‘Hellboy’ fans are used to waiting. After all, they waited nearly a decade for the third installment in director Guillermo Del Toro’s trilogy, only to learn that the next films would instead reboot the series. So with all that practice under their belts, a few more months should be no problem, right? Well, we’re about to find out, as Summit Entertainment announced this week that ‘Hellboy’ has been pushed back to April from its planned January 2019 release date.
Director Neil Marshall’s upcoming film sees ‘Stranger Things’ star David Harbour take on the role of Mike Mignola’s demonic paranormal investigator. In contrast to Del Toro’s films, this is being described as darker in tone and style. Marshall’s upcoming reboot is also said to be more in line with Mignola’s folklore-influenced comic book stories.
It’s worth noting that the move to April may, in fact, be a show of confidence in the film. In contrast to bowing in January opposite considerably less competition, the April date will see ‘Hellboy’ go head to head with ‘Shazam!‘, which will be entering its second weekend. In terms of more immediate competition, it now shares its opening weekend with Universal’s Robert Downey, Jr. vehicle ‘The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle’, Fox’s ‘Breakthrough’ (starring Chrissy Metz and Topher Grace), and Aviron Pictures’ upcoming YA adaptation ‘After’.
On a brighter note, however, members of the ‘Hellboy’ team are expected to be in attendance at next week’s New York Comic Con, prompting rumors that the film’s first trailer may drop during the convention.
Be sure to check back with ScienceFiction.com for more on ‘Hellboy’ as it becomes available!
Directed by Neil Marshall, ‘Hellboy’ stars David Harbour, Ian McShane, Milla Jovovich, Daniel Dae Kim, and Sophie Okonedo. The film is scheduled for release on April 12, 2019.
