shortly after, costume designer Michael Wilkinson finds himself incredibly busy in creating the look for the entire DCEU. For Batman v Superman, only four members of the Justice League have been revealed and each member's costume has received great praise from fans of the DCEU.
In a recent interview with ComicBookResources, Wilkinson spoke about the overall experience of working on Batman v Superman and creating the Dark Knight's iconic suit. "It was a really fun and humbling experience because I grew up watching all the different 'Batman' films," said Wilkinson. "Each time the new 'Batman' film came out, it was like, 'Oh my gosh, I wonder what he's going to look like, how they're going to take it to a whole other level?' So to actually be that guy to be able to contribute what the next Batsuit looks like was pretty mind-blowing. I think we just roll up our sleeves and didn't think about the pressure and just got on with it, working with a very trusting and beloved director that I had already done four other films with, Zack Snyder. So there was a real comfort zone there to really be free and to try something innovative and interesting. Added to that, there was also Wonder Woman in our film, too. So that was a really big moment for me: to be able to create the new look for Wonder Woman."
Unlike Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) and Superman (Henry Cavill), Batman (Ben Affleck) sports not only his normal Batsuit, but his Armored suit as well. And Wilkinson explained why they went with the Frank Miller Dark Knight Returns design. "It was actually, yes. Zack's a huge fan of Frank Miller -- you probably know that because he directed "300," which is another Frank Miller project -- so we looked at that comic book." He then emphasized on the importance of creating a unique version of Batman for the DCEU. "We really looked at how Batman's been drawn over the last 75 years and sort of really thought about how what we wanted to say about Batman, how Batman is a lot burlier and he's a slightly older Batman. He's a guy that doesn't really have to depend on armor, he's physically fit and in huge shape. When he has to fight Superman of course he really has to lift his game, and that's when he puts on his huge iron suit. But yeah, there was a whole other thinking and a lot went into all of these decisions."
With Wonder Woman making her big screen debut in Batman v Superman, WIlkinson wanted to explore the heroine's Greek roots and to make sure it was present in the design of her outfit. "The most important thing for us is that Wonder Woman was taken seriously and that she had a sense of grit and strength when she stood up with these two other men, that she had an equal amount of power," said the designer on the Amazonian's role as a member of the Trinity. "So when we made her, we went back to her warrior roots and her Greek roots and gave her something that mimics the gladiator's armor. It's very practical. It's got strapping and all sorts of gear. It looks very battle-worn. It's beaten up and full of sword scrapes from all the enemies she's been facing over the centuries that she's been with us. So yeah, we just wanted it to feel legitimate and not at all decorative, but grounded. Combining power with grace and majesty was our criteria."
This is Superman's second film in the DCEU and it's only fair that the Man of Steel get an upgrade. Wilkinson went on to explain how Superman's suit was altered for the new film. "Yeah, we wanted to keep playing with that. There's an amazing quotation of Kryptonian that is sort of blended through his suit. We've streamlined a few of the elements. He shows a few new materials. We wanted to keep pushing that to make sure it's as fantastic as it could be."
Justice League: Part One will begin shooting in April and it's only a matter of time until the rest of the superhero team is revealed. Wilkinson confirms that he's designing the costumes for Justice League: Part One and explains the process of designing the individual costumes for each member of the Justice League. "Well, I'm right in the middle of it," said Wilkinson while revealing the film's current production status. "We have camera tests coming up very soon, with the new characters that we're establishing. So it's hugely exciting, overwhelming and just thrilling. So we're really thinking about these new characters, how the power balances between the whole Justice League, what role they all play. How they're all very diverse from each other. They have a different relationship with power, how that's expressed through their costume. A lot of work is going into it."
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice hits theaters everywhere March 25th, 2016.
Fearing the actions of a god-like super hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before. Starring Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, with Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne, Diane Lane, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeremy Irons, and Holly Hunter, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is directed by Zack Snyder, written by Chris Terrio from David S. Goyer's screenplay.