The Great Advice Ron Perlman Gave David Harbour About Playing Hellboy

Ron Perlman as Hellboy

At this point, it's no secret that comic book properties are everywhere. The superhero genre is essentially the biggest cash cow in show business, so there's a wealth of blockbusters and TV shows being produced. This includes reboots and revivals, like the new Hellboy movie. The 2018 Hellboy will star Stranger Things' David Harbour and serve as the launching point for a new franchise of films. Harbour seems thrilled to be playing the big red guy, and recently revealed the A+ advice he got from OG Hellboy Ron Perlman. Harbour revealed this, saying:

It was funny because when it came about I reached out to him and I was like, 'This is weird.' And he totally understood and knew what was up. And we went out to dinner with my buddy Patton Oswalt, we had a conversation. He's an amazing guy and super sweet was wishing me well. And then he says something like, 'Just have fun.' Which is something I need to remember when I work because I'm so intense. And the other thing I will say for reporters everywhere, in honor of his request: stop asking Ron Perlman about the Hellboy reboot, please stop asking him about that. I get it. He's answered the questions. Leave the man alone!

It looks like David Harbour really appreciate what Ron Perlman brought to Hellboy. And he also wants fans to leave the actor alone when it comes to the franchise he formerly lead. The passing of the torch has happened, and Perlman likely wasn't originally thrilled about it.

Ron Perlman's advice to David Harbour, which comes to us from THR, seems pretty spot on. Because while Harbour wants to do a good job and certainly feels the stakes of leading the new Hellboy franchise, the character itself needs to have some levity. While Hellboy is a bit of an anti-hero, he's got a Wolverine-esque gruff exterior around him. He wisecracks, smokes cigars, and loves to beat the crap out of his various enemies. So Harbour having fun will definitely be necessary to translate the character's attitude to the silver screen.

It's really classy that Ron Perlman was so generous with David Harbour, especially considering his past with Hellboy. After starring in Guillermo del Toro's first two films, the duo tried to get a third film off the ground last year. After feeling out fan interest, they took some meetings with studios about investing in the project and letting del Toro's films turn into a trilogy. They were rebuffed, and then a new film was announced directed by Neil Marshall. The cast has since been assembled, and we should expect the film to arrive in a year and change.

Hellboy will arrive in theaters on January 11, 2019. In the meantime, check out our 2018 premiere list to plan your trips to the movies in the New Year.

Corey Chichizola
Movies Editor

Corey was born and raised in New Jersey. Graduated with degrees theater and literature from Ramapo College of New Jersey. After working in administrative theater for a year in New York, he started as the Weekend Editor at CinemaBlend. He's since been able to work himself up to reviews, phoners, and press junkets-- and is now able to appear on camera with some of his favorite actors... just not as he would have predicted as a kid. He's particularly proud of covering horror franchises like Scream and Halloween, as well as movie musicals like West Side Story. Favorite interviews include Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee, Jamie Lee Curtis, and more.