Hellboy: Rise of the Blood Queen reboot is picking up speed, filling out its cast, and moving closer to production, for an expected 2018 release. We already know that David Harbour (Stranger Things) will star as Hellboy, Ian McShane (Deadwood, American Gods) will play his adoptive father, Professor Trevor “Broom” Bruttenholm, and Neil Marshall (Game of Thrones, The Descent) will direct. Deadline is reporting that Milla Jovovich (The Fifth Element, Resident Evil) is in final talks to play the (supposed) villain, the Blood Queen herself.
Based on recent fan and media reactions, the R-rated reboot has been making all the right moves and generating a lot of excitement. So, this latest news is either spectacular or horrible, depending upon your love/hate for Jovovich’s work. It’s a fair concern, because she was great in The Fifth Element and A Perfect Getaway (a really taut action-thriller), but she was awful in Ultraviolet and The Fourth Kind.
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Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, who was involved in the reboot’s initial pitches and scripts, established the Blood Queen character through a series of complex, interrelated events and folklore references in the archives of the Hellboy comics and graphic novels. It’s far more likely the film will introduce the Blood Queen in a less convoluted manner, but I hope Marshall doesn’t sacrifice all of her backstory, as cultural and urban legends are key to Mignola’s richly nuanced universe.
Mignola has not commented on the Jovovich casting, but as a big fan of his work I have a hard time picturing her in this role. Mignola’s art emphasizes gothic and horror elements that are conveyed through a graphic and chiaroscuro style (a stark representation of light-and-shadow). In other words, you may or may not even recognize Jovovich in-costume/makeup, which might require a lot more from her as an actress than is evident in her recent films.
However, Mignola is already on the record for stating that the Hellboy reboot will focus more on horror and less on fantasy elements, calling it: “an action-horror film.” Adding Jovovich to the mix is unexpected, but not outrageous. I’m not suggesting that Jovovich won’t pull it off, she’s certainly done her share of horror and action genre work, but I’m not sold yet. Hopefully, some concept art, costume design, and makeup tests will soon start appearing — that’s when we can really begin guaging where this train is headed!
How do you feel about Milla Jovovich stepping into the Blood Queen role? Let us know in the comments down below!
Hellboy: Rise of the Blood Queen hits theaters in 2018 (TBD).
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SOURCE: Deadline
