How to Tell This Year’s Doppelgängers, Evil Twins, and Alter Egos Apart

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If you found Ryan Reynolds’ dual role as Deadpool and Cable somewhat questionable, brace yourself for a wave of clones that are on the horizon. Nowadays, thanks to advanced technology or simple costume changes, actors can easily be duplicated, providing them with the ultimate acting partner – themselves. Keep your eyes peeled on both big and small screens, as well as stages with and without screens, because this year, there’s no escaping multiple appearances.

The Makeup & Wigs

The Alto Knights

Two characters portrayed by Robert De Niro, who are of Italian-American descent, are featured in this movie. One has dark hair and the other has gray. The former character wears a prosthetic nose (Frank Costello), while the latter sports a prosthetic chin (Vito Genovese). The film aims to leave you in awe as one De Niro delivers an impression of Joe Pesci, while the other embodies the essence of Robert De Niro, reminiscent of Martin Scorsese’s more polished works.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Sarah Snook carries out a one-person Broadway show that lasts for two hours without any intermissions, also altering her wigs and facial hair in the process. In her portrayal of Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray, along with his associates, acquaintances, lovers, and adversaries, she adorns herself with a pompadour, a thin mustache, bouncy blonde curls, and notably, a thick, voluminous pair of sideburns.

Black Mirror: ‘USS Callister: Into Infinity’

In this unique blend of Fortnite and Star Trek, many of the conscious clones and their tech counterparts share a striking resemblance, but unlike them, the rogue CEO Walton, played brilliantly by Jimmi Simpson, has chosen a primal existence all on his own. Simpson’s portrayal of clone Walton includes an unkempt long wig and a loincloth that barely covers him, until he is saved by his comrades.

Doctor Odyssey

Indeed, the medical drama series titled “Doctor Odyssey” introduced a twin brother for the main character, Dr. Odyssey, who is portrayed by Joshua Jackson. His counterpart is named Merrill Bankman. In the show, Joshua Jackson adopts a more casual look with flannel shirts and a messier hairstyle compared to his father-like portrayal of Doc Odd. Unlike Max, Merrill has a wife, children, a personal home, and even a white picket fence. Given that the series might be set in a realm between purgatory, heaven, or another unknown place, the appearance of Merril raises the intriguing question: is he a glimpse into Max’s potential future, or an alternate path he could have taken?

The Voice

Mickey 17

Mickey characters 17 and 18 seem similar to Stimpy and Ren respectively. The first 16 Mickeys all share a high-pitched, somewhat New York-influenced accent reminiscent of Robert Pattinson’s portrayal in Bong Joon Ho’s film, which helped make each character unique before they were discarded. Pattinson described his approach to the AP as creating a caricature-like acting style. He initially considered emulating Steve-O from Jackass, a character known for being an extreme human cartoon.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Initially, Sarah Snook appears as if she might recite Wilde’s novella word for word, giving a casual air of mastery over his writing. However, this isn’t long before she starts impersonating characters: a shrill cry for the doomed painter Basil, a seductive tone for the promiscuous Lord Henry, and a polished, youthful bravado for the title character Dorian. Snook skillfully creates distinct voices for both male and female characters of various ages and social backgrounds, none of which resemble her lively Australian accent that’s native to her. Despite employing some cinematic tricks to duplicate Snook on stage, it’s always evident who is speaking when, even during overlapping dialogues.

The Styling

The Monkey

One brother, Theo James, exudes a blend of hotness and aggression in his leather jacket and styled hair; the other brother, clad in attire reminiscent of a school picture day with glasses and a collared shirt, appears more boyish and timid. However, despite their contrasting demeanors – one being somewhat malicious (Bill) and the other meeker (Hal) – these twin siblings will be compelled to engage in a battle against each other if they wish to annihilate the monkey toy that has been systematically taking the lives of their family members.

Sinners

In a somewhat playful manner, the main distinction between the Michael B. Jordan twins, Smoke and Stack, in Ryan Coogler’s action-packed vampire movie, lies in their wardrobes. Smoke, the sensitive, kind-hearted fellow, often dons blue attire and sports a newsboy cap, while Stack, the charming rogue, favors red outfits and accessorizes with a wide-brimmed hat and a gold grill.

Twinless

James Sweeney’s second film, premiered at Sundance, narrates the tale of a man who develops an intense fascination towards a pair of twins – one straight, one gay. Dylan O’brien portrays both characters, with the straight twin (Roman) being rough and masculine, lacking in sophistication, while his gay counterpart (Rocky) is flamboyant, sporting short shorts, vivid colors, and a touch of mustache.

The CGI

Captain America: Brave New World

It’s quite surprising, really: Although both characters are played by Harrison Ford (President Thaddeus Ross and the Red Hulk), they don’t seem to share many physical resemblances. In fact, you can see that the Red Hulk sports a distinctly darker hairstyle in comparison to his human self, who has graying hair.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

In his time, Oscar Wilde wrote a satire on vanity that couldn’t have foreseen the ability for us to instantly alter our appearances digitally on devices. In this performance, Snook transforms her look on a mobile device that is displayed to the audience. Her lips swell, her cheekbones recede, and her eyelashes extend towards the edge of the screen. Director Kip Williams aimed to depict how “this digital age of self-performance unparalleled in history” creates conflicting layers of self-image. The intrigue of the staging lies in the use of screens, which descend from the ceiling to display Snook as various characters interacting with each other and with the real Snook. She is surrounded by images of herself, digitally aged or youthified, on a green screen so that all versions of Snook can sit at a table together.

Your Imagination

Severance

In the strange office setting portrayed by Ben Stiller, the differences between Insiders (Innies) and Outsiders (Outies) are primarily based on knowledge and recollection rather than physical appearance. This means Adam Scott doesn’t need a wig to escape Lumon, and viewers eagerly anticipate Britt Lower’s portrayal of Helly R.

So far, we’ve witnessed occasional encounters between the Marks, divided by a camera, with the raw emotional turmoil of Outie Mark (illuminated in blue light) clashing against Innie Mark’s (orange light) personal growth. Scott imbues these characters with a blend of self-assuredness and hesitance, as if they struggle to trust their own reflections.

The series encourages viewers to pay attention not just to facial expressions and vocal inflections but also to the characters’ movements within their distinct environments as they strive to undermine the barriers while protecting what truly matters to them.

Vanya

In this Off Broadway adaptation of Chekhov’s classic, Andrew Scott takes on not just the role of Vanya but also seven other characters. He uses everyday items like a dishcloth, a gold chain, and even a tennis ball to portray the diverse and complex family members, each longing for love, achievement, or something in-between, as they struggle with their collective misery. By the play’s conclusion, all distinct characteristics seem to disappear, leaving only Andrew Scott on stage alone.

Black Mirror: ‘USS Callister: Into Infinity’

For a second time, Cristin Milioti takes charge over both the human team members and their digital counterparts. The personalities of her characters vary significantly. In our world, as Nanette Cole, she appears shy and uncomfortable; however, in the role of Captain Nanette Cole aboard the USS Callister, she exudes confidence and poise.

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2025-04-22 14:54