HELLBOY Sequel Would Have Featured A Redesigned, "Thug-Like" Take On Abe Sapien - EXCLUSIVE

HELLBOY Sequel Would Have Featured A Redesigned, "Thug-Like" Take On Abe Sapien - EXCLUSIVE

Unfortunately, it's unlikely that we'll see another Hellboy movie for quite some time, but if it does happen, we'll be getting a totally new take on Abe Sapien. Find out more details on that right here...

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By JoshWilding - Aug 15, 2019 06:08 AM EST
Filed Under: Hellboy
To mark the release of Hellboy on home media platforms, we recently had the opportunity to talk to Oscar-winning makeup artist Joel Harlow. He's worked on everything from Star Trek to Logan and Black Panther, but Hellboy features some of his most impressive work to date.

As of right now, there's no word on a sequel, but given how things ended in the reboot, we obviously would have seen the introduction of Abe Sapien. 

During my conversation with Joel, I asked if there were any character he would have liked to work on that he didn't get chance to, and he shed some light on what was in the works for the potential sequel. 

"The unfortunate thing is that the movie did not do very well and if it had, we would have explored Abe Sapien again. There were actually a lot of creatures coming in potential sequels. For this one, we get a glimpse at him at the very end with that teaser with his hand but if we had done the entire character, first of all, it would be vastly different from the other films, more thug like, and we wouldn't have even have gone with that hand you see at the end of the film. We would have designed something from scratch. That's one of the ones that, because I have an affection for fish people and fish characters, would have been really fun to work on but alas, no."

The Abe Sapien in Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy movies was very comic accurate, but a new take on the character could have worked. This "thug-like" version would have been very interesting, and likely something a lot different to what we're used to seeing in the source material. However, for the aesthetic of this particular Hellboy franchise, it probably would have fit right it. 

We'll bring you our full interview with Joel about his work on Hellboy tomorrow so be sure to check back here then! Hellboy is out now on Digital Download and on Blu-ray and DVD August 19.
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Reeds2Much
Reeds2Much - 8/15/2019, 6:29 AM
"Thug-Like" Take On Abe Sapien
Victorg1983
Victorg1983 - 8/15/2019, 7:06 AM
@Reeds2Much - ah gangsta joker
tmp3
tmp3 - 8/15/2019, 7:33 AM
@Victorg1983 - Instagram douchebag Joker 🤦
Victorg1983
Victorg1983 - 8/15/2019, 9:50 AM
@tmp3 - lmao ... Instagram influencer joker
DAGuess
DAGuess - 8/15/2019, 6:38 AM
I believe there is enough data to suggest a positive correlation between comic book faithfulness to characters and success... Why? Why do movies continue to be made that are drastic departures from the source materials, then everyone is like, "The unfortunate thing is that the movie did not do very well..."
LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 8/15/2019, 7:02 AM
@DAGuess - Honestly......

There are times when movies & tv take massive departures from the comics that do takes that are even better than the comics

Look at Mr Freeze in BTAS
Look at MCU Thanos who never was in love with Death
Look at MCU Vulture who bares zero resemblance to comic Vulture
Raimi Doc Ock bares no resemblance to comic book Doc Ock
Burton’s Penguin
Hellboy & Liz are a couple in the films but never in the comics

While being faithful is important, you shouldn’t be faithful to just be faithful. Like how numerous comic book writers & artists get to write & draw their own versions of classic iconic characters, film directors should be allowed to have that chance also. There are times when those directors for tv & film genuinely improve on the source material given.

If we focus on faithfulness over telling a good film then Batman Forever is the best Batman film since it’s the most faithful Batman film to date.
LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 8/15/2019, 7:04 AM
Note: I don’t believe Burton’s Penguin & Hellboy & Liz As a couple are better than the comics but they are changes that worked & helped make great films
Reeds2Much
Reeds2Much - 8/15/2019, 7:36 AM
@LEVITIKUZ - Those aren't really massive departures, though. Freeze still pines for his love, Thanos still knocks out half the universe, Vulture still scavenges from the skies, so on and so forth.

While some deviation is good, as it leads to new things if they change things to the point of it being almost unrecognizable then it's just namedrops as a marketing ploy. Pennyworth would probably be much more enjoyable if it wasn't having to trip over itself every few scenes to remind the audience it's supposed to be Batman related.
Unreal2k9
Unreal2k9 - 8/15/2019, 7:59 AM
@Reeds2Much - and a more urban Abe Sapien isn't a major departure either, or at least, it doesn't need to be.

His role on the team and relationship to Hellboy can be the same, but with a more urban personality. The tone might not have worked, but it certainly had a chance.

The Boys is a great example of taking creative license with an IP. You can argue Stillwell's gender change is a "major departure", but it is a far better narrative decision than the one from the book.
DAGuess
DAGuess - 8/15/2019, 10:25 AM
@LEVITIKUZ - It's less about character designs and more about personalities and motivations. I contend that Jim Carrey's Riddler and Tommy Lee Jones' Two Face were not accurate portrayals, and XMen repeatedly shot itself in the foot by not embracing their comic origins more faithfully. No, I don't think a comic accurate Civil War would have been better than what we got, but the characterizations are mostly spot on.

I'm just arguing that in the age of comic book movies, studios are not rewarded by the audience for putting their personal touch on these characters, hence the latest Hellboy. And speaking of Spiderman, look at what happened with the Amazing Spiderman films. I'm not even sure Nolan's Batman films would thrive in today's post Endgame climate.
dragon316
dragon316 - 8/15/2019, 12:16 PM
@LEVITIKUZ - Ironman 3 manderian, fantastic four galactus, apaoclypse , Phoenix you can add to list long list with wwolverrine origins, Electra solo movie, reel and catwoman solo movies
NathimusPrime
NathimusPrime - 8/15/2019, 1:30 PM
@Reeds2Much - I think what he means is Mr. Freeze was a goofy d list villain until BatmanTAS reinvented him. The reason he worked so well on that show is becuase they didnt stick to the source material. Unless I'm mistaken that show invented the tragic version of the character that we know today.
Origame
Origame - 3/25/2020, 7:00 AM
@NathimusPrime - originally he was known as mr zero, and literally all he has in common with his modern interpretation is using freeze weapons and having a lab accident that requires him to be in a freeze suit. He was really no more tragic than any other villain and he was invented in the silver age of comic books, so that should tell you how tragic he was.
Comicbookart
Comicbookart - 8/15/2019, 6:41 AM
🤦‍♂️ Jesus Christ. smh.

LeBronStan
LeBronStan - 8/15/2019, 6:45 AM
just give me a tv show, preferably animated, with each episode stand alone. these movies just don't seem to work
GhostDog
GhostDog - 8/15/2019, 6:47 AM
GDT if this happened
tmp3
tmp3 - 8/15/2019, 6:59 AM
@BlackBeltJones - GDT's next film has such a killer ensemble. It lost DiCaprio, but it still has Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, Willem DaFoe, Rooney Mara, Michael Shannon and Richard Jenkins
GhostDog
GhostDog - 8/15/2019, 7:40 AM
@tmp3 - GDT will be cookin
LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 8/15/2019, 6:55 AM
suitekid
suitekid - 8/15/2019, 7:04 AM
I was mad at the Age Sapien tease because the new Hellboy wasn't very good and I knew we weren't going to get to see him in a sequel. He's my favorite character though and based on this it sounds like I wouldn't have liked their take on him anyway.
Ha1frican
Ha1frican - 8/15/2019, 7:06 AM
As bad as I feel for David Harbour I’m now ultimately glad this failed, still haven’t seen it and don’t ever plan to
rsahadi
rsahadi - 8/15/2019, 7:12 AM
@Ha1frican - I saw it and surprisingly enjoyed it. It wasn't as good as the two that preceded it but it was very entertaining.
FleischerSupes
FleischerSupes - 8/15/2019, 8:23 AM
@Ha1frican - Surprisingly good first 30-40 min. Should have gone with the more comic accurate origin and look for Bruttenholm. Falls apart halfway through though.
Vocloz
Vocloz - 8/15/2019, 7:11 AM
This movie was embarrassingly bad. I was so excited, the Wild Hunt was one of my favorite Hellboy stories. They massacred every aspect of the mythos they touched, every single aspect. One of the worst films of recent memory, no hyperbole needed. Garbage, oof
Unites
Unites - 8/15/2019, 7:30 AM
I've watched this movie this week for the first time. I haven't seen the previous movies, but I have to admit that I liked it? It was obviously not a good movie, but it was silly and funny.
OptimusGrime
OptimusGrime - 8/15/2019, 7:57 AM
I watched this knowing about the bullshit behind the scenes etc...and i thought it was really bad. Like embarrassingly so...a lot of good actors in this but they didnt bring any A game. As an englishman...the accent DDK was doing was...pretty goddamn offensive hahah. Like not cool bro. Just make the guy american ffs. Aside from that ...the movie was still terrible
IronDean2099
IronDean2099 - 8/15/2019, 8:21 AM
I'm curious what this would have been like. I know people would have probably hated it. I actually really enjoyed Ayer's version of the Joker. It made complete sense to me. Not so much for Abe, but again, we have no idea exactly what their take was and how it would have turned out.
AnthonyVonGeek
AnthonyVonGeek - 8/15/2019, 8:32 AM
It’s like they tried the Thor Ragnarok recipe on Hellboy and failed miserably at it. They made Hellboy goofy, clumsy and completely stupid. At least with Thor I laughed, with a Hellboy I cringed.
Stinkor1
Stinkor1 - 8/15/2019, 9:04 AM
Does he mean “thug” as in oafish and brute-like? Or gangsta?
4thMaster
4thMaster - 8/15/2019, 9:39 AM
There are soooo many ways one can interpret "thug" that it doesn't tell us too much. For example, Abe in the comics is much rougher than the GDT version so he could be talking in correlation to that divide. He could mean making him wear hoodies, listens to rap and carry skittles, the Leto Joker with the Instagram douche look, or just a giant a-hole that bullies everyone in horrific ways.

Anyway: it's time to announce an R-rated (mostly for the copious amounts of blood) animated adaptation! Either just go with BPRD as a umbrella term to adapt stories from the whole world indiscriminate of series of origin (my personal favorite choice so everyone gets their due) or just adapt the mainline Hellboy comics, I'd love to get it in chronological order (I get lost in the short stories volumes). No matter the route I would love a couple of original adventures thrown in every now and then.
THEDARKKNIGHT1939
THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 8/15/2019, 9:56 AM
Whew, dodged that bullet.

On a side note, as much as I loved the look for del Toro's Abe, he wasn't very accurate to Mignola's design.
theFUZZ008
theFUZZ008 - 8/15/2019, 10:14 AM
ElJefe
ElJefe - 8/15/2019, 11:38 AM
This movie gave me a live action Lobster Johnson and for that I am eternally grateful ...
demery
demery - 8/15/2019, 12:12 PM
I'm curious what would've happened if GDT did his version of Hellboy III but if was distributed by the current owner of the franchise Millennium Films (the first flick was distributed by Columbia Pictures and Revolutions Studios while The Golden Army was distributed by Universal Pictures)?

Let's imagine if the cast from the GDT Hellboy flicks reprised their roles but with the new characters from the 2019 flick in it like Milla Jovovich as The Blood Queen, Daniel Dae Kim as Ben Daimio, Thomas Haden Church (or GDT's initial choice of Bruce Campbell) as Lobster Johnson, Sasha Lane as Alice, and so forth.

I'd rather see that than what we got instead.
NathimusPrime
NathimusPrime - 8/15/2019, 1:32 PM
If you want sequels maybe you should, I dont know, make better movies?
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