Secret Detail in Michael B. Jordan’s Sinners Transformation Revealed

It was anything but a rocky road to the Sinners makeup trailer.

Prosthetics and makeup artist Mike Fontaine shared at the 2026 Oscars that he and his team worked closely with stars like Michael B. Jordan and Jack O’Connell from Ryan Coogler’s film to create the incredible vampire transformations audiences saw.

Although Jordan made it easier on the team for how he channeled his dual roles of Smoke and Stack.

Playing both twins was incredibly challenging, and I’m not sure everyone realizes how much work Michael put in,” Fontaine explained to Zuri Hall on the Live From TopMob: Oscars red carpet. “As a director, Michael has a great eye for detail, which really helps me. We spent a lot of time perfecting the fangs and gold grills to make each twin unique – they each have their own custom grill design.”

For the team behind the film’s hair and makeup – including Fontaine, Shunika Terry, and Ken Diaz – meticulous detail was crucial, especially as the characters faced their destinies. All three are nominated for Best Makeup and Hairstyling at the 2026 Oscars.

I noticed something amazing while rewatching! When Stack transforms into a vampire, his gold grill actually becomes his fang – it looks like the fang literally bent the gold to fit! It’s such a subtle, but incredibly cool detail the creators added, and I love that they thought of that.

After the violent confrontation at the bar between O’Connell’s vampire, Remmick, and the people inside, Fontaine and his team spent a significant amount of time collaborating with the cast of Sinners to work through the complex logistics.

“It was an enormous challenge, because almost everyone in the movie transforms,” he explained. “Oftentimes on a film, you’re focusing on one character. By the time I got to the end of the script of Sinners, I’m like, ‘Oh my God, every single person’s coming through our trailer. Wait, how many looks we doing today?’”

Despite the difficulties, Fontaine pointed out a positive outcome: the intensive process brought the cast incredibly close. Almost everyone had to undergo significant prosthetics and makeup work, including fake blood and adhesive, which fostered a strong sense of camaraderie and connection among them.

The strong partnership continues to be recognized, as Sinners has received a remarkable 16 nominations at the 2026 Oscars. Michael B. Jordan is nominated for Best Actor, while Delroy Lindo and Wunmi Mosaku are up for Best Supporting Actor and Actress, respectively. Ryan Coogler is also nominated for both Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, and the film is a contender for the top prize: Best Picture.

For all the stars stepping out for film’s biggest night, keep reading…