We know that when ‘Hellboy‘ returns in his rebooted form that the B.P.R.D. will be involved as secondary characters and now we’ve learned that this film won’t be an origin story. It looks like the studio is hoping that fans have either read the comics by Mike Mignola, seen Guillermo del Toro’s version, or just want to jump right into a fully developed world. As someone who has read and seen both of the above, I think that this is the right way to go! The vast majority of science fiction, horror, and fantasy films don’t tend to be full on origin stories, so I’m glad to hear that this will be taking a cue from ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ and just dumping us right into the action.
The news didn’t come from director Neil Marshall but actually from the lips of David Harbour (who will be playing everyone’s favorite Hellboy in the next outing) while appearing as a guest on the Happy Sad Confused podcast:
“There is something of [his origin], but it’s not really an origin story movie. We kind of pick up the movie like we’re running and gunning. We do have a little bit of stuff where we show stuff, but it really is a story and you just drop in with this guy. In a way, I feel like that’s kind of what Indiana Jones was. You start with him stealing the idol, but also you do go back to the university and you understand he’s an archeologist, but this is just a guy who goes and steals idols and fights Nazis and wants to steal the Arc of the Covenant. But you never go back when he’s a kid and you’re like, ‘How did he become Indiana Jones?’ It’s like no, we accept that this is Indiana Jones and I think that’s what our story does too. You accept that there’s this half-demon guy running around the world and being a paranormal investigator and solving crimes and also dealing with his own issues at the same time.”
I think that the Indiana Jones comparison is a perfect example of how we’re going to be given this new take on Hellboy and hopefully some of the adventure we’ll see as he goes up against Milla Jovovich‘s character, the Blood Queen. With Ian McShane (‘American Gods’) being the last character who is currently rounding out the cast as Doctor Broom, we know that it’ll be full of great acting. With Marshall behind the camera, it will have solid storytelling and pacing as well. Word has it that Sasha Lane is also in talks to become Hellboy’s future love interest though it hasn’t been made publically official at this time.
As to how he is going to be portraying a character which Ron Perlman had previously embodied so well?
“It’s unique and odd. There are things that I’m gonna do that are different. Hellboy is the same character from the comics and from what Ron did, there are certain things that are the same thing, but I do think that—I don’t know, there’s a different approach because I sort of highlight different things, I think than Ron does. Ron sort of embraces this machismo in himself and in Hellboy, and I really like it, and it’s super fun and it’s a super fun performance, but I think Hellboy has a certain psycho dynamic where occasionally he has to prove that he’s the lion, has to roar, and I think he struggles with his own masculinity. But I don’t think he needs that as much as maybe those other movies. I have a bit of a different take on his capability or his slickness. I sort of think that for me he’s a little less skilled at constructing that persona.”
We’ll see how this new take on Hellboy’s persona plays out on the big screen when the film is eventually released. I’m hoping for good things and the start of not just a new franchise but a cinematic universe. Only time and box office sales will let us know how that plays out though.
Are you looking forward to the rebooted ‘Hellboy’? Do you like the direction which Harbour wants to take the character? Share your thoughts below!
