If you've been paying any attention to the world of TV and film, you'll notice that comic book properties are everywhere. With three shared universes currently producing blockbusters, there's no shortage of superhero projects being produced at any given time. The demonic comic book badass Hellboy is returning to the silver screen in a reboot of the franchise, starring Stranger Things actor David Harbour. While casting news have been slowly revealed over the past few months, there hasn't been news on when we can expect the new blockbuster to arrive in theaters. Now we finally have a date: Hellboy will arrive in theaters on January 11, 2019.
This news comes to us from THR, which has the news of the reboot's first arrival in theaters. This will mark the first Hellboy movie to arrive in theaters in well over a decade, as Hellboy: The Golden Army was back in 2008. This will likely be at the advantage of the reboot, as audiences have been given enough time to digest and move on from the first franchise's attempt at the character. Because unlike Spider-Man, Hellboy doesn't have the iconography to spawn three separate franchises in two decades.
Before news of the reboot was made public, director Guillermo del Toro actually attempted to bring a third film into the first Hellboy franchise, rounding it out to a trilogy. OG Hellboy actor Ron Perlman seemed ready to jump back into the role, although they were eventually turned down by the studio. And just a few months later, the reboot was announced with David Harbour attached in the title role.
An entirely new cast of characters is being utilized for the new Hellboy, with the exception of the title character and Hellboy's adoptive father Trevor Bruttenholm. The latter will be played by American Gods actor Ian McShane, and although he's an excellent actor, production and press for the sequel will no doubt be risky. McShane has recently become infamous for sharing spoilers, such as The Hound's return to Game of Thrones last season. If the right question is asked of the actor, there certainly seems like the potential for spoilers to be revealed before the film arrives in theaters next year.
While still fairly early in its development, the new Hellboy movie has not been without controversy. Actor Ed Skrein was originally cast in the role of B.P.R.D. agent Ben Daimio, which was met with massive backlash. This was scene as yet another example of Hollywood whitewashing, prompting Skrein to drop out of the role. It's since been given to Lost alum Daniel Dae Kim, and production has moved forward. And now it turns out we'll see the new Hellboy in just a little over a year.
Hellboy will arrive in theaters January 11, 2019. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your trips to the movies in the New Year.
