Zac Efron made physical changes for his role as Ted Bundy.
The director of Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile, Joe Berlinger, revealed to EMPIRE magazine how Zac Efron prepared for the role of the serial killer.
The magazine revealed that Berlinger gave Efron recommended books on Bundy, with the director being an expert having helmed Netflix documentary series Conversations With A Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes.
But that's not all, as Efron "lost weight and wore false teeth" to look the part.
"I didn't want him to be mimicking Bundy," Berlinger revealed. "I wanted him to find the freedom to interpret the physicality of the man in his own way."
The story of Ted Bundy is shown from the perspective of his girlfriend Elizabeth Kloepfer, who struggled to accept the reality of her boyfriend's nature.
The director also opened up about his decision to cast the High School Musical star.
"I thought: 'Wow, if Zac is willing to play with his teen heartthrob image like that, this is going to be exciting.'
"Bundy was the quintessential deceiver, and Zac has the potential to make an audience feel betrayed."
Berlinger defended the choice of Efron against the doubters, however, who feel the film is just "taking a Disney star and turning him into a killer."
"Zac actually turns in this amazing performance," says Berlinger. "It's going to change everyone's perceptions of him as an actor."
The film also stars Lily Collins as Bundy's girlfriend, Kloepfer, John Malkovich, Jim Parsons, and Haley Joel Osment.
We shall have to wait and see for ourselves how the film turns out!
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile is released in UK cinemas and on Sky Cinema and NOW TV on May 3, 2019.
