While cries for another Hellboy movie have been ringing for almost a decade, the announcement of another film isn’t quite what many fans had in mind. Instead of Hellboy 3 – starring Ron Perlman and directed by Guillermo Del Toro – the entire franchise is getting a reboot. Neil Marshall is reportedly directing the new, R-rated version, with David Harbour (Stranger Things) in talks to star.
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This new direction is exciting, but it means fans have to say goodbye to the men who brought Hellboy to life years ago. Del Toro and Perlman are out for good.
After the news broke on Monday night, Hellboy supporters took to Twitter – where Del Toro and Perlman are both very active – to voice their support of the duo. Many sent love in their direction, commenting on how much they enjoyed the Hellboy that they were able to deliver.
Perlman responded to all of the messages first, thanking his fans for their kind words and support. Now, Del Toro has spoken out as well. As you’d expect, his message was similar.
The director thanked everyone for “all the nice Tweets and love.” He followed that up by saying that he doesn’t have much time to think about the “what ifs” but that he is humbled by everyone’s support.
Thank you all for the nice Tweets and love.
— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) May 9, 2017
@RealGDT Being busy as fuck means you mind rarely wanders into “what ifs?” But the Tweets are just humbling and beautiful.
— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) May 9, 2017
As recently as this year, the filmmaker was trying to get a third Hellboy movie off the ground. This new direction is likely what stopped that from happening.
More Hellboy News: Is A Hellboy Cinematic Universe On The Way? / David Harbour Comments On Hellboy Reboot Casting / Mike Mignola Announces Hellboy Movie Reboot
Mike Mignola created Hellboy in 1993. Hellboy is a demon summoned to Earth by Nazi scientists, but who was recovered as a child by the Allies and raised by the head of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, or BPRD. Hellboy grew up to become a member of the BPRD himself, investigating supernatural occurrences and fighting monsters.
Hellboy‘s blend of vintage pulp action and mystery, folklore, and Lovecraftian horror and fantasy has turned it into one of Dark Horse Comics’ best-known publications, spawning several spin-offs such as a BPRD series, Lobster Johnson, and a prequel series titled Hellboy and the BPRD. Mignola recently killed Hellboy himself but continued to tell his story in the after in the pages of the 10-issue Hellboy in Hell series. The expanded “Mignola-verse” offers plenty of material for an expanded film and television universe.
Hellboy has also appeared in two animated features, Sword of Storms and Blood and Iron, as well as two video games, Asylum Seeker and The Science of Evil.