How Wicker Built a Splinter-Free Costume for Alexander Skarsgård

Filmgoers flocking to theaters for the fantasy romance Wicker may have wondered about the physical hazards facing its lead characters, particularly when it comes to close contact with a man made entirely of woven reeds. Artisans behind the production have shed light on the craft that allowed Olivia Colman to share intimate scenes with co-star Alexander Skarsgård without suffering a single splinter. The whimsical tale pairs an ostracized fisherwoman with a bespoke, woven companion in a medieval seaside community.

Directed by Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson, the feature adapts Ursula Wills-Jones's short story The Wicker Husband into a stylized fable about loneliness, craftsmanship, and social conformity. Colman portrays a fierce, unmarried woman who endures the mockery of her conservative village until she commissions the town's master basket-maker, played by Peter Dinklage, to build her a spouse. The result is an unexpectedly romantic presence that quickly captivates her, upending the community's rigid expectations.

Bringing the woven husband to life required an ambitious synthesis of traditional basketry and cutting-edge prosthetic engineering. Rather than relying on pure digital effects or brittle, rigid timber, the production enlisted New Zealand's acclaimed Wētā Workshop to construct Skarsgård's elaborate suit. The creature design and prosthetics teams spent roughly eighteen months refining the character, ensuring the costume appeared visually authentic to woven willow while remaining safe and pliable for close-contact filming.

To avoid the rough texture and sharp splinters inherent to natural wicker, technicians relied heavily on flexible polymers, soft foam latex, and molded silicone. The intricate facial appliances consisted of approximately ten distinct pieces applied across Skarsgård's jaw, nose, cheeks, and brow to mirror the look of woven reeds without impeding his emotional range. Beneath the outer basketwork, a custom 3D-printed prosthetic shell matched to the actor's physical measurements distributed weight evenly and eliminated friction.

The pliable materials proved essential during romantic sequences between Colman and Skarsgård, allowing the actors to embrace naturally without protective barriers breaking the illusion. While the finished effect on screen convincingly evokes dried wicker and reed work, the contact surfaces were specifically treated, smoothed, and softened for physical interaction. Crew members noted that the tactile comfort of the suit enabled Colman to focus entirely on dramatic vulnerability rather than navigating hazardous set pieces.

Curiosity surrounding the practical logistics of the costume accelerated across social media following the film's promotional campaign and theatrical release. Audiences and critics alike seized on the unconventional romantic premise, generating widespread discussion regarding how an intimate relationship with a woven partner could function realistically. By addressing the behind-the-scenes engineering, the filmmakers satisfied viewer curiosity while highlighting the tactile artistry behind modern screen prosthetics.

The technical achievement underscores the film's broader themes of human connection and artisanal devotion. Because Dinklage's basket-maker invests care and love into weaving the companion, the physical beauty and gentleness of the character reflect the emotional weight of handmade creation. The contrast between the rigid judgment of the villagers and the soft, responsive nature of the wicker figure serves as the emotional anchor for Colman's character arc.

As Wicker continues its theatrical run, the film's reliance on practical effects over heavy computer generation has emerged as a major talking point among industry artisans and prospective awards voters. Costume designers and makeup artists view the hybrid fabrication process as a model for blending traditional physical crafts with modern digital scanning and printing. With praise mounting for both Colman's performance and the creative teams behind her co-star's woven exterior, the production demonstrates how thoughtful practical construction can ground even the most surreal cinematic romances.