WONDER WOMAN

The importance of costume design

The Goddess of Truth appearing in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was exciting for Michael Wilkinson as it's her first big screen incarnation, introduces Gal Gadot in the role and provokes the notion that many more superheroes may exist. “We wanted our Wonder Woman to be strong, confident and every bit the equal of the film’s male superheroes. Zack talked about portraying her as a powerful, intimidating warrior who has to stand next to Superman and Batman and be a serious presence. What makes her unique is that she balances this power with an equal measure of grace and majesty, and compassion. Gal Gadot brings the character to life with toughness and complexity.”

“We wanted the costume to seem thousands of years old,” explains Michael who manufactured five of them for Gal Gadot to wear. “It was inspired by the metal armour of Greek and Roman warriors/gladiators with hand wraps, sword harness and lots of practical details that a fighter would incorporate into their setup. Much attention was paid to all the iconic details – lasso, sword, shield, headdress, and cuffs. We incorporated the classic eagle and ‘WW’ motifs, and replaced the classic five-pointed red star with gold eight-pointed Greek star that honours her background. We did a lot of prototyping to find the right materials and construction techniques to achieve the look of metal and leather, but still allow for all the fight choreography. We combined time-honoured techniques with new innovations, such as using clay sculpting and digital sculpting, raw materials and complex fabricated materials.”