“I take each project as they come,” explains Michael Wilkinson who received an Oscar nomination for costume designing American Hustle (2013). “I would never say as a rule that I don’t do this type of film. For me I read the script. If there’s something about it I find challenging that I’ve never done before or if there’s a director I greatly admire attached or actors I’ve always wanted to work with those are the different types of criteria that I use when choosing my next job.” Wilkinson has been involved with projects as varied as Babel (2006), 300 (2006), Tron: Legacy (2010), Noah (2014), and currently Batman vs. Superman (2016). “I don’t what it is about me. Maybe it’s because I have a short attention span. I like to mix things up. I like to show the world that I’m not just a superhero or sword and sandals or period or science fiction guy. I’m all of those. For me, costume design is a creative act and by mixing things up so much it keeps my imagination recharged, refreshed and alert.”
“I feel like whenever I work with a different director there’s something I learn,” notes Michael Wilkinson. “There’s a new approach and way of dealing with the design brief. What I learned from David O’Russell was to be brave with my design decisions and be happy to go out on a limb and dig deeper into my investigations into the psychology of all of the characters. I’m bringing that to all of my projects now. I could say the same thing about Zack Snyder. There’s a sense of trust that he has when we work together that builds a confidence in me and allows me to develop my ideas. With each director you learn something new and the combination of all those new things help you to grow as a costume designer.”
When asked about working with Zack Snyder on Watchmen (2009) compared to Batman vs. Superman (2016), Wilkinson responds, “I feel like the process is similar. We dive into the source material and make sure that we have a firm knowledge of that. We make sure that we’re respecting the source material but then at the same time trust our intuition and imagination to take us into interesting areas. Maybe what has changed is the shorthand. Like any relationship over the years we get there quicker. There’s so much trust and mutual respect that the ideas flow freely. There’s no sense of being judged or being afraid that there’s anything such thing as a bad idea. That makes everything a tighter, wonderful and gratifying experience.”
A new member of the inner circle of Zack Snyder is Patrick Tatopoulos who was responsible for the production design for 300: Rise of an Empire (2014) as well as the highly anticipated Batman vs. Superman. “I’m pleased to work with Patrick,” remarks Michael Wilkinson. “He has so much creative energy and wonderful ideas.” In regards to the discussions between the Art and Costume Design Departments, the native of Australia states, “There is of course a design dialogue about how the costumes work with the production design and making sure we’re all on the same page. I have been heading up the costume design of the film. This film is incredibly ambitious, epic and far reaching. As a costume designer it’s such a thrill. There’s never a boring day. You always have to work harder and harder to make it even more awesome and imaginative. It’s a thrilling ride.”
Originally published April 15, 2014. Updated January 18, 2020.
