See The Unbelievably Real Norman Reedus Walking Dead Cosplay Mask
A Reddit user made a very realistic Norman Reedus face mask for a The Walking Dead cosplay.
If you thought deepfake technology was getting a little too realistic, then you might want to look at some of the cosplay masks that are being generated these days! Reddit user u/FeralWorks recently wowed the r/cosplay subreddit with his lifelike mask of Norman Reedus’ Daryl Dixon character from The Walking Dead. FeralWorks is the online handle for Micah Ebbe, and his Instagram page shows a detailed look at how the craftsman produces his masks.
Daryl Dixon cosplay (pre-weathering)
by u/FeralWorks in cosplay
And Reddit is eating it up; user u/NocturnalNess made their appreciation of the mask known, by stating, “The mask is amazing…. Though it looks like you’re wearing the skin of another, and it kinda gives me the uncanny valley jeebies.” Sure, the craftsmanship of the Norman Reedus mask is the spitting image of the Walking Dead star, but there is always something a little unsettling when you see somebody wearing a realistic mask. Think about it, a person is wearing somebody else’s face; most of us are familiar with Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but this is mask is on a whole other level!
In reply to the uncanny valley comment, Ebbe states that he’ll be wearing sunglasses at any convention he attends to avoid creeping people out too much with the eye cutouts. He also went on record saying that although the mask is an accurate portrayal of Norman Reedus’ character in The Walking Dead, the video footage from his Instagram will reveal how his voice is a far cry from the actor’s voice. Vocal cords aside, if we saw somebody wearing this mask in public, we’d certainly do a double-take!
Ebbe is clearly a master of his mask-making craft, but he took his design to Reddit to figure out what kind of props he should bring to conventions when he’s wearing it. Expressing concern about bringing a fake weapon to a convention, Ebbe asked what kind of props would compliment Norman Reedus’ gruff look, considering he actually hasn’t finished watching The Walking Dead himself. And the suggestions got clever real quick; some users suggested that he simply adds a prop dead raccoon or possum hanging off his belt.
Others stated that once Ebbe finished weathering the mask, the mask and a suitable wardrobe would be enough to get the job done. If you think the mask already has an uncanny resemblance to Norman Reedus, then you need to watch some more Walking Dead, because weathering will take this mask to the next level. Daryl is a tired man, and he often takes a beating, so the addition of some tired-looking lines under his eyes and some scarring would only add to the effect.
The Walking Dead had an amazing 11-season run on AMC and is responsible for several spinoffs, including Fear the Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, Tales of the Walking Dead, and even a series featuring Norman Reedus, tentatively titled, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. If you’re a fan of the Walking Dead franchise, then you have a lot of ways to get your fill and learn the survival skills necessary to fight off hordes of bloodthirsty zombies. In the meantime, if you find yourself at a convention and see Norman Reedus buying popcorn at the concession stand, just know that it might not actually be him!
