The visual effects team behind Stranger Things has revealed the painstaking process used to transform British actor Jamie Campbell Bower into the terrifying villain Vecna for the show's fourth season. In a new video interview with Vanity Fair, Emmy-winning prosthetic artist Barrie Gower detailed how he and his team brought the Duffer brothers' vision to life.
Gower explained that the Duffer brothers approached him after seeing his work on Game of Thrones, particularly the Night King, and the radiation burns he created for Chernobyl. Concept art by Michael Mayer inspired the final design, and the team took a full-body plaster cast of Campbell Bower to begin the build.
The transformation required more than seven hours of makeup and prosthetics each day, with around 25 overlapping pieces applied to the actor's face, arms, and body. The costume was '90% practical', with additional animation used for moving vines on the skin. Small holes were created in the ears so Campbell Bower could hear through the costume.
Gower praised Campbell Bower for never complaining about the lengthy process, noting that the actor used the time in the makeup chair to listen to music that helped inspire his character. The final two episodes of Stranger Things season four are set to be released on 1 July.
