Dylan O’Brien Talks About His Physical Transformation in Ponyboi – The Hollywood Reporter

when Ponyboy Cameraman Don Shawn shared photos from the set of the movie on Instagram featuring Dylan O’Brien in 2022, and the photos quickly went viral. Fans shared their reactions on social media to the actor’s transformation in the film, which included a close fade, slits in his eyebrows, multiple chains, and shaving his facial hair into a chinstrap. It was a stark departure from his shaggy hair and signature beard.

While talking to Hollywood Reporter At the Sundance Film Festival on Saturday, O’Brien and his co-star River Gallo (who also wrote the film) detailed how the look came together.

O’Brien noted that creating the character’s hair and costumes was a collaborative effort between him, Gallo, and director Esteban Arango. While Gallo wanted the actor to go for an inspired look Jersey Shore Star Pauly D To fit the film’s Jersey setting, O’Brien envisioned his character having his hair cut short.

“We had this barber do this really cool cut that kind of brings everything together,” the actor explained. Then he turned to Gallo and recalled: “Do you remember that day in the trailer? We were doing like the goatee and you were like, ‘Leave the chinstrap.’ I was like, ‘Sure.’ And then I fought for the chinstrap and I kept it, fortunately, because I love it.

Another of Gallo’s ideas about O’Brien’s appearance stuck. “River literally texted me about the tattoo idea early on when I first came on board and said, ‘I’d love it’ and I’ll leave it as a surprise,” River said. Teen Wolf alum.

Once he discovered the look, O’Brien was able to fully understand his character.

“It just kind of came together and really informed me. ‘I mean, those things helped me a lot, especially with something that was such a departure for me, for sure and it’s not who I am by any means,'” he explained. “I definitely felt like I knew exactly… I was I know this man. I knew kids like this. I knew exactly what I wanted to do. But all of these things really evolve when the process starts coming together and the tattoos, hair, and clothes that fit me come together. I never could have stepped into this role the way I ended up doing it without all those parts in the process.

Watch the full interview in the video above.