American actor Jack Kesy is honoured to have been chosen to be case as Hellboy in the latest film of franchis, Hellboy: The Crooked Man.
The feature adaptation of the Dark Horse comic premieres in South African cinemas nationwide on September 27, 2024.
Asked about taking up the legendary role, Kesy said: “It meant a lot to me. It was exciting.
“I mentioned before that you do not get a Hellboy script across your email or your imaginary desk. I do not know any desks, but you know, it was – I do not even have the vocabulary – but it was exciting. I was honoured, and I was pumped.
“I felt it was the right thing, and it found the right guy.”
The film, named after the award-winning miniseries by Mike Mignola and Richard Corben, stars Kesy (The Strain, Deadpool 2) stepping into the role previously played by Ron Perlman and David Harbour.
Brian Taylor helms the film as the director. Other cast members include Jefferson White (Yellowstone), Adeline Rudolph (Resident Evil), and Joseph Marcell (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air).
In Hellboy: The Crooked Man, Hellboy finds himself stuck in 1950s rural Appalachia with a rookie BPRD agent. They soon find themselves in a small village run by the Crooked Man, a witchcraft leader.
The film’s teaser was unveiled at the most recent San Diego Comic-Con, offering movie-goers a terrifying preview of what to expect. Among the shocks is a raccoon that sneaks into a room while the occupant is asleep and its evil panda spirit takes over their body.
The film set the multimillion-dollar film franchise into motion in 2004. Directed by Guillermodel Toro, starring Perlman as the titular character, the story followed Hellboy, a demon summoned during World War II who grows up to become a defender against dark supernatural forces, working for the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defence.
The sequel, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, was released in 2008, expanding the universe with rich mythology and a visually stunning portrayal of a world where mythical creatures live hidden among humans.
In 2019, a reboot of the franchise was released, directed by Neil Marshall, with Harbour taking over the role of Hellboy.
The Hellboy films are known for their blend of dark fantasy and action, along with a distinct visual style and strong performances by the lead actors.
Mignola has expressed his passion for the franchise edition, saying it aligned with his true origins and vision for Hellboy.
“All my favourite scenes from The Crooked Man are in there,” Mignola said.
“It's exciting for me to look at something and go: ‘Oh, that’s a whole bunch of stuff I never imagined I'd see on screen.’ All the Hellboy movies are different; they all have their thing. They all work to some extent in their own way … All I can say is that this is the most faithful film. I could even say it's my favourite. It’s got some of my favourite Hellboy moments in there,” he said.
Saturday Star