Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 used so many makeup appliances that it broke a record previously held by How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
"Just heard from our makeup folks at Legacy Effects that yesterday Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 officially passed the World Record for 'the most makeup appliances created for a single production' (surpassing The Grinch)." director James Gunn tweeted. "Congrats, guys! Thanks for keeping practical effects alive!"
The live-action film of Dr. Seuss' The Grinch, which had to apply prosthetics from all sorts of creatures from Mount Crumpit to Whoville, is well-known for its painstaking attention to detail and fanciful latex appliances. Jim Carrey, who played the Grinch, has called the overly lengthy makeup application process he endured during filming "torture."
That Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 surpassed The Grinch's record gives a nod to the sheer amount of makeup appliances the film has had to create. The first Guardians of the Galaxy film took a team of 50 makeup artists to apply about 1,250 prosthetics between the main characters and alien extras on set. Drax the Destroyer alone has several prosthetics he wears at any given time after a painstaking application process.
Whether it's a crusty green Who-ish creature that lives alone on the top of a twisted mountain or an alien that wants to avenge his loved ones' deaths, it can take a dedicated makeup team several hours to complete one character's fantastical look. Latex pieces, dentures, contacts, headpieces, wigs and other hair appliances, and other body applications help to create the stellar looks in the film. Practical effects, as opposed to computer-generated effects, can add a layer of realism to an otherwise fictional story plot because the effects are tangible, real-world applications.
Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Guardians of the Galaxy have a lot of expectations riding on Vol. 3, especially with the recent death of Gamora and the previously attitude-ridden teen status of Groot. However, Zoe Saldana is reprising her role as Gamora in Vol. 3, which may give some insight as to questions left unanswered in past Marvel films, such as what happened to the time-displaced version from Avengers: Endgame. Other actors joining Saldana in Vol. 3 are Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Will Poulter, and Karen Gillan, to name a few.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 releases May 5, 2023.
Sources: Twitter