Between the DCEU, MCU, and X-Men franchises, there is no shortage of comic book heroes arriving on the silver screen at regular intervals. But some other smaller properties have been getting in on the game too, including the new David Harbour-led Hellboy reboot. The casting process is underway for Hellboy: Rise of The Blood Queen, with many wondering who may be taking the role of Liz-- which was played by Selma Blair in the first two films. And while it's still unclear if the character will be in the upcoming blockbuster, it turns out that Blair would have definitely turned down the project, if she were ever asked. Blair recently addressed this possibility, saying:
My heart lies with Guillermo del Toro and his creations of it. My Hellboy world is in Guillermo's brain and that's where it stays. They'll do whatever they'll do; it'll be a totally different incarnation. My job is done.
Now that is some hardcore loyalty. While Selma Blair starred in the original two Hellboy films, she has no interest in a third that isn't coming from the vision of director Guillermo del Toro.
In fact, Guillermo del Toro attempted to get his own Hellboy threequel made recently. After first asking the fans if they were interested via Twitter, del Toro took a few meetings with studios, while recalling the entire experience to his Twitter followers. Unfortunately a third film by del Toro got passed up, with Hellboy: Rise of The Blood Queen serving as a jumping off point for a new reboot with the iconic red character.
And while the prospect of another Hellboy film is exciting, especially given the involvement of Stranger Things' David Harbour and Milla Jovovich, the film has already had a fair amount of drama associated with it. A few weeks ago it was announced that Deadpool actor Ed Skrein had won the role of character Ben Daimio. This ended up making headlines for being another issue of white washing, similar to how originally asian characters' races were changed in Doctor Strange and Ghost in the Shell. Skrein eventually dropped out of the role in solidarity with the critics, with Lost actor Daniel Dae Kim having just replaced him.
In her same conversation with Yahoo at the Toronto International Film Festival, Selma Blair addressed this casting snafu. She praised Ed Skrein for stepping down in order to ensure that more Asian actors are given the chance to play more blockbuster roles. She said,
I understand that so many people are passed over that are capable, and I think it's admirable to say, 'I bow out to find someone that's trying to break into this business.' It's a new time for actors, and welcome to it.
Of course, Daniel Dae Kim isn't exactly breaking into the business, and he's been on TV in Hawaii Five-0 for years. Nevertheless, it's a step in the right direction and Selma Blair agrees.
We'll be sure to update you on the new Hellboy movie as details become public. In the meantime, check our 2017 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
