As a devoted fan of the Hellboy universe, I am utterly captivated by the upcoming reboot, Hellboy: The Crooked Man. Brian Taylor, the visionary director at the helm of this project, has shown an unprecedented level of dedication and respect towards Mike Mignola’s iconic comics, akin to adapting a Stephen King novel.
The third attempt at reviving Hellboy on the silver screen, titled “Hellboy: The Crooked Man,” is eagerly anticipated. Although Guillermo del Toro’s versions (Hellboy and Hellboy II: The Golden Army) have gained a cult following, previous attempts to translate Mike Mignola’s cherished comics onto the big screen haven’t fully pleased fans. In an effort to rectify this, director Brian Taylor is adopting a fresh approach to bring the renowned comic book character to life. Unlike many comic book adaptations that view the source material as a general guide, Taylor is treating Mignola’s ‘The Crooked Man’ run of Hellboy comics with the same reverence as one would when adapting a novel.
Brian Taylor recently spoke with GamesRadar+ about “Hellboy: The Crooked Man”. When asked about his approach to the franchise, the director discussed how he aimed to set his film apart from previous adaptations. Just like Guillermo del Toro’s movies and David Harbor’s portrayal of Hellboy in the 2019 reboot, Taylor shared that he approached Mignola’s comics with the same reverence and respect as if adapting a Stephen King novel.
“I’ve embraced this project as if it were adapting a Stephen King novel. I’m going to shape the narrative, drawing on the source material, and pour my heart into its creation. I believe fans of the original comic book will appreciate our efforts. In fact, there are already online viewers who have seen teasers and they seem to think, ‘This is just like the comic.’ That’s exactly what we aim for.”
Hellboy: The Crooked Man is a ‘Folklore Story’
Following a call from a demonic Nazi cult (Mike Mignola’s comics are quite extraordinary!), Hellboy is adopted by the Paranormal Research and Defense Agency. This premise opens up numerous paths for Hellboy’s journey. The films directed by Guillermo Del Toro, as well as the 2019 remake, portrayed Hellboy and the Bureau battling threats that could potentially destroy nations or even the world. However, for his upcoming adaptation in 2024, Brian Taylor is opting to focus on a more down-to-earth tale.
In the course of our chat, Taylor made clear that his upcoming film stands alone, unrelated to previous adaptations, and will tell a complete story by itself. He voiced concerns about contemporary franchise movies, particularly their lengthy running times and overly intricate narratives which demand excessive explanation. Taylor referred to his Hellboy reboot as a “fascinating folklore movie.”
“We intentionally decided to steer clear of referencing other films, as they each have their unique identity. While they are impressive, our work is not a space opera; instead, it’s a tale deeply rooted in folklore. We aimed to create something more straightforward, and I believe modern movies have become overly complex. Today’s films often stretch beyond two or three hours, with an hour dedicated to explaining events, leaving me confused rather than enlightened. I feel that a captivating folk horror story can be simple and pure, which is the approach we took.”
The first complete trailer for the movie titled “Hellboy: The Crooked Man” unveiled Jack Kesy’s demon character smoking a cigar. It also provided viewers with a clearer image of Kesy’s version of the well-known character. Moreover, the trailer emphasized the movie’s extremely grim atmosphere. Director Brian Taylor clarified that unlike previous adaptations which were more focused on action, “Hellboy: The Crooked Man” is primarily a horror story and film, as it’s quite straightforward.
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2024-08-09 16:01