Mike Mignola's iconic comic book hero returns to the big screen Hellboy: Crooked Man. Based on the titular half-demon, the Dark Horse Comics series was first adapted for live-action with Guillermo del Toro's 2004 film of the same name, which received mostly positive reviews and was a modest box office hit. This in turn spawned a media franchise, including a direct sequel again directed by del Toro, two animated films with Ron Perlman reprising his role, and a 2019 film. Hellboy The reboot, directed by David Harbour, was poorly received and bombed at the box office.
Hellboy: Crooked Man serves as the second reboot of the franchise, more directly adapting the titular limited comic book series. Hellboy and young BPRD agent Bobbie Jo Song are found stranded in Appalachia after a train wreck in the 1950s. Along the way, the duo find themselves in a community plagued by a local demon known as the Crooked Man, and as they try to defeat the demonic foe, they learn that he has a dark past connection to the titular hero.
The ensemble is led by Jack Casey Hellboy: Crooked Man Starring Martin Bassindale, Jefferson White, Adeline Rudolph, Joseph Marcell, Leah McNamara and Hannah Margetson. Unlike previous adaptations, Mignola not only served as an executive producer, but also co-wrote the screenplay with Christopher Golden and director Brian Taylor. The film marks Taylor's return to the comic book genre after writing the screenplay for the Josh Brolin-led film. Jonah Hexco-directed Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance with former creative partner Mark Neveldine and is co-developing the SYFY adaptation Happy!
In honor of the film panel at San Diego Comic-Con, Screen Rant interviewed creator/writer Mike Mignola, co-writer/director Brian Taylor, and stars Jack Kesey, Jefferson White, and Adeline Rudolph to discuss. Hellboy: Crooked Man. The group revealed their new vision for the comic book series, how the source material will compare to previous adaptations, and what they expect from their characters.
How To Adapt Hellboy From Page To Screen Through A Different Lens
“We're working with one of the most beloved, iconic and singular comics of all time.”
Screen Rant: Brian, you've adapted other comics, e.g Jonah Hex and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. What lessons did you learn that you can apply? Hellboy: Crooked Man?
Brian Taylor: Some of these movies had a lot of things that shouldn't have been done, but this was a unique movie. Often with comic book movies and the like, filmmakers and studios make it their mission to reinvent. “We have to fix it. We want to do our own version and we want to expand on it,” and this and that. That wasn't the mission of this movie at all.
My feelings on this were really clear. We're working with one of the most beloved, iconic and singular comics ever. Our job is to keep it simple, and we really adapt this comic book literature with as much love, attention to detail, and authenticity as we can.
Mike, you are an absolute legend, so I want to thank you for being here. So how does this iteration of Hellboy differ from others you've seen in the past?
Mike Mignola: Well, he's the most loyal. It's the only place where I actually co-wrote the script. We drew a comic and created the character Bobbie Jo, but for the most part it was a story. It's the opposite of what a lot of people do, which is when you go to the source materials and say, “I want to combine this with this and this and this and this.”
We've had stuff like that and we've had a lot of loose adaptations, which are great. I mean, if Del Toro is going to make a movie, you let Del Toro make a Del Toro movie. But this is my favorite Hellboy story, and I wouldn't want it to be a loose adaptation. I wanted something similar to what I love in comics.
Jack, how do you approach Hellboy and bring a new perspective to the character for the big screen?
Jack Casey: Not to parrot Brian Taylor, but most of the ground work was done for us. We're going straight from the comic, and most of the crew did most of the work leading up to the creation of this prosthetic. They made it so that it was not a rubber face; I could actually act and you could see my personality – as far as I know. I haven't seen it yet.
But that much has been done. They shot it straight, hopefully, there are some nuances here and there. You bring your own personality and your own preferences to it when you can. But for the most part, the man said himself, I'm just a loyal Hellboy.
Meet the new characters in Hellboy: Crooked Man
“It was very visceral and felt authentic and immersive in the best possible way.”
Jefferson and Adeline, you enter the world of Hellboy. What surprised you the most?
Jefferson White: I think one of the things that's really fun about this process, especially is that it's such a beloved, iconic character, but it also feels like making an indie film in the woods. It's southern gothic, it's horror, and it's an intimate little story. All the joy of indie filmmaking was there; solving all problems to solve together. His process also felt very familial. It didn't feel like a massive, huge IP. It's a very personal feeling. It was a real joy to be in a superhero movie, to feel like, “Wait a second. We're making a horror movie with our friends in the woods.” It was a great gift.
And then there's how immersive the world feels. The book has these incredible villains. There's Crooked Man, Effie Kolb, and these wonderfully vivid characters, but the atmosphere itself is a villain—these woods, this church, these cemeteries. It was a very moving filmmaking experience. It was the opposite of a green screen on a soundstage in LA. It was very visceral and felt authentic and immersive in the best possible way.
Adeline Rudolph: All of them. And the only thing I would add is that it was a very practical piece of kit. So it was very surprising and a pleasant surprise. Not much VFX; We tried to keep it real.
What specifically can you tease about your characters?
Jefferson White: I played a guy named Tom Ferrell who made a really bad deal at a young age and sold his soul to the devil for what he was told was a lucky bone. [about] at a young age. He fell in love! He was seduced by this timeless evil witch, Effie Kolb. Tom Ferrell sold his soul to the devil because he fell in love at a young age, and now he lives a life nearly 20 years later.
He returns home, trying to escape the past. He returns home to try to fix it, talk to the devil again and see if he can get this lucky bone back for his soul. And he happily runs into these two along the way, Hellboy and Bobbie Joe.
Adeline Rudolph: Bobbie Jo is a new BPRD agent. He works closely with Hellboy. It feels like they've just started working together, and then something goes wrong and they go on this big journey. They meet Tom Ferrell and all the other amazing characters. He's young, curious, and maybe a little over his head.
What Makes Hellboy: Crooked Man Different from Previous Adaptations
At some point, everyone says, “Yeah, we'll put your comic on the screen.”
Brian, this movie seems to be a very different animal than the previous ones. How intentional was this approach to production?
Brian Taylor: Very thoughtful. I mean, this is a folk horror movie. This is not a space opera. Jeff said it feels like an indie movie, and it is an indie movie. I actually think it's a great fit for the character, because one thing that amazes me about this guy, and to think he's so unique in the comic book world, is who else can you name that gives us a whole comic universe? Kim is a household name and part of the zeitgeist, but she's not associated with any of the mainstream [publishers].
All this coming from one guy's brand. He's an indie creator, so a Hellboy movie should feel like an indie movie. He is suitable for all his work.
Mike, why was Crooked Man the right villain for this story?
Jefferson White: Not that Crooked Man was the right villain, but it was the right story. It's a callback in itself to a lot of other things, and one thing we looked at was the practical considerations of how to make a relatively small Hellboy movie, which is what I've always wanted.
We've seen the whole “save the world” thing, the Apocalypse thing and all that. We have seen it. We don't need to see him again. If you look at Hellboy as just a person, my favorite Hellboy stories are the ones where his life isn't complicated and he's just dealing with other people's problems.
Jack, this movie isn't terribly funny. It is very basic. What excited you about taking on the role of Hellboy for this iteration?
Jack Kesy: Exactly. Working closely with Brian and making him a more human Hellboy. Aesthetically and personality-wise, I'd like to see reluctance in him; reluctant hero. He just wants to go to the dance and pick up girls, but that's going to be a little difficult for him. So here we go. “I'll save the day again. Looks like I'll save this one.” He's just an introverted, reluctant, sensitive hero. Not much, but enough.
Brian Taylor: It's hard for any young person to find their place in the world, isn't it? Let it be if you have a tail and horns. He carries a lot of burdens with him and a lot of burdens on his shoulders. I love what Jack brought with him because I feel he has a lot in him.
You feel a lot of soul in this man. To me, Hellboy has always been characterized as this sly, sarcastic guy. It's those things, but it involves something unique, which is that it carries a lot of baggage.
Mike, there have been other Hellboy movies in the past, but what surprised you the most about the revival of this one?
Mike Mignola: Well, to see how close it is. There are some stills from the panels. And your fear is always about missing out, especially when it's my favorite story. But there are my favorite moments from the comic. You hold your breath while watching this.
I didn't go to the shooting, but I saw the dailies. You're just like, “I can't believe it. Oh my God, it's in there. Will it stay there when you cut the film?” There's a particular moment in the church that I love and I thought, “Oh my God, are they going to add special effects to this?” It's just a quiet little moment that could have easily been cut, but it stayed the whole way through.
It's not that I don't like other movies or that I don't like parts of other movies, but I was so grateful to see someone who actually wanted it. [do the comic]. Because at some point everyone says, “yes, we'll put your comic on the screen.” But this is when it happens.
About Hellboy: Crooked Man
From visionary director, writer and producer Brian Taylor (Crank, Happy!) this film brings a chilling tale of survival against dark forces. Set in the 1950s, new BPRD agent Bobbie Jo Song finds herself in a difficult situation when she is tasked with delivering a spider to the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense. He must enlist the help of Hellboy to confront the evil Crooked Man, who has returned to Earth to collect souls for Satan.
Hellboy: Crooked Man
is currently scheduled for release in the fall of 2024.
Source: Screen Rant Plus