Hellboy Reborn: A New Live-Action Film in Production
Hellboy is set for another chance to grace the big screen, following the disappointment of the 2019 reboot starring David Harbour. A new live-action film based on the demonic superhero is already written at Millennium Media with Brian Taylor slated to direct. The reboot is well into production, with filming scheduled to start in Bulgaria in April.
The previous film, directed by Neil Marshall, failed to resonate with audiences and grossed only $55.1 million worldwide. However, the character has a devoted following after Guillermo del Toro’s beloved 2004 film and its sequel Hellboy II: The Golden Army. For years, fans have clamored for a third film starring Ron Perlman, but it was never realized.
The new film is said to be a reboot, meaning a new actor will take on the role of the titular hero. Sources say that the film is going by the working title Hellboy: The Crooked Man, which may suggest that the plot will follow the three-issue miniseries of the same name. There is no confirmation on this, however, and more details on the cast and plot are expected soon as the film’s production progresses. Millennium Media has yet to secure a distributor, but a streaming service could be in play, given the franchise’s poor performance in 2019.
Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden will receive story credits on the film, though it is uncertain how or if they contributed to the screenplay. Golden’s involvement is interesting given that he has penned three canon Hellboy novels and was involved in early versions of the 2019 film’s scripts. This could suggest that the novels will serve as inspiration for the plot.
For Taylor, this project marks his return to the world of comic book films after co-writing Jonah Hex and co-directing Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance with Mark Neveldine. The duo also wrote and directed Crank and its sequel High Voltage, as well as the Gerard Butler-led Gamer. Brave New World, Peacock’s first significant original series, was his last credit in 2020.
