“He doesn’t look good at all”: First Look at Second Hellboy Reboot is a Spit in the Face for Guillermo del Toro’s Untouchable Legacy That Starred Ron Perlman
A new Hellboy movie is ready to hit the screens this year. This time, actor Jack Kesy will take on the role of the red-skinned devilish superhero. This movie won’t be connected to the ones fans have seen before with Ron Perlman or David Harbour.
Instead, it will be a fresh start based on the comics by Mike Mignola and Richard Corben. Mignola even helped write the script this time around, so expect a story closer to the original source material. However, to many fans, the first look at the new Hellboy reboot feels like an insult to Guillermo del Toro’s beloved movies.
Hellboy Reboot Trailer Slammed by Fans
Hellboy fans aren’t happy with the first look at the new movie, Hellboy: The Crooked Man. This is the second attempt at rebooting the franchise after David Harbour‘s Hellboy. The 2019 flick follows Guillermo del Toro‘s popular films — Hellboy and Hellboy II: The Golden Army — starring Ron Perlman in 2004 and 2008.
According to many fans, the new movie doesn’t even come close to del Toro’s vision. They feel it’s a major letdown compared to the earlier films, which they loved. Some even call it a disrespect to the Mexican filmmaker’s work and legacy. Check out some fan reactions:
he doesn’t look good at all
— harv (@harvv) July 1, 2024
They'll never top Ron Perlman's Hellboy
— 🔥ValiantReaper🔥 (@ValiantReaper) July 1, 2024
Wow this one looks like a bad fan made cosplay costume
— Milktea Alliance 8⃣1⃣7⃣ W.S. (@KamiliaHaraQoo) July 1, 2024
What the hell is that ?
— JΛCK (@JackOCine) July 1, 2024
They’re on a mission to make worse versions of everything we’ve grown to know. Ron Perlman isn’t dead
— Mr. God (@JamesJett45) July 1, 2024
However, Jack Kesy’s look as Hellboy stays true to the comic book. His build, costume, and overall appearance closely match the character in the comics. This new film takes place in the 1950s. Hellboy teams up with a rookie agent, Bobbie Jo Song (played by Adeline Rudolph), to fight the Crooked Man (played by Martin Bassindale), in the Appalachian mountains.
The movie is directed by Brian Taylor, known for his action film Crank. Other actors you might recognize include Jefferson White from Yellowstone and Leah McNamara from The Gentlemen.
Hellboy: The Crooked Man Could be a New Beginning for the Franchise
The Hellboy films have a rich history, starting with Ron Perlman’s iconic portrayal of the character in Guillermo del Toro’s 2004 film. Perlman reprised his role in the 2008 sequel, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, and has since expressed interest in completing the trilogy. Last year, he told the Geek House Show:
If we were to make the third movie of the trilogy, I would love to do that, yeah. It was meant to be a trilogy, so… I would go back and do it, if we could finish the trilogy. But those are the only circumstances.
However, at 74, that seems unlikely. In 2019, the franchise took a new direction with a new actor. David Harbour, popular for his role in Stranger Things, took on the role of Hellboy in the film directed by Neil Marshall.
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Unfortunately, the film didn’t perform well at the box office, making a sequel improbable. Critical reception was also poor, with the film scoring a low 17% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Now, with Mike Mignola (Hellboy‘s creator) onboard for the new movie, there’s optimism ahead. His role could signal a new beginning for the series.
Hellboy: The Crooked Man doesn’t have a release date yet, but it’s expected to hit theaters later in 2024.
