'Warner Brothers and Disney reach out to us': Meet the man who recreates famous Hollywood props

Matt and Sara Hodge founder of Reel Icons Ireland with their children (left to right) Matthew, 13, Leroy, 11, and Laila, 7, outside the organisation's workshop. Photo: Moya Nolan

From the gun that killed Batman’s mum and dad to the talking car in Knight Rider, Matt Hodge has dedicated his life to recreating some of Hollywood’s most famous props.

But the man behind Dublin-based group Reel Icons knows that with great power comes great responsibility. 

Since founding the organisation in 2018, he has travelled with his costumes and props to hospitals, hospices and charity events nationwide. 

Sara and Matt Hodge in the Reel Icons Ireland workshop. Since founding the organisation in 2018, Matt has travelled with his costumes and props to hospitals, hospices and charity events nationwide. Photo: Moya Nolan

He does so free of charge and often under the radar. The idea is to replicate, not just the costumes and props of their favourite superheroes, but their propensity to help others as well.

The team’s approach, Matt tells the Irish Examiner, differs from cosplay in that costumes are almost indistinguishable from the original pieces used in the referenced films and television programmes. 

Reel Icons came about as a division of the 501st legion Ireland which creates and showcases screen-accurate Star Wars costumes. It now operates independently and has 25 members, six of whom are children. The group impersonates superheroes as well as other film and television favourites with the exception of Star Wars characters.

Matt has gone to epic lengths to bring movies to life, even conjuring up mobile film sets to showcase at events. After his equipment and tools crept into his kitchen and living room, he relocated operations to a workshop in Rathcoole. 

The rented space is a cornucopia for artists with an array of tools and equipment including 3D printers, laser engravers as well as the traditional saws and hammers.

Matt and Sara Hodge with their children. 'Sara wasn’t sure about the costume thing at first but now she dresses up as Supergirl. The reaction she gets from little girls, who up to now, only met with princesses, is always lovely.' Photo: Moya Nolan

“We were able to recreate the whole Gotham Police Department from scratch right down to the mini television next to Commissioner Gordon’s desk that plays Gotham news in the background," he said.

"If you listen closely you will hear all about the stock market as well as crime news about The Joker. Reel icon members helped to make this as accurate as possible. 

"Holly even created suspect files, and scrutinised every part of what was written in them so that it’s completely true to the movies.

They work hard to make sure that whatever they have on display is exactly what people see on screen. 

"There’s a replica of the gun that The Joker used in the bank robbery in the Dark Knight. We have Kryptonite being held as evidence in a bag. There’s a cell where you can go and have your mug shot taken. 

"Movie fans can also see the string of pearls that came off Batman’s mother’s neck when she was killed and the gun that was used to shoot both parents.” 

Attention to detail has always been paramount for Matt.

Matt Hodge: 'There is a difference between cosplay and professional costuming. With cosplay you can change it up and do whatever makes you happy.' Photo: Moya Nolan

“There is a difference between cosplay and professional costuming. With cosplay you can change it up and do whatever makes you happy. We get invited to attend events because of our professionalism and accuracy. 

"The club has a system that scrutinises the costumes. If someone makes a costume that is not up to a certain standard we will support them in pushing it to the next level and making it as accurate as possible."

He says if people want to come and use their costume for good then the troupe has a lot of platforms they can operate on. 

"Sometimes the people who are responsible for the intellectual property such as the likes of Warner Brothers and Disney reach out to us because we are good at what we do. They will ask us to do the red carpets with them. 

"Last year we did Alien: Romulus and that was a great experience. We don’t get paid for these events because the films are not our intellectual property but we are always very happy to do them.” 

The most rewarding aspect of Matt’s volunteering is his visits to seriously ill children.

“We don’t do birthday parties unless they are for Little Blue Heroes or LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice," he said. "Dressing up for Halloween is one thing but doing it to help a child is another. 

Parents often ask Spiderman to come in to visit their child who won’t see the end of the week. When you enter the room and a child sits up who hasn’t sat up in a week, then our work is complete. 

"Other children might not have spoken a word in days but are able to gather the strength to talk to their favourite superhero.” 

Modified cars also form part of Matt’s coveted collection.

“I don’t want to say how much I spent creating the car from Knight Rider but it was a lot. By trade I’m an auto electrician for cars and I’ve created sound systems for them in the past. 

"The car has everything down to the voice. Unfortunately, it’s off the road at the moment but I’m hoping to get this sorted soon.

"I also have the Jurassic Park jeep and the SHIELD SUV similar to the ones we see used in Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD. When you are driving these vehicles on Irish roads everyone stops to look.” 

Matt’s talent was evident from an early age.

Matt and Sara Hodge with their children Matthew, Leroy, and Laila. 'Parents often ask Spiderman to come in to visit their child who won’t see the end of the week. When you enter the room and a child sits up who hasn’t sat up in a week, then our work is complete.' Photo: Moya Nolan

“Looking back, I was a sucker for watching cartoons. We had the best cartoons you have ever seen when I was a child. There were no agendas. These were old-fashioned cartoons with stories to tell and with a sense of adventure. 

"Like any young boy growing up I wanted to be a teenage mutant ninja turtle. I was always crafting and making my own toys. If something needed repairing, I never saw it as broken. Instead, I viewed it as an opportunity to be modified."

He says "back then" they played with toys properly. 

Laila Hodge in the Reel Icons Ireland workshop. Photo: Moya Nolan

"We made sure we all had different toys because this made more sense for us when we were playing together," he said. "When I got into costume on a grander scale I would repurpose things around the house. 

"I could be in the kitchen or the garage and spot something with the potential to be repurposed. As I got older I might be in Woodies and see something that would make a great plasma cannon.”

Matt shares three children with his wife Sara, Laila (7), Leroy (10) and Matthew (13) 

“They’ve all got on board for it,” he told the Irish Examiner. “Sara wasn’t sure about the costume thing at first but now she dresses up as Supergirl. The reaction she gets from little girls, who up to now, only met with princesses, is always lovely. Supergirl is a beacon of hope for any little girl.”