Anthony Carrigan’s Metamorpho Transformation Was Brutal, But His Lex Luthor Drama Is Even Worse

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Following appearances as The Mist on The Flash and Victor Zsasz on Gotham, Anthony Carrigan is moving into the realm of superhero films, taking on the role of Rex Mason, better known as Metamorpho, in James Gunn’s upcoming Superman. This marks the first time the character has been portrayed in live-action, with practical effects such as prosthetics and makeup being used to transform Carrigan into Metamorpho for the upcoming DC film. However, Carrigan shared that the transformation process was quite challenging, and his comments about Metamorpho’s complex relationship with Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor are even more troubling.

Turning Anthony Carrigan Into Metamorpho Was An Intensive Process

According to Barry’s account, it required between five and six hours daily to bring out Metamorpho’s distinctive features, a transformation that Rex Mason underwent when he gained the power to change any part of his body into various chemical components. He described his experience in these words:

Initially, various items were attached to me. Later, intricate details were painted on, and even more accessories were added on top. To put it simply, I was thoroughly immersed, not only glued but also sewn into the design. It’s important to note that I was metaphorically speaking about being a part of this extraordinary costume.

I’d struggle with this process due to my mild claustrophobia being intensified by feelings of being trapped. However, Anthony Carrigan didn’t seem to mind at all. He shared with EW that he appreciates practical effects and found the long hours spent on them worth it because they allow you to truly feel the texture of things, something your brain notices. Since his older sisters used to put makeup on him whenever they wanted during childhood, Carrigan can now achieve a calm state, although he acknowledged that the last hour was the most difficult.

Metamorpho Is Being Forced To Work For Lex Luthor

Regardless of one’s feelings towards the Metamorpho makeup process, everyone can find common ground in the fact that it’s not a tragic situation, unlike the unfortunate circumstances surrounding Anthony Carrigan’s character in Superman. In an interview, Carrigan revealed that while some aspects of the movie are inspired by Metamorpho’s history, we’ll encounter him fully embodying his character, much like the other Justice Gang members. However, it appears that Rex Mason will be compelled by Lex Luthor to transform his body into kryptonite, a move intended to weaken David Corenswet’s Superman. As Carrigan himself described it:

In the storyline, you find yourself forced into a role where causing pain to others is inevitable, yet you yearn for goodness. The film masterfully portrays this dilemma by making you empathize with the character, understanding that he’s compelled to act in ways that are agonizing.

More Superman Coverage

In a recent statement, Superman’s James Gunn subtly mentioned J. Robert Oppenheimer while assuring fans not to worry about the extensive cast of the upcoming movie.

‘The Part I Missed Initially’: James Gunn Discusses Truthfully About the Controversial Flying Scene of David Corenswet in the Superman Trailer”

Or, more casually:

“James Gunn Admits He Overlooked It at First: The Stirring Superman Trailer’s Debatable Flying Shot with David Corenswet

It’s unfortunate that poor Metamorpho didn’t volunteer for his powers and unique appearance, but things seem to be getting worse as he’s being manipulated into hurting one of the world’s top superheroes. Officially, we don’t know exactly how Lex Luthor is making Metamorpho obey him, but in a recent Superman teaser, it appears that Superman has a green infant and Metamorpho is reaching out with tendrils towards him. Fans are guessing that the baby might be Metamorpho’s son, which suggests Luthor may be using a hostage situation to control him. To make matters worse, Luthor had already taken Superman’s pet dog Krypto captive!

It seems quite likely that eventually, Metamorpho will find himself at odds with Lex Luthor and join forces with Superman to take down the villain. Though the first DC Universe film isn’t set to release until July 11, I’m eagerly anticipating further chances for Anthony Carrigan to bring this character to life, as there’s certainly more to his story that needs to be told.

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2025-06-27 16:09