The latest Hellboy film, titled “Hellboy: The Crooked Man,” will debut on Video on Demand platforms in the United States on October 7, according to its producers. Directed by Brian Taylor, the movie follows Hellboy and a rookie Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense agent as they investigate a community of witches in 1950s Appalachia.
Jack Kesy takes on the role of Hellboy, previously played by Ron Perlman and David Harbour. He stars alongside Jefferson White, Adeline Rudolph, Joseph Marcell, Leah McNamara, and Hannah Margetson. Christopher Golden, Mike Mignola, and Brian Taylor collaborated on the screenplay. Mignola created the original Hellboy comic books.
While American audiences will be able to watch it at home, the movie will show for one week starting September 27 in select UK theaters. Production finished in May after beginning earlier in 2023 in Bulgaria. A quick production schedule may aim to attract interest following the poorly received 2019 reboot.
Viewers will be able to preorder the film on Amazon Prime Video for $19.99 ahead of its October 7 Video on Demand release date in the US. However, plans for a potential streaming release were not announced. The new movie explores Hellboy’s mysterious past and origins.
The Hellboy franchise has seen mixed success over the years. Guillermo del Toro’s 2004 film and its 2008 sequel did well with critics and at the box office. But the 2019 reboot struggled, earning only $55 million worldwide and very negative reviews scoring 17% on Rotten Tomatoes. How fans receive the new movie could impact the character’s future on screen.
As the premiere date nears, expectations are rising around whether “Hellboy: The Crooked Man” can reignite enthusiasm for more Hellboy films. Its US streaming-first strategy may aim to reduce financial risk compared to a theatrical run like the reboot faced.
