Quick Links
Get your oversized revolvers and shaved-down devil horns ready, becausetheHellboyfranchise is returning with yet another reboot,Hellboy: The Crooked Man. The cinematic history of the titular character from Dark Horse Comics created byMike Mignolahas been decently prolific, if not equally complicated. Making a movie about the wildly successful demon-spawn-turned-monster-hunter makes perfect sense considering he is easily one of the most popular comic book heroes ever created, on par with the characters of Marvel and DC. Not to mention, there is no shortage of stories and characters to bring to a feature adaption, with various tones to choose from given Mignola’s original comic series expertly balances action, comedy, and horror.
Hellboy got his first crack at a feature film with the 2004 movie, simply titledHellboy, which was directed by auteur monster-movie masterGuillermo Del Toroand stars frequent Del Toro collaboratorRon Perlmanas the big red monster hunter with a heart of gold. Complete with Del Toro’s keen eye for practical effects and Perlman’s infectious charisma as the lovable character, the firstHellboyfilm quickly became a fan favorite, despite not performing extremely well at the box office. The reception was positive enough for Del Toro and Perlman to reunitefor a sequel inHellboy II: The Golden Army(2008), a follow-up that is just as good if not better than the 2004 film. All the elements that made the original work are on display here, now including more complex world-building, a more threatening antagonist, and a stronger plot in general.
Hellboy IIcertainly invited a potential sequel, but Guillermo Del Toro’s busy schedule and desire to focus on other projects led to a continuation never being made, despite claims from Ron Perlman himself that he’s more than open to returning to the role. Perhaps tired of waiting for a new film from Del Toro, Lionsgate decided it was time for Hellboy to get the remake treatment. Thus,Hellboy(2019) was born, but unlike its predecessor, the response to this new adaptation was less than stellar. DespiteDavid Harbourbeing a solid choice in the role of the titular character, and an R-rating being decently enticing,Hellboy2019 failed to make an impact on critics and audiences alike,with lackluster box office numbers seemingly killing the franchise’s live-action hopes. Ironically, what theHellboyfranchise really needs right now is a miracle, and we may be getting that thanks toCrank(2006) filmmakerBrian Taylor. Millenium Media recently announced thatthey’ll be taking another crack at bringing Hellboyto life withHellboy: The Crooked Man, which according to Taylor, will double down on the horror elements to bring to life a version of theHellboyuniverse that we’ve never seen onscreen before.
Though the project is still a few months away, Collider is on your side and will happily tell you everything we know so far aboutHellboy: The Crooked Man.
Editor’s Note: This article was last updated on August 05, 2025.
Does ‘Hellboy: The Crooked Man’ Have a Release Date?
No,Hellboy: The Crooked Manstill does not have a release date. Althoughwe do know that the movie will premiere sometime in 2024. Considering that at the time of this writing, we’re already over halfway through the year, we likely will see the new movie secure a release date in the fall, in time for the Halloween season.
Will ‘Hellboy: The Crooked Man’ Release in Theaters or on Streaming?
Details on the format or formats thatHellboy: The Crooked Manhave not yet been made explicitly known at this time. We’re assuming thatHellboy: The Crooked Manwill follow suit with its predecessors and be a theatrical release, but a streaming release likely wouldn’t be off the table given the franchise has never raked in the biggest box office numbers.
The reboot was acquired by indie distributor Ketchup Entertainment in September 2023, which previously oversaw the theatrical releases ofHypnoticstarringBen Affleck,andMemorystarringJessica Chastain, so it seems safe to say that the film will also receive a theatrical release.
Does ‘Hellboy: The Crooked Man’ Have a Trailer Yet?
Yes! The first officialteaser trailer forHellboy: The Crooked Manwas released online by Ketchup Entertainment on June 19, 2025. The trailer runs just a little over a minute long and doesn’t reveal too much about the movie, but it does tease that this reboot will lean more heavily into the horror aspects of the character.
What Is ‘Hellboy: The Crooked Man’ About?
The official plot synopsis forHellboy: The Crooked Manreads as follows:
It follows Hellboy and a rookie BPRD agent as they get stranded in 1950s rural Appalachia. They discover a small community haunted by witches, led by the Crooked Man.
Who Stars in ‘Hellboy: The Crooked Man’?
As of June 22, 2025, we now know that a new face will officially be taking over the role of Hellboy. Donning the oversized hand and shaved-down devil horns this time will be none other thanJack Kesy, who has a fairly extensive history in the action genre having starred in12 Strong,Deadpool 2, andWithout Remorse. Following the announcement, Millenium Media co-founderJonathan Yungerhad this to say about Kesy’s casting:
Jack Kesy is a dynamic actor who has the ability to morph into his roles. His talent and stature are perfect for this younger Hellboy. I was very impressed with him while working together onThe Outpost.
In an interview with Collider’sPerri Nemiroff, producerLes Weldongave some insight as tohow Kesy was cast in the iconic role, saying:
We went on a long soul-searching expedition to find the right Hellboy, and we knew that this Hellboy was gonna be a very moody, very kind of dark and creepy movie. There’s no gloss, nothing like that. And Jack, look, I had worked with Jack before, as had other guys in our company, and we sort of came to the same conclusion that that sort of personality he has was gonna work really nicely for that film
Jefferson White(Yellowstone) andAdeline Rudolph(Chilling Adventures of Sabrina)have also been cast in the film with White playing Tom Ferrell and Rudolph set to play Bobbie Jo Song. Other castmembers includeJoseph Marcell(The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) as Reverend Nathaniel Armstrong Watts,Leah McNamara(Normal People) as Effie Kolb, newcomerHannah Margetsonas Cora Fisher, andMartin Bassindale(Masters of the Air) as Professor Broom.
Who’s Making ‘Hellboy: The Crooked Man’?
In the director’s chair is Brian Taylor, a self-proclaimedHellboysuper-fan and the filmmaker behind bothCrankfilms,Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, andMom and Dad. Taylor is also behind the delightfully over-the-top seriesHappy!, and his fast-paced filmmaking style has historically led to some incredible premises and action sequences. Penning the script isChris Golden, withHellboy: The Crooked Manserving as their first IMDb credited role, and Mike Mignola is also reportedly involved in the story department in addition to being the IP’s creator.
Mignola spoke with Varietyregarding the film’s script, saying:
“For years, we’ve been saying, if you’re going to make aHellboymovie, make it small. And the perfect story to do that with is my personal favorite,The Crooked Man. I think it’s one of the best things I’ve ever written. It’s beautifully illustrated byRichard Corben, and it’s a solid story that doesn’t involve a million different characters. Everybody actually agreed from the very beginning, ‘Yes, we want to do that one.’ Budget-wise, it’s good because it’s a lower budget kind of a story. It’s not the Hellboy origin. It’s not Hellboy saving the world. It’s not huge. It’s a subtle, dark, little folk horror story.”
Producers on the movie includeMike Richardson,Jeff Greenstein,Jonathan Yunger, Les Weldon,Robert Van Norden, andYariv Lemer.
When Does Hellboy: The Crooked Man Begin Filming?
Principal photography started in April of 2023 and wrapped in May of the same year. Though the comic the film is based on primarily takes place in the Appalachian Mountains of North America, the production did most of its filming in Bulgaria. Hellboy creatorMike Mignola took to Instagramto congratulate the cast and crew working onHellboy: The Crooked Man.
What Are the Comic Origins of Hellboy: The Crooked Man?
Shortly after the film’s announcement,Collider’s ownSteve Weintraubhad an opportunity to speak with Brian Taylor, who gave some details on the upcoming production including how he’s striving for accuracy to the original Hellboy comic of the same name. A wise choice given that the sensational comic is easily one of the best entries in the series from Mike Mignola.
The unique nature ofThe Crooked Manbecomes abundantly clear right away in its setting, being a period piece set in the late 1950s and primarily taking place in the desolate woods of the Appalachian mountains. There, Hellboy finds an injured woman, the victim of some sort of witchcraft or curse. The mystery deepens with the arrival of Tom Ferrell - a local drifter who claims to know the source of this dark magic. The duo, consisting of Hellboy and Tom Ferrell, discovers the true threat in Appalachia can be traced back to the one calling himself the Crooked Man - a former tax collector who cheated the hangman’s noose and become a soul collector in service of the Devil. What follows is one of the most unsettling adventures that Hellboy has ever embarked on, packed with terrifying imagery and plenty of twists and turns.
Are the Other Live-Action Hellboy Films Available to Stream?
If you want to get caught up on Hellboy’s live-action film history, the past three entries are all available to stream. To find out where simply read below.
