Is Guillermo del Toro’s third Hellboy movie still possible?

Is Guillermo del Toro's third Hellboy movie still possible?

As a gamer with an unquenchable thirst for all things Hellboy, I’ve been on this rollercoaster ride since the days of Mike Mignola’s original comics. The del Toro films were more than just movies to me; they were epic tales that breathed life into these iconic characters and transported us to a world where the supernatural was as real as our everyday lives.

The latest Hellboy production is Brian Taylor’s version of “Hellboy: The Crooked Man,” marking it as the third live-action Hellboy film audiences have seen, following Ron Perlman’s portrayal of the Right Hand of Doom in Guillermo Del Toro’s initial movie. He reprised his role for a second installment, prior to the decision to restart the franchise.

Fans adore Del Toro’s films based on the comic, captivating both die-hard comic readers and casual moviegoers. The second movie left viewers eagerly anticipating what would happen next to the characters, but it’s been over a decade since we last saw one of these films. In that time, Hellboy has been rebooted not once, but twice: first in the 2019 film named just Hellboy, starring David Harbour, and more recently with Jack Kesy portraying him in the adaptation of The Crooked Man. Despite multiple reboots and restarts, fans have longed for another Hellboy movie directed by Del Toro. But can we expect this creative team to collaborate once again?

Mike Mignola comments on Hellboy 3’s likelihood

Is Guillermo del Toro's third Hellboy movie still possible?

Is there a possibility we might see a third Hellboy film? The answer to this question isn’t straightforward. In a recent conversation with Screen Rant, the creator of Hellboy, Mike Mignola, shared his thoughts about the franchise’s future, and it appears that a new installment may not be in the plans for either him or director Guillermo del Toro.

“Being able to look back now, I’m very happy about the time I spent with him. We had some adventures, and I just think we’ve both moved on in different directions. When you work on movies… there’s so much intensity day in, day out with these people — with the actors, with the director — and then when it’s over, it’s just over. It’s a very strange feeling [where] you just go, “I thought we were friends for life, but I’ll never actually see you again,” and, unfortunately, I think that’s kind of where del Toro and I are.”

As a passionate admirer, I can share that Mignola himself has mentioned our occasional exchanges through calls or emails. It brings me immense joy to have crossed paths with him and collaborated with him on these fantastic projects. Interestingly, when asked about his future plans following the movie-making process, he simply expressed a desire to continue creating comic books. He’s not a film enthusiast in the traditional sense, but rather, at heart, he’s a dedicated comics artist.

Although Del Toro hasn’t directly commented on the future of his Hellboy franchise, two key actors from the initial films have shared their views on a potential third installment. Ron Perlman, who portrayed Hellboy, and Doug Jones, who brought Abe Sapien to life, both seem eager for another film featuring them. Notably, Jones has specified that he would only reprise his role if Del Toro is at the helm. Perlman and Selma Blair (who played Liz Sherman) have also expressed interest in returning to the series.

How Hellboy II ended

Is Guillermo del Toro's third Hellboy movie still possible?

In the final act of “Hellboy II: The Golden Army,” as they desperately sought a cure for Hellboy’s wounds, they encountered the Angel of Death who foresaw the end of the world through Hellboy. However, Liz disregarded this ominous prophecy and insisted on the Angel healing him, which it did.

Following Prince Nuada’s downfall, Hellboy, Abe Sapien, and Liz Sherman decided to part ways with the BPRD (Paranormal Research and Defense Bureau) in pursuit of a tranquil life free from daily encounters with monsters and madmen. An unexpected turn of events revealed that Liz was pregnant not just with one child but twins, and this news also brought about the realization that Hellboy was to be a father.

Indeed, the film concluded its narrative arc, yet there remains ample opportunity for another installment. Given the passage of time, it could effectively serve as a continuation or legacy sequel should production resume.

How could the story continue?

Although the third installment of “Hellboy” may never see the light of a movie theater, there are numerous methods to narrate its story. However, this author thinks that animation offers the most compelling approach.

According to Ron Perlman himself, due to his advanced age, he’s no longer able to physically wear the Right Hand of Doom in a literal sense. This was discussed during his conversation with Collider Podcasts in 2019. Consequently, animation might be the ideal method for creating the third film, providing a unique opportunity for an animated Hellboy movie by Guillermo del Toro. Although animation can be time-consuming and costly, as seen with the upcoming Spider-Verse film, there’s still a chance for a captivating animated Del Toro Hellboy production.

The Hellboy series has ventured into animated productions in the past, with actors Ron Perlman, Doug Jones, and Selma Blair reprising their roles in these animated versions of their characters. Interestingly, they voiced the same characters after the initial Guillermo del Toro film and prior to the second one’s release. These animated films, produced by both del Toro and Mignola, were titled “Hellboy: The Sword of Storms” and “Hellboy: Blood and Iron.” Despite having a similar cast to the live-action series, these animations had different writers and directors, and their narratives didn’t align with the continuity of the del Toro films.

In my view, the two animate Hellboy films didn’t quite match up to Guillermo del Toro’s live-action versions, but they were still highly enjoyable and captivating in their unique style, particularly with “Hellboy: Blood and Iron,” which delved into vampires and a darker, more gothic horror theme that the series is recognized for.

If Guillermo del Toro were to create an animated version of the next Hellboy movie, he could devise numerous methods to set it apart from not only superhero animations but also from animation productions overall. Drawing inspiration from his work on Pinocchio, which employed stop motion techniques in certain scenes, he might blend this style with others to create a visually stunning spectacle.

Although it might seem unlikely that a third Del Toro Hellboy movie will materialize, fans may want to temper their expectations. However, this article reveals that at least one individual is still harboring hope for the film and remains curious about potential scenarios – both past and future – until the end of their life.

What do you think? Is there hope for a third del Toro Hellboy film? What other ways could this story be released besides through animation?

2024-10-12 16:31

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