Check out the trailer that was unveiled at Comic-Con for the latest cinematic iteration of Hellboy, Hellboy: The Cooked Man.
The third big-screen, live-action incarnation of Hellboy is portrayed by Jack Kesy, in what is perhaps his biggest role following small credits in films such as Deadpool 2 (he played Black Tom), 12 Strong, and Baywatch.
The decidedly horror-leaning film draws from the acclaimed Crooked Man comic storyline, authored by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola. The narrative is known for its spookiness, and features a cursed raccoon and one terrifying, colossal snake – as are teased above.
The film is directed by Brian Taylor, co-director of Crank, Gamer, and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. He penned the screenplay with Mignola and Christopher Golden.
The cast includes Martin Bassindale as both demonic Miser Jeremiah Witkins, the Crooked Man who swindles souls for power, and as Professor Trevor “Broom” Bruttenholm, Hellboy’s adoptive father; Jefferson White plays Tom Ferrell; Adeline Rudolph portrays Bobbie Jo Song, a bewitched teenager; Joseph Marcell is Reverend Nathaniel Armstrong Watts, Witkins’ enemy; Leah McNamara plays Effie Kolb, a sadistic witch and Witkins’ familiar; and Hannah Margetson is Cora Fisher, a well-meaning witch who lost her family to Witkins.
“[My favorite thing was] to see how close it is to the comics,” Mignola said in an interview with Screen Rant at San Diego Comic-Con. “There are several shots in there that are panels from the comics and your fear is always, especially when you say it’s gotta be my favourite story, that it’s going to lose something. But all my favourite moments from the comic are in there.”
In another interview with Variety, Mignola shared his trust in Taylor’s vision, saying, “It’s the first Hellboy script I read and thought, ‘Oh, it’s a horror movie,’ which is what I wanted. Taylor isn’t known for horror films, but so far, we’ve had two horror directors make Hellboy movies without delivering true horror.”
Hellboy: The Crooked Man is set to be released later this year.