Pete Davidson’s latest film transformation packs a real punch.
Indeed, the Saturday Night Live alum stepped out rocking a new look while filming the crime thriller Tommy Karate—in which he plays the titular role of real-life mafia killer Tommy Pitera—in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Aug. 25.
And his transformation will surely have fans doing a double take. After all, as shown in behind-the-scenes photos from the film’s set, Davidson—who shares daughter Scottie, 8 months, with exElsie Hewitt—sported piercing light blue contacts and a dark-haired wig that had him rocking a much longer ‘do.
Along with the changes to his appearance, the 32-year-old’s costuming will also have people look at him through fresh eyes.
Indeed, Davidson donned a black bomber jacket reading “Okinawa” with a red Japanese Oni mask embroidered on the back, worn over a black button-up shirt that featured a bird pattern. The King of Staten Island actor paired the look with black pants and red sneakers.
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Davidson’s transformation into Pietra—a member of the Bonnano crime family who earned the nickname “Tommy Karate” due to his use of martial arts in fighting—was first teased last month, with the film’s director Justin Chongiving the first look at Davidson as the mobster in a dramatic black and white still.
“Petey’z all growns up now,” he wrote on Instagram July 23. “Here’s Pete Davidson as mobster Tommy Karate. Was a long journey to get here but excited for everyone to see how talented he is.”
In the shot, which featured Davidson’s side profile, the actor’s trademark grin is nowhere to be seen. Davidson—who donned a black suit jacket—looked to the side, sporting a grim expression, while his hair featured a brushed-back style.
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And while the comedian starring in a serious role may be surprising to some, Tommy Karate has been a passion project for Davidson—who serves producer and co-writer on the film—for years.
“Tommy Karate is the greatest mob story never told,” he told Deadline in March. “I’ve been working on this for over three years, and I’m beyond thrilled that it’s finally in motion.”
And for Davidson, the project is a “dream job.”
“We have a great team behind this one,” he shared, “and I can’t wait for people to see what we’ve come up with.”
To see more stars who have underwent shocking transformations for film and TV roles, keep reading…
Moviestore/Shutterstock; Jason Merritt/Getty Images; Matt Kennedy/Annapurna/Kobal/ShutterstockChristian Bale, American Hustle & ViceThe British actor packed on more than 40 pounds for his Oscar-nominated performance as a beer-bellied con artist in 2013’s American Hustle. He put on the same amount to play former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney in the 2018 movie Vice, which also earned him an Oscar nomination.
For his 2019 movie Ford v Ferrari, Bale dropped dropped 70 pounds to play slender race car driver Ken Miles. And it wasn’t his first time losing weight for a role, having also lost about 30 pounds while filming the 2011 film The Fighter.Lacey Terrell/NETFLIX; Jon Kopaloff/Getty ImagesGlenn Close, Hillbilly ElegyTo transform the actress into her role of real life Appalachian grandmother Mamaw Vance in the 2020 film, makeup and special effects artist Matthew Mungle pulled Close’s head cast from 2011’s Albert Nobbs and sculpted her a new set of false ears and a false nose, according to Variety. The actress received an Oscar nomination for her role.Profile Productions/Tailored Films; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagicSebastian Stan, The ApprenticeFor his role as Donald Trump, not only did the actor work with the same hairstylist and makeup artists who transformed him into Tommy Lee for 2022’s Pam & Tommy, but he also packed on the pounds to fill out the reality star-turned-president’s frame.
Stan said he gained around 15 pounds by eating instant ramen mixed with soy sauce—a dish recommended by his nutritionist to look bloated in the face—and drinking soda.
Hulu/Moviestore/Shutterstock; Dan MacMedan/WireImageAndra Day, The United States vs Billie HolidayThe actress lost almost 40 pounds to play the iconic jazz singer in the 2021 film, which earned her an Oscar nomination.Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures; Stuart C. Wilson/Getty ImagesCillian Murphy, OppenheimerWas eating, as his onscreen wife Emily Blunt joked “like, an almond every day,” a bit nutty? Sure. But the Irish star really wanted to nail atomic bomb scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer’s appearance.
“Oppenheimer had a very distinct physicality and silhouette, which I wanted to get right,” he explained to The New York Times. “I had to lose quite a bit of weight, and we worked with the costume and tailoring; he was very slim, almost emaciated, existed on martinis and cigarettes.”Moviestore/Shutterstock; Jeff Vespa/WireImageCharlize Theron, MonsterAt the 2004 Academy Awards, the gorgeous A-lister was honored with a Best Actress win for her chilling portrayal of real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Jerritt Clark/WireImage; DC Comics/Warner Bros./ShutterstockJoaquin Phoenix, The JokerThe actor lost 52 pounds to play the deeply disturbed Arthur Fleck, the man who would become Batman’s adversary. The won the Best Actor Oscar in 2020 for his performance. Clive Coote/Paramount/Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock; Jeffrey Mayer/WireImageNicole Kidman, The HoursIt took three hours (and an infamously large prosthetic nose) for makeup artists to render the Best Actress winner completely unrecognizable for the 2002 drama. Snap/Shutterstock; TIMOTHY CLARY/AFP via Getty ImagesTom Hanks, PhiladelphiaThe actor shed 35 pounds and shaved his head to play an HIV-stricken attorney suing his former firm for wrongful termination. Hanks took home Best Actor at the 1994 Oscars, and made a similar transformation for his Oscar-nominated performance in 2000’s Cast Away. Todd Williamson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images; BBC Films/20th Century Fox/Kobal/ShutterstockRenee Zellwegger, JudyThe actress, who famously gained a reported 17 pounds to play the title role in Bridget Jones’s Diary, did not have to change her physique to transform into Judy Garland for the 2019 film Judy, for which she won her first Oscar. You can thank the makeup and costume department for her transformation.
“Renée was extremely emotionally and artistically involved in Judy, the movie’s costume designer, Jany Temime, who also worked on the Harry Potter films, told Vulture. “It was her film. I think she really got into Judy’s skin.”
Zellweger told the outlet, “Jany fit the costumes to Judy’s posture. So the dresses didn’t fit me unless I stood like I was supposed to stand. The zipper wouldn’t go up.”Entertainment Pictures via ZUMA Press, Jeff Spicer/Getty ImagesMargot Robbie, I, TonyaQuite a departure from Robbie’s sultry character in The Wolf of Wall Street, several prosthetics, braces and wigs helped the Best Actress nominee bring disgraced figure skater Tonya Harding’s career-ending scandal to life in the 2017 flick. Moviestore/Shutterstock; Adam Taylor/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty ImagesMatthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers ClubThe Academy recognized McConaughey’s extreme commitment to playing an HIV/AIDS stricken electrician with a Best Actor win during the 2014 ceremony. Ash Knotek/Snappers/ZUMAPRESS.com; Moviestore/ShutterstockHeath Ledger in The Dark KnightThe late actor received a posthumous Oscar in 2008 for his chilling and mesmerizing performance as The Joker in the second film in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. His look as the iconic villain differed greatly from those previously seen on past actors onscreen.
“What would it be if this guy slept in his makeup, this psychopath?” makeup artist John Caglione Jr. told IGN. “If he didn’t spruce up his makeup for two or three weeks? He never changes his clothes It’s those kinds of organic details that really helped.”
He continued, “You think of a clown’s makeup and for the most part, they’re pretty detailed with sharp lines. But this had to be the opposite of that.”Bill Matlock/Fox Searchlight/Kobal/Shutterstock; SGranitz/WireImage; Merie W Wallace/Warner Bros/Kobal/ShutterstockHilary Swank, Boys Don’t Cry & Million Dollar BabyThe two-time Oscar winner dramatically altered her appearance to play real-life transgender man Brandon Teena in the 1999 drama, and then again in Clint Eastwood’s 2004 Best Picture winner.Moviestore/Shutterstock; Kurt Krieger/Corbis via Getty ImagesGary Oldman, Darkest HourIn order to play British prime minister Winston Churchill, the 2018 Best Actor nominee spent upwards of four hours in the makeup chair every day and wore a “Victorian corset” style bodysuit. Fox Searchlight/Kobal/Shutterstock; Luca Teuchmann/WireImageNatalie Portman, Black SwanBefore taking home Best Actress at the 2011 Oscars, the petite actress shed 20 pounds and trained up to 16 hours a day for her role as a mentally ill ballerina. Anne Marie Fox/Voltage/Kobal/Shutterstock; Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesJared Leto, Dallas Buyers ClubEver the chameleon, the 2014 Best Supporting Actor winner prepared to play a HIV-positive transgender woman by losing 40 pounds and only staying in character on set.
“I had done similar things with weight, but this was different,” Leto told E! News in 2013. “I think the role demanded that commitment…It was about how does that effect how I walk, how I talked, who I am, how I feel. You know, you feel very fragile and delicate and unsafe.”Moviestore/Shutterstock; Christopher Polk/Getty ImagesBrie Larson, RoomThe Best Actress winner gained 15 pounds of muscle to play a mother who escapes years of captivity with her 5-year-old son (Jacob Tremblay) in the 2015 film. Larson said she even limited her exposure to the outside world, restricted nutrients like Vitamin D and tailored her eating habits to better grasp what her character experienced. Moviestore/Shutterstock; George Pimentel/WireImageRooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon TattooAt the 2012 Academy Awards, the typically fresh-faced starlet was honored with a Best Actress nomination for her performance in the thriller. Mara went as far as to pierce multiple body parts, bleach her eyebrows and chop her hair to transform into Lisbeth Salander.For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
