HELLBOY: THE CROOKED MAN Acquired By Studio Behind Ben Affleck's Critically Panned HYPNOTIC

HELLBOY: THE CROOKED MAN Acquired By Studio Behind Ben Affleck's Critically Panned HYPNOTIC

Hellboy: The Crooked Man has today been acquired by the studio behind Hypnotic and knock-off movies like "The Starving Games." Does this tell us everything we need to know about the upcoming reboot?

By JoshWilding - Sep 11, 2023 02:09 PM EST
Filed Under: Hellboy
Source: Deadline

Deadline reveals that Ketchup Entertainment has acquired Millenium Media's Hellboy reboot, Hellboy: The Crooked Man. This will be the fourth movie based on the Dark Horse comic book property after the effort starring David Harbour crashed and burned in 2019.

However, the fact this studio has distributed movies like Ben Affleck's critically panned Hypnotic and knock-offs such as Superfast! (Fast & Furious) and The Starving Games (The Hunger Games) could be an indication this remake will be a largely low-budget schlock-fest.

Presumably, bigger studios weren't interested; the first two movies were distributed by Sony Pictures and the latest one by Lionsgate. 

"We are very excited by this latest acquisition, this film holds a special place in the hearts of fans worldwide and we are committed to preserving and building its legacy as we bring the film to fans and new audiences," Ketchup Entertainment CEO Gareth West tells the trade. "We are confident that our collaboration with Jeffrey Greenstein and the exceptional team at Millennium Media will enable us to achieve just that."

Millennium Media's Jeffrey Greenstein adds, "At a time when content is never more in demand, it’s exciting to partner with a group who is not only passionate about movies, but who are also stepping up to distribute the types of commercial films that we believe audiences crave."

"Despite all of the changes in the marketplace, it’s refreshing to start building a pipeline with Ketchup and we are excited to build upon this first film together."

While Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy movies were largely well-received, they didn't exactly set the box office on fire and Neil Marshall's troubled attempt bombed. With that in mind, if Hellboy: The Crooked Man fails, it could be the last time we see this character on screen for a very long time. 

Director Brian Taylor (Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance) is at the helm of a movie that will expand Hellboy's world through some of the most beloved issues of the comic series. Mignola penned the screenplay alongside his Dark Horse Comics collaborator Chris Golden, so we're expecting a strong script if nothing else. 

The official synopsis for movie reads, "Stranded in 1950s rural Appalachia, Hellboy and a rookie BPRD agent discover a small community haunted by witches, led by the Crooked Man, a local devil with a troubling connection to Hellboy's past."

On the page, The Crooked Man was an eighteenth-century miser and war profiteer named Jeremiah Witkins who was hanged for his crimes yet returned from Hell as the region's resident Devil. It's currently unclear who is playing that villain in the reboot. 

The movie's cast is led by Jack Kesy (Deadpool 2) as Hellboy, with Jefferson White (Yellowstone) as Tom Ferrell and Adeline Rudolph (Resident Evil) playing Bobbie Jo Song.

A release date has not been announced for Hellboy: The Crooked Man

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narrow290
narrow290 - 9/11/2023, 2:04 PM
The story is great. I'm hoping the movie is too
CoHost
CoHost - 9/11/2023, 2:05 PM
This franchise is dead.

Forthas
Forthas - 9/11/2023, 2:07 PM
Hypnotic was the bomb yo!
VictorAlonzo
VictorAlonzo - 9/11/2023, 4:05 PM
@Forthas - I liked it. FTW!!!
HulkisHoly
HulkisHoly - 9/11/2023, 2:09 PM
I just don’t understand why this is being rebooted AGAIN like 5 minutes after the last one
HammerLegFoot
HammerLegFoot - 9/11/2023, 2:11 PM
@HulkisHoly - Because the public demands it dammit!
WhatIfRickJames
WhatIfRickJames - 9/11/2023, 2:13 PM
Why do we need to say that Hypnotic was critically panned in the headline?
WhatIfRickJames
WhatIfRickJames - 9/11/2023, 2:18 PM
FFS... IT HAS NO RELEVANCE

Every time I post from now on, I will lead with "the critically panned Josh Wilding has said..."
thedrudo
thedrudo - 9/11/2023, 3:02 PM
@WhatIfRickJames - Yeah. He could have clearly written the headline without the snark. Every studio releases something terrible so it's weird it's mentioned.
dracula
dracula - 9/11/2023, 2:37 PM


cant believe studios give this series a chance

Hellboy1 and 2 were great but werent exacty big money makers, they even switched studios, thats why Del Toro couln't get 3 made

the last reboot straight up bombed
asherman93
asherman93 - 9/11/2023, 2:44 PM
Once the strike is done, Netflix needs to let Del Toro make his Hellboy 3, just to close out the trilogy and secure his future goodwill.
BobGarlen
BobGarlen - 9/11/2023, 3:20 PM
@asherman93 - Netflix would have to license the rights from Millenium, then either finance it themselves or find outside financing for it. I don't see it as a likely or even fiscally responsible option. Animated or not it would cost too much money.
MotherGooseUPus
MotherGooseUPus - 9/11/2023, 2:55 PM
So it's being produced by ketchup and is directed by the Ghost rider sequel, aka, one of the WORST CBM of all time...

NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 9/12/2023, 1:37 AM
@MotherGooseUPus - More like it's being distributed by them, Milennium Media are the producers.
Clintthahamster
Clintthahamster - 9/11/2023, 3:17 PM
Honestly, I'm ready for a low-rent, low-budget, low-expectations take on a CBM. Give me a goofy, over the top, direct-to-video reboot. No more world-building, no more auteurs. Let's have some cheap thrills!
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 9/11/2023, 4:46 PM
@ClintThaHamster - you know what, I actually am on board with that. Think Hellboy is a good enough property they could try it with
Razorface1
Razorface1 - 9/11/2023, 5:58 PM
@ClintThaHamster - god forbid people actually make good movies.
Clintthahamster
Clintthahamster - 9/11/2023, 6:52 PM
@Razorface1 - Nothing I said precludes making good movies. Assault on Precinct 13 and Halloween, Evil Dead and Evil Dead 2, Brain Dead and Heavenly Creatures, all of these started off as genre/exploitation films, and all are heralded as masterpieces today. Let's let some young, hungry filmmakers make weird art with established IP. We have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
Razorface1
Razorface1 - 9/12/2023, 12:48 AM
@ClintThaHamster - you literally described a bad movie.
Clintthahamster
Clintthahamster - 9/12/2023, 8:15 AM
@Razorface1 - I literally described They Live. Goofy, over the top, low budget, lean, mean thrills. Just because a movie's fun doesn't mean it's not also good.
99OPTIMISTPRIME
99OPTIMISTPRIME - 9/11/2023, 3:43 PM
Ben Affleck as Hellboy?🤔
TheLobster
TheLobster - 9/11/2023, 4:15 PM
I want this to be great because I love Crank and Mom & Dad but my expectations are pretty low.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 9/11/2023, 4:47 PM
@TheLobster - Crank was so wild. Such a simple concept, yet so effective and memorable. Just a guy doing batshit crazy stuff because he has to ti stay alive. Can't believe no one thought of that earlier
TheLobster
TheLobster - 9/11/2023, 6:41 PM
@bkmeijer1 - oh yeah man - it’s a great concept that was executed pretty damn well. Jason Statham also fully committed to the role so major kuddos to him!
MrDandy
MrDandy - 9/11/2023, 5:29 PM
I’m really glad they wasted money on two reboots instead of just giving Del Toro the money he asked for Hellboy 3. Great decision. Slow clap.
Deklipz
Deklipz - 9/12/2023, 1:17 PM
@MrDandy - “They” didn’t waste money on two reboots. “They” didn’t give Del Toro money and let their licensing lapse allowing it to be rebooted by a different “they” that obviously didn’t want to just continue on. Then it happened AGAIN and it’s now a totally different “them” making the movie which is already made prior to Ketchup aquiring the distribution rights.
ImBatman4realz
ImBatman4realz - 9/11/2023, 10:18 PM
Ketchup is distributing Hellboy now? Well, that is an interesting turn of events 🤔
ScottPilgrim29
ScottPilgrim29 - 9/12/2023, 6:06 AM
If they properly adapt the story and let Brian go full crazy mode like Crank or Happy!, it might be surprise the audience.
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