The upcoming film Hellboy: The Crooked Man isn’t the first time we’ve seen the strikingly red superhero on the big screen. Most recently, Stranger Things star David Harbour portrayed the character in a much-criticized 2019 film, but when you think of Hellboy, Ron Perlman’s portrayal in director Guillermo del Toro’s series probably springs to mind (Hellboy 2004 and Hellboy: The Golden Army 2008).
While those films are hugely popular with fans, it’s not exactly an authentic take on the character, according to Crooked Man director Brian Taylor – and that goes for both him and Hellboy creator Mike Mignola. As Taylor tells Total Film in our new issue, out Thursday, August 15, which features Beetlejuice on the cover, “As cool as those other movies were, even Mignola will tell you it’s not quite his character.”
The new adaptation of Hellboy: The Crooked Man therefore goes straight back to the source, drawing on the historical setting and folk horror vibe with a story set in the 1950s and specifically based on the limited comic series of the same name. So it’s a different direction for Taylor and one that doesn’t aim to launch a new franchise.
He stresses that the intention was never to imitate anything that had been done before: “I don’t think in terms of ‘it’s a reboot’ or trying to start a new franchise – this is not content, it’s a film that has to stand on its own. Nobody wants to see a cheap copy of a $100 million Guillermo del Toro film. This is a return to young Hellboy, where he was really more of the plumber who solves your monster problem. This wandering, sarcastic, soulful, smoking guy who stumbles upon supernatural hauntings and occurrences and helps as best he can. If Mike feels like he’s seeing his man on screen for the first time, then I think we’ve succeeded.”
Check out some exclusive images of Jack Kesy as the superhero from Hellboy: The Crooked Man below:
Hellboy: The Crooked Man hits UK cinemas on September 27. There is currently no US release date. You can read more about this and much more in the new issue of Total Film when it hits shelves and digital newsstands on Thursday August 15.
Check out the covers below:
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