For many years now, we’ve wanted Guillermo Del Toro and Ron Perlman to team up one more time for Hellboy 3, but we got in February that the movie was officially dead. Word was that Del Toro, Perlman, and Hellboy creator Mike Mignola couldn’t come to terms creatively, the project was shelved, and there was no more adventures for the hell powered comic book hero in our future. Or so we thought. Early this morning , Mignola took to Facebook to announce that a new Hellboy movie is happening, the catch being that it was a R-rated reboot and not the long awaited sequel, with The Descent and Dog Soldiers’ Neil Marshall (he is also responsible for the Blackwater and Watchers on the Wall episodes of Game of Thrones) on board as director and Stranger Things’ David Harbour as the red skinned, cigar chomping hero.
The Hollywood Reporter has more information on the project, which has the working title of Hellboy: Rise of the Blood Queen and Mignola on board as co-writer. The publication also reveals the details behind Hellboy 3’s demise, with Del Toro wanting a bigger budget to finish off his trilogy with Hellboy fulfilling his demonic prophecy. While the Hellboy movies were huge cult hits, their box office takings were modest to say the least, and producers Larry Gordon and Lloyd Levin saw a reboot and relaunch as the most feasible option.
While it’s a shame we won’t see the vibrant, crazy world Del Toro created for the character again, more Hellboy is always a good thing, even of it won’t be exactly what we’re used to. Marshall is a fine director in his own right, and has the required eye for weirdness the character needs in his back catalogue (Doomsday springs to mind immediately). Harbour, on the other hand, will have a tougher go of it. Perlman made the role iconic, and the newcomer will have a tough job winning fans to his side. I think that’s the biggest hurdle for this project: the original movies have a such an ardent following. Time will tell if this works or not.
The Hollywood Reporter has more information on the project, which has the working title of Hellboy: Rise of the Blood Queen and Mignola on board as co-writer. The publication also reveals the details behind Hellboy 3’s demise, with Del Toro wanting a bigger budget to finish off his trilogy with Hellboy fulfilling his demonic prophecy. While the Hellboy movies were huge cult hits, their box office takings were modest to say the least, and producers Larry Gordon and Lloyd Levin saw a reboot and relaunch as the most feasible option.
While it’s a shame we won’t see the vibrant, crazy world Del Toro created for the character again, more Hellboy is always a good thing, even of it won’t be exactly what we’re used to. Marshall is a fine director in his own right, and has the required eye for weirdness the character needs in his back catalogue (Doomsday springs to mind immediately). Harbour, on the other hand, will have a tougher go of it. Perlman made the role iconic, and the newcomer will have a tough job winning fans to his side. I think that’s the biggest hurdle for this project: the original movies have a such an ardent following. Time will tell if this works or not.
