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Janelle Monáe’s 2024 Halloween tribute transformed her into E.T. from Steven Spielberg’s 1982 film, using custom foam-latex prosthetics and working lights rather than a store-bought costume. Monáe imagined the alien in contemporary life, then wore two versions of the look at her Los Angeles Halloween party: one that forced her to knee-walk and a taller version she could walk and dance in.
Why Monáe chose E.T.
Monáe described E.T. and Elliott’s story as one that had stayed with her. In an interview with Vogue published October 30, 2024, she said, “From Spielberg’s writing to the cinematography, the story of E.T. and Elliot has touched my heart deeply.” She wanted to imagine what the character might be doing decades after the film’s release. “Since the movie came out 42 years ago, I thought it could be cool for the world to see what E.T. has been up to now,” she said, using a rounded figure for the time since the 1982 release.
The premise became a photo story about an extraterrestrial navigating ordinary modern routines, rather than a recreation of a single scene. Monáe has also said she had been thinking about the costume for years; the Associated Press reported that she told People she had planned it for two years. That describes the idea’s lead time, not a precise construction schedule.
How the E.T. transformation was built
Foam-latex prosthetic skin and moving details
Vogue reported that the costume used foam-latex prosthetic skin. Monáe and the effects team considered how to make E.T.’s eyes blink and his heart and left index finger light up, details that helped make the character feel alive in the photographs. Monáe began assembling a team the previous year after meeting Jason Collins, owner of Los Angeles-based Autonomous FX.
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The build also had to accommodate Monáe inside a character designed to look very small. Speaking to Us Weekly, she called it “probably one of my more difficult costumes to pull off because E.T. is a little guy.” She described the interior as tight and said the challenge was creating E.T.’s small proportions while fitting inside the costume.
Styling that connected the film to 2024
Stylist Alexandra Mandelkorn and designer Alex Navarro worked with Monáe on E.T.’s clothing. The styling recalled disguises from the movie, including the blonde wig and top hat, while giving the alien a tuxedo look and a “Kamala Harris for President” pin, a distinctly 2024 detail. The combination kept the character recognizable while placing him in Monáe’s present-day world.
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The photos put E.T. into everyday life
Photographer Pol Kurucz made the images in sets designed by Michael Avina and Krystall Schott. Vogue described scenes of E.T. eating croissants at breakfast and getting dressed in a closet. The Associated Press also highlighted an image with a bicycle and basket, a visual reference to the film. Together, the setups extended the costume concept into a playful question: what might E.T. do if he were still around now?
Monáe has framed Halloween as a chance to inhabit an imagined identity, telling Vogue, “For me, Halloween has always been about safely giving yourself the space to become what your imagination desires.”
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Two versions made the party look more mobile
Monáe debuted the costume on The Jennifer Hudson Show on October 30, 2024, according to Nerdist. At her Los Angeles Halloween party the following evening, she wore two versions. The first, a lower-proportioned look, restricted her movement enough that she had to knee-walk. She later changed into a taller version that let her walk and dance, according to the Associated Press.
Heidi Klum also appeared as E.T. in 2024, but the two costumes took different approaches. Monáe’s interpretation emphasized tuxedo styling, contemporary photo scenarios and two body proportions; Klum’s featured a long neck and was presented at her New York event. Monáe responded to comparisons by telling the AP, “There can be two Hallo-queens. I love Heidi.”
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What the costume was—and wasn’t
The reported details describe a custom effects build, not a verified retail costume or ready-made replica. The articles do not establish a production budget, labor-hour total or exact team size, so those figures should not be inferred from the visible complexity. The story’s appeal lies in the combination of film-specific character cues, practical effects and an imaginative update—not in a confirmed commercial product.
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