The Resident Evil films may be over (for now), but that doesn’t mean lead actress Milla Jovovich is out of the monster business for good. Jovovich has just been announced as the Blood Queen in the upcoming Hellboy reboot. Along with adding another famous name to the cast list—Ian McShane of the recent TV hit American Gods was also recently announced for the role of Professor Broom—this also puts Jovovich in the role of villain, a rare space for someone who has played so many iconic genre heroes. Fans will recognize her for her heroine rolls the Resident Evil films, The Fifth Element and Ultraviolet.
The current draft of the new Hellboy film is being rewritten by Aron Coleite, based on the initial first draft by Andrew Cosby, Christopher Golden, and the creator of Hellboy himself, Mike Mignola. It will be directed by Neil Marshall and star Stranger Things actor David Harbour as the titular Hellboy. Marshall, having just wrapped the pilot for Netflix’s Lost in Space remake, will be working with producer Marc Helwig on the film. The film itself will be created by Millennium Films and Lionsgate, with Christa Campbell and Lati Grobman producing through Campbell Grobman Films.
As we’ve previously reported, this new Hellboy will join the new trend of R-rated comic book flicks, including the highly successful Deadpool and Logan. Fan skepticism of the reboot has died down in the wake of the recent casting news, though it seems like there is still some loyalty to be won over from the now iconic Guillermo del Toro films. The director reportedly has no hard feelings about the reboot, even saying that the character was never his to begin with.
“I don’t own Hellboy, Mike [Mignola] does. So, you know, he is the father of the character and if he wants to reboot it, it’s perfectly fine. I got to make two – that’s two more than I thought I would get to make … So you know, as far as I’m concerned god speed and god bless.”
There is currently no release date set for the new Hellboy film.
