‘Inhumans’ Director Talks Directing Medusa’s Hair

Medusa’s hair has been a challenge for Marvel’s The Inhumans with early looks at the CGI effects giving the Queen’s hair its incredible abilities garnering criticism that it just didn’t look realistic.

Star Serinda Swan insisted during a Q&A at a Television Critics Association event earlier this month that the wig and effects were a work in progress and now director Roel Reiné is talking his part of the work to bring Medusa‘s hair to life.

Reiné, who directed the first two episodes that will premiere on IMAX screens on Friday, told Independent that he worked closely with the visual effects teams to “direct” Medusa’s hair.

“I see all the shots and then make notes. I pitch them the ideas, and what they do. For instance, in one shot when Maximus puts his hand on Medusa’s shoulder, the hair must move away. Then when he walks away, the hair must move itself. These are all things that you must direct,” Reiné said.

Directing Medusa’s hair, though, apparently meant pushing the limits of the hybrid CGI and practical effects employed to get the specific shots and actions Reiné wanted specific to the hair.

“I pushed it to the limits. For instance, the first time we see Medusa — which I will not spoil — she’s doing something very intimate. What does the hair do at the moment? I pitched what the hair was doing, and then we got this really cool reveal shot, of what she was doing and her hair. That was really tough, one of the toughest shots to pull off in the VFX world,” he said.

If the latest trailer for The Inhumans is any indication, Reiné may just have pulled it off. In the latest clip Medusa’s hair was less fluid and more realistic instead of being shown in constant motion. The footage also gave a taste of a fight scene during Maximus’ coup, with Medusa’s hair taking out troops trying to subdue her.

Audiences will see Reiné’s finished product, hair and all, when Marvel’s The Inhumans premieres September 1 in IMAX theaters followed by its television debut September 29th on ABC.