Just days ago, it was announced that Lionsgate had dropped the subtitle ‘The Rise of the Blood Queen’ in order to establish that this new film is a reboot of the comic based films and not simply a threequel.
It is said that the new film will hew closer to Mike Mignola‘s original comics than the previous adaptations and that includes the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Development. The B.P.R.D. factored heavily in the first movies, namely Abe Sapien and Liz Sherman, but the organization itself was slightly altered. Abe and Liz were major characters in the first two, but while Mignola could confirm that the B.P.R.D. will play a role in the new reboot, he would not disclose just how large a role they would play or which characters would be included.
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“The B.P.R.D. figures into the movie. I don’t want to say who is and who isn’t in the movie. I think it’s fair to say, however, that the primary focus is Hellboy and not a B.P.R.D. team movie.”
Though all the ‘Hellboy’ movies are based on his works, Mignola has shifted his focus back to the comics and will not be as actively involved with the new film reboot:
“I was super involved [with] Guillermo del Toro’s movies way more than this one. In those I worked in pre-production and I was on set a lot of the time. As time went on, he and I had different idea on what should happen.
“And this new movie, I don’t have much hands-on involvement. I’m not doing any concept art. I am doing consulting, but I think from day one in discussions about the look and feel of this new movie, the director seems to be very much closer to the tone of the vision I wanted it to be.”
Hmmmm, that’s dishy! I guess Mignola and del Toro butted heads a lot, which may be why ‘The Golden Army’ failed so hard. (I still think the first one was pretty excellent, though!)
The new ‘Hellboy’ will be directed by Neil Marshall instead of del Toro, and original Hellboy Ron Perlman has been replaced by ‘Stranger Things” David Harbour. Milla Jovovich, fresh off her successful ‘Resident Evil’ series takes the role of Nimue the Blood Queen. ‘American Gods” Ian McShane steps into the role of Professor Broom, taking over for John Hurt. No other roles have been cast, so we don’t know which of the B.P.R.D. will pop up.
Mignola also pointed out that the tone of the new film will contrast with ‘The Golden Army’ at the very least:
“Where Hellboy II: The Golden Army was a light fantasy film, this will be very much darker – close to a horror film. I’ve met some people doing pre-production, and I visit the person doing the creature effects. I’m very happy with what I’ve seen so far: I give them my two cents, then get out of the way. But I’m very happy they’re asking my opinion, and giving me opportunities to solve certain creative problems.”
The reboot doesn’t have a set release date beyond 2018. What do you hope to see in the new ‘Hellboy’?
Jax's earliest memory is of watching 'Batman,' followed shortly by a memory of playing Batman & Robin with a friend, which entailed running outside in just their underwear and towels as capes. When adults told them they couldn't run around outside in their underwear, both boys promptly whipped theirs off and ran around in just capes.
Hmmmm, that’s dishy! I guess Mignola and del Toro butted heads a lot, which may be why ‘The Golden Army’ failed so hard. (I still think the first one was pretty excellent, though!)