HELLBOY.... born in hell, too cool to stay

UNIVERSAL -- Here's your chance to do something uber-fucking-cool. To build a kickass franchise. To seize the momentum you'll get from "The Mummy" and "Mystery Men." To make an AWESOME movie that could be HUGE. In the hands of the brilliant Guillermo del Toro, this could be THE summer film of 2000. There has never been a comic book adaptation that comes anywhere close to what this will be -- a truly great movie. MAKE IT HAPPEN!!! YOU SHALL BE REWARDED!!!

HELLBOY is quite possibly THE coolest Dark Horse comic property ever!!! The deep, inky darkness and chiaroscuros Mignola uses should be perfectly matched -judging from the look of MIMIC they will- and the movie should be both full of action and scary. I love CRONOS and I think MIMIC is a handsome looking film with some great scenes and a shabby-as-hell last third. Summer of 2000. That in itself sound just awesome. Hellboy is indeed a hero for the 21st century!!!

Good GAWD!!! Jump back, kiss m'self! Hah! Unhhh!!! That's a tasty piece of news! Got-ta get-tahhh! Somebody hit me!

Hey, it's the Guardian from Ultima VII! And he's got a pop can crushed against his head! Looks like Coca-Cola Classic from here... :-)

This is from FATHER GEEK, using Harry's computer. I've been a comic collector since I was 6 years old, that's 48 years ago my fellow geeks. I've been a dealer in comics and related items since my college years in the 60's. I've seen alot of titles come and go over the years, and picking WINNERS is what has kept me in the business all these years. I have no warehouse of unsold "bricks", I've had no 10 cent comic sales to make room for new stock, I have an extremely accurate gut for what will work and what won't, what has "Legs" and what doesn't. Believe me, HELLBOY has "Legs", long strong healthy ones at that. When Harry 1st told me Del Toro was working on HELLBOY 8 or 9 months ago I knew he was perfect for the project, just look at CRONOS or the 1st 2/3s of MIMIC before studio suits boogered up his well written finale. And the source material for HELLBOY? Its ripe for the picking, its pure ass-kicking, soul-burning Phantasy/Adventure/Horror, perfect for Universal, and what's even better Universal's perfect for it! I've read the script Del Toro submitted to the studio, it is a sure fired winner if I've ever seen one. Fans let the studio know you stand behind this project. Exs give the writer/director the funds and freedom to do it the way its on paper and its success in the 2000 market will knock your socks off, Hell it will knock your jocks off!!! FATHER GEEK signing off urging all involved to do the RIGHT thing and get this WINNER moving!!!

I have to admit, I've never read a "Hellboy" comic, but I'm excited about this movie. Why? Because I love the medium of the comic book and I'm sick and tired of it being looked upon as some bastard child of storytelling. Anything that can help this medium gain acceptance is wonderful, in my opinion. That's why I'm glad "Blade" didn't suck. That's why I was first in line to see "Spawn." That's why I think Akiva Goldman should be put to death and Tim Burton should be vivisected before he's allowed NEAR another Superman script. If this "Hellboy" movie is as good as Father Geek seems to think it'll be, I'll be there with bells on. And while we're at it, let's give Kevin Smith a big hand for hopping into comics. Hopefully he's brought some movie geeks in with him.

BORN IN HELL, TOO COOL TO STAY!! Indeed!! I love this comic book and The keys to it are: Pathos, action, dark humor and visual wit. Also, the star of this film should be none other than HELLBOY himself. Put the money on the monsters and not in some bullshit "star" to play the lead. Great creatures: Baker, Bottin or the like... Oh, and... if Cthulhu MUST show up, right? RIGHT. I'm there!

"Uber-fucking-cool" indeed. they do this mother right, and my little world will officially be rocked. Hard to imagine Hellboy done in live action, though. Sweet Jesus and his winged monkeys, can you imagine what a Mignola-style animated movie would be like?! Ah, but at least HB ain't too odd to be done with makeup (unlike, say, the X-Men's Beast). It'd take some good, subtle prothetics to get the face right, but it could be done....

If anyone could put Mignolas version up on screen - it would be Del Torro. Lets here it for this one. If they don't green light this film...well Universal will be kicking themselves in the ass for a long time. Hell, if I was an executive I would green light just for the cool mercahndising possibilities. Could you imagine a Todd Mcfarleane Hellboy toy?

I agree with the poster above. Just the toy line alone makes me drool in anticipation. I just hope this gets going soon, Universal sure needs a franchise like this. The first Horror-action movie ever!!! McDeviled ham sandwiches, mmmhh... (Homer sound) Abe's fish 'n chips... Any word on the casting?? I heard Mignola discuss Ron Perlman and Natalie Portman, oh, and Jean Reno for Rasputin. I'm all moist already, my fingers slip on the keyboard ;}

"The characters have a mystery, there is romance, there's cool action and it's scary." Hmmm. Not *too* much romance, I hope. I would hate to see the Hellboy movie storyline become "Beauty and the Beast." (Unless, of course, it was by Jean Cocteau.) This is one webgrrrl who is tired of Harlequin Romance. I had also hoped that Liz would take a back seat to Kate in the movie. Kate is the thinking-girl's heroine. However, I'm tres psyched to learn that Abe will be along for the ride. Christopher Golden did such a nice job of developing Abe's quirky nature in the LOST ARMY... it would be interesting to see del Toro work with this aspect of the character. I hope the movie does justice to the Mignola characters. I look forward to seeing del Toro's film. jonell the webgrrrl at hellboy.com

let's rock and roll and get this thing going!! i want more!

Damn I hope this movie will be made. If the poster is any indication of what the film will be like, well then I think we

I have to say that I think a hellboy movie is sounding like a bad idea. Why? Because I'm seriously worried that they can't create Hellboy properly with current effects. That's the worst problem with many of these comic book movies. They're based on characters that are so totally unreal they just can't be currently be believably created on screen. Hellboy just does not look remotely human. It's not like the mask where you only have to give Jim Carrey a green bald head. Hellboy's BIG, and red, and he's got horns on a mishapen head, and he's got goat legs, and he doesn't wear a lot of clothing often so you have to show a lot of these body parts, AND he fights a lot so you have to create working effects. Maybe it's just me, but I just don't find these movies satisfying if EVERY MOMENT the character's on screen, it obvious they're fake. It makes that suspension of disbelief thing damn hard. Heck, I wonder if that's not the reason why even Cameron hasn't made spiderman yet. We've heard that the script is good, and he likes the property, but would you want to try and reproduce the mid-air spastic ballet that spidey pull off every issue? In Blade they couldn't even make a drop of blood look real (that scene in the temple near the end). Here's hoping that effects tech is that much better a year from now when their finishing Hellboy off (assuming that release date's correct). Buck

I'm not sure how much Del Toro's MIMIC script was fudged with from the higher-ups, but I'm a bit wary of Toro's script. Did you know there was a whole other script? Peter Briggs dump a heap of time into researching all things around Hellboy (like Lovecraft and such). Then, after being told it was "too exciting", it was canned for Toro stepping in? Mimic really didn't grab me, even the constant camera dolly and direction pulled me OUT of the story. Mimic DID have a great dark tone, but the horror-cliche's bugged me. Chronos was another great idea, but too European -- long, lingering moments of not much going on. I'm all for the idea that the higher-ups messed wiht Toro's previous visions, but I guess only time will tell. Very PRO Hellboy, just more pro-screenwriter, than director jumping in and whipping out a script in a quarter of the time. Expect Ron Perlman to jump into the Hellboy suite (ala Tim Curry in LEGEND with a slight bit of the FLASH). There was some talk about Crispin Glover playing ABE (now he's WEIRD, ever see his home movie on downsyndome's having sex?) Just make a serious comicbook adaption for once. I don't want to see another Phantom (no soul), Batman (too "Burton"), Spawn (too shallow), Darkman (too promoted) summer film.

I mean, they always have in the past. I love the Hellboy comics, but c'mon, to them, if it says comic book anywhere near it, it must mean it's for kids and we've got to make it look that way. I'm amazed we get some of the good movies we get with all the idiots running around in Hollywood. Sorry for the negativism, just feeling a bit cynical at the moment.

Er, sorry about that -- first time posting on TalkBack, Harry. I've got to respond to your HELLBOY scoop Harry, 'cuz nowhere's there the mention of Peter Briggs' script. Has the script changed? Has Del Toro or Universal asked for rewrites or a new script?? I read the Briggs draft and I know why Mike Mignola was telling people at last year's San Diego comic con why this is a kick-ass adaptation of his comic! But the stuff I'm hearing from within Universal over at my site tell me Del Toro's doing a rewrite of Briggs script, or someone within U. wants to make this one cheap. You're pals with him, right? So what's going on? Is the ultra-cool fistfight on top of the flying saucer in the Antarctic gone? What about the Cthuthulian nasty in the subway? Tell Del Toro to fight to keep the Peter Briggs script (unless that's the script you're already talking about)...it was the best comic book-to-movie adaptation of the 90s! MIMIC was cool, and if he manages to fight for and get to film the script I read, this is gonna give X-MEN a run for its money in the summer of 2000 -- but we'll finally have some more films that were written faithful to the comics!

As I write this I stare with amazement at my Hellboy Signiture Edition Statue. Two thoughts keep occuring two me. They might do it. They might do it right. I remember reading an interview with Hellboy creator Mike Mignola (always give credit to the man behind the horns) that his creation was up for movie adaptation. He also stated that the man responsible for the screenplay had been in contact with him to make sure it ended up right. The last time someone adapted Hellboy was with Chris Golden's book "The Lost Army". That ended up very cool so I'm looking for the same here. So I'm hopeful. I guess you have to be. This is Hollywood. What I want to know now is how they're doing it. Animated? CGI? Make-up? Harryhausen? I'm hoping for animated just so it could keep with Mignolia's atmosphere. Besides it'd be easier to find a voice rather than a face. I just hope Hollywood doesn't try to make Hellboy pretty. That'd be like casting Brad Pitt as Sin City's resident force of chaos Marv. Now there's a thing of nightmares. So hound this topic until the thing's on video. All I need to know now is that they're producing Miller's 300. A man can dream can't he.

Well, isn't it already? Obvious answer being Yes, the question that remains is "can it's heart be transfered to film without losing the soul?" I say yes... I say, as a personal pledge to the studio, that if they give the green-light and enough space (read: major creative control given at Mike Mignola's discretion) for the project to flourish, I'll see it at least, AT LEAST five times. I'll buy the bedsheets, I'll have the sonic-toothbrush, I'll get the Hellboy Sno-Cone maker. All I want is for the material to be treated as Mike would treat it. I am a loud fan of Mike Mignola's work, Hellboy in particular, and am of the opinion that he's a damned fine storyteller. With Hellboy there's something THERE there, which is the great distinction between it and many of it's contemporaries. The characters have integrity and complexity. It's a damned cool monster comic. Close your eyes, lean forward and gently push the "approve project " button at your studio desk if you haven't already. To anyone doubting the fx capacity of hollywood, just look at ILM. I doubt there's a creature effect they couldn't render realistically now, either CGI or prosthetic, provided the time and energy were actually devoted to it. I can see Ron Perleman as HB, I'd be a little afraid of his Beauty & the Beast past, but he might do well. Crispin Glover is another interesting choice and I think he's just anti-social enough to pull Abe off... (try watching him on Letterman). I can see Liz as the marketable third (sorry, I like her) but Kate would also be interesting. Reno as Rasputin would be very, very cool as I've always been a fan of his as well. Let me put it this way: If Star Wars (being a life-long SW geek) and Hellboy were opening the same day and showing at the same time, I'd have to think long and hard about which theatre I went in first (course... for the next showing I'd be in the other...but I think you understand)

Hellboy is the perfect franchise character for Universal, if they do him right. The character is suited to a number of different kinds of stories (the two big comic mini-series so far have been a haunted house story and a globe-trotting adventure, both excellent), and combines so many different genres. It's horror with a soul (del Toro's specialty), but all with a blockbuster sensibility. Done right, the movie will be a huge commercial hit for the same reasons the comic is. That poster is awesome. I hope it's real, I don't want to be teased...

I always saw Kristen Scott Thomas as Liz, but I guess she's a little too old now, and probably too big a star. But I think she looks the part. From what we've seen so far, I think Liz is a much more complex character than Kate. But I like Kate too.

I always saw Kristen Scott Thomas as Liz, but I guess she's a little too old now, and probably too big a star. But I think she looks the part. From what we've seen so far, I think Liz is a much more complex character than Kate. But I like Kate too.

This is simply RIDICULOUS! The screenplay is by DelToro? What happened to Peter Briggs? *I*KNOW* that Briggs met with MikeMignola (you've heard of HIM I hope!) and got the green light ... I *KNOW* that MM himself inspired the final BRILLIANT climax to the ORIGINAL screenplay (WHICH I KNOW HAS BEEN FINISHED AND SUBMITTED AND PAYED FOR!!!) how do I know? (a) I have the signed drawing of HB that Mignola drew AT THAT MEETING on my mantlepiece! (b) I SAW the screenplay All DURING its evolution - !!! (c) I have READ the FINISHED product ... AND I TELL YOU ALL: nothing, Nothing NOTHING can POSSIBLY compete ... I FULLY expect that DelToro has 'borrowed' Heavily! (all the elements mentioned above INCLUDING Rasputin *AND* Hecate appeared in Briggs play!!!) BRIGGS has been 'dissed' in the WORST possible way - we will now NEVER see HB as his CREATER intended! its a SAD SAD SAD day people - TRUST ME - I KNOW. I only hope the *REAL* screenplay "leaks" onto the net someday for the fans to enjoy - its a HOOT!

Mignola discussed the "two scripts" at San Diego. Del Toro and him discussed the "new" take for hours at a time and apparently the resulting scripts are absolutely different one from the other. Mignola seemed to love both for different reasons. Briggs' went for the action flick set pieces but very little atmosphere and suspense, while Del Toro's goes heavily into horror, Lovecraftian territories. As to the storylines, save for the "origin" they have nothing in common. Same cast of characters -just 'cause they are both using the comic book as a source- but totally different style and interaction. Totally different sensibilities but both fully compatible with co-existing sides in the comic creator's Universe.

Okay, guys (namely frond, chant and Alz) -- just settle down a sec. I've read the Peter Briggs script, too. It was a very good, very solid piece of work. But I've also read a very recent draft of del Toro's (December). It's not just very good - it's fuckin' AWESOME. Sure, the Briggs script would have made a really good movie, but now we have the makings of a GREAT FILM. You're just gonna have to hang in there and have faith. All of us at the BPRD are having input ;-), and del Toro has been running everything by the man himself, Mike Mignola. (In fact, that draft I read was blessed by Mignola _before_ it went to Universal.) To quote Mignola, the script is "beyond my wildest dreams." Del Toro is the perfect artist to transport this work from comics to film. His sensibilities are dead-on, his aesthetic a match made in heaven. And he _gets_ it - passionately. He's not screwing around with it, he's treating it with religious reverence. I honestly can't begin to tell you how incredibly cool this project is going to be on every single level - but luckily there are people like producer Larry Gordon who see it and are fighting for it. If you think Briggs and Golden did a good job adapting "Hellboy," you ain't seen nothin' yet. This project is worth your faith, your hope, your devotion, your support. It's the film geeks have dreamed of. (And as soon as it gets the greenlight, expect the filmmakers to take a page from Peter Jackson in terms of getting all us die-hard Hellboy fans in the loop and behind their efforts. You'll see...)

I mean, nothing against it, but Hellboy always struck me as merely "OK". I put it in the same category as Dark Horse's "Ghost". I read both, but wouldn't call them fantastic comics. My all-time fave is anything by Grant Morrison. Now a Doom Patrol movie, well that would just make my milennium. Or forget the X-men, how about a Justice League movie. The JLA make the X-men look like weak sisters. They even kicked their asses during that Marvel-DC crossover. But if a JLA movie is ever made, *who* would be cast as my namesake, the world-renowned Guy Gardner? Now there's a real action hero.

I mean, nothing against it, but Hellboy always struck me as merely "OK". I put it in the same category as Dark Horse's "Ghost". I read both, but wouldn't call them fantastic comics. My all-time fave is anything by Grant Morrison. Now a Doom Patrol movie, well that would just make my milennium. Or forget the X-men, how about a Justice League movie. The JLA make the X-men look like weak sisters. They even kicked their asses during that Marvel-DC crossover. But if a JLA movie is ever made, *who* would be cast as my namesake, the world-renowned Guy Gardner - Warrior? Now there's a real action hero.

IT sounds like this is an extremely interesting property, but for someone who has only seen the comic but never read it, I was wondering what the backstory is? Who is Hellboy, etc? Thanks

Oh, man, I'm ready for this one. Notice alot of talk about the script. All I want is a good story, as I'm sure we all do. Unfortunately, most films adapted from a comic property fail to deliver, i.e. the Batman flicks, Spawn, etc. A movie of this kind certainly needs the set pieces and strong art direction, but a story and a concrete plot are paramount. And that all comes down to structure, I believe. With a mind geared towards the structure of a script as opposed to a more literary approach, one can expect a wonderful Hellboy film. After all, the script is merely the first draft of the film itself, the second draft takes place during shooting, the third during editting. Film is not a literal medium, it is a visual one. This may be an obvious statement, but lately I wonder if Hollywood has forgotten the power of the moving image, and letting actors act instead of reciting endless dialogue. George Lucas knows this all too well. I have faith! After all, there's only one Hollywood, and only Hollywood could deliver a Hellboy film.

OK - so maybe MikeMignola is happy with BOTH scripts ... *maybe* DelToro HAS come up with a good film (god, I HOPE so! as another correspondant has pointed out, we need another 'phantom' like a hole-in-the-head) [personally, I think he's just made a 'total control' power grab, at the expense of his screenwriters' sweat, toil and reputation.] but regardless, I am still intensely disappointed that HARRY has chosen ONLY to report the script written by HIS GOOD FRIEND Mr DelToro, and not even mentioned that there was another - AT LEAST equally good (if not BETTER) screenplay... ~ playing favourites or WHAT?

Let's see...we had a writer in Peter Briggs who's enthusiastic about the comic. He labors on a script for nearly a year, consulting with Mignola to be sure he gets it right. Mignola loves the script as do the people at the studio. Enter the director who also claims to love the script. Said director then dumps the script and develops one as his own. Suddenly its on the front page of Ain't It Cool and everthing is just great! Except if the writer were Kevin Smith and the director were Tim Burton and the movie were Superman everyone would be extemely pissed off and we'd have a full page rant from Harry instead of all this gushing. This Del Toro script better be as absolutely fucking brilliant as his supporters claim it is. I mean it better not only do justice to Hellboy the way Briggs' script did, but also put "Good Will Hunting" and "L.A. Confidential" both to shame. I'm keeping my fingers crossed but it seems there's something rotten in Denmark.

Let's see, robworley and frond... What's your problem with Del Toro? I don't know the details of this "story" but Del Toro is THE BEST DIRECTOR for this movie. O.K? Both scripts could be PERFECT but... Who's the director now? Del Toro is a real fan of the character and he's working very closely with Mignola in this project. Del Toro will be the director. HELLBOY will be HIS movie and Mignola is happy with this. Then... What's the problem?

I felt the fear when I first got wind of this project. A fear I also have for Preacher and X-Men. I have faith in the Hellboy movie. I met his creator in San Diego, he was very happy with the script and hinted to me that Mr. Ron Pearlman will be dawning the sawed off horns! The fear began to go away. Now if Peter Weller could get cast as Abe Sapien all will be well. I can't wait to see Hellboy drop his gun on the big screen! That novel really sucked ass but the opening chapter was great (that part was Mike's). I think it would be a perfect opener for the film as well. How can I get a copy of the Riggs script? I want to know what everyone is bitching about. On another note, whats up with the Preacher? I heard that Kevin Smith was executive producer. If it does get the green light, it would be cool to see N.Cage,B.Fonda and T.Roth as Jessie, Tulip and Cass. I honestly can't see anyone else in those roles. Grant Morrison is great (Invisibles being his great work). But do not knock Hellboy you punk ass fanboy.

Some perspective folks, please!! First of all, how can Mr. "frond" give us that nasty talk about "objectivity, when is painfully obvious that he not only is a friend of Mr Briggs, but aparently lives only to worship his shadow. I read the alleged Briggs "masterpiece" and -sorry- but it was poorly structured, not very original and just an acumulation of gags and scenes ripped straight out of the comic books. That's not mere reverence. That's B-O-R-I-N-G. I have not read the Del Toro draft, but in my opinion, by taking it away from "action" and more into the "horror-action" terrain, it already gained weight. Also, let me tell you a fact of life: if the studio, the producers et-al had been so excited about the Briggs draft, why didn't they "push" for it to stay?? Del Toro doesn't have that kind of "clout" in Hollywood, c'mon he's only made 1 industry movie. No. The fact is that the draft I read -I don't know if there are any more around- was not only a bit of a mess -and very much for "insiders only"- but was also a movie that would've cost above 100 million to make. Give me a break, guys, this is no "hidden agenda" but a clean, clear severance of a writer which happens every day in the real world. DEAL WITH IT!!

Take it from someone who has read del Toro

lets see now, Edmund Dantes wrote "The Count of Monte Cristo" ... a French guy - VERY DEAD now .... Guess what film Mr DelToro has been trying to set up recently? "The Count of Monte Cristo" !?!?! so GEEEE, I wonder who is writing questionable and potentially insulting comments about Mr Brigg's work, (with a highly twisted memory of the events regarding dates, contracts et al) and my own "loyalty" to my friend (yeah, I admit it) Pete Briggs? ********************************* try THIS question: why did HARRY forget to mention two scripts? if he and DelToro are good buddies (as he has admitted on this site before) then HE KNEW BAOUT BOTH - further, HARRY actually reported the Briggs screenplay a year or more ago! (but never again since DelToro came onboard) NORMALLY this sort of detail would be the FIRST thing on the AICN pages! its a juicy 'tidbit' for the fans ... but NOOOoooooooo instead HARRY chooses to only mention his good buddy! (who came onto the HB project AFTER Briggs was hired ... WELL AFTER!) ********************************** as for structure of Brigg's screenplay: It follows the THREE ACT, TWO TURNING POINT, MIDPOINT structure that virtually EVERY film ever made follows - ever read Syd Field's seminal works on the subject? any and all dialogue from the comics has been carefully crafted into a greater whole ... not "ripped off" ... fans have certain expectations of the character - WITHOUT some recognisable trademark quips he is a different person! __________________________________ SO HERE'S A CHALLENGE "EDMUND": please send along SPECIFIFC INSTANCES ... and I'll be happy to respond to them one-by-one.

When middlebrow critics sneer at us comic book fans, it

Now that everyone's getting all defensive about which script is better, I better throw in my comments: 1) If Del Toro has a new HELLBOY script that kicks ass and is different than the Briggs version, why haven't we heard Mignola comment on it, or for that matter, why wasn't specifics given? 2) The Briggs script didn't lift anything out of the comics besides the origin of HB and the characters -- I don't remember reading the end sequence in the comics, right? 3) Yeah, re-writes happen in the biz all the time, but it's sloppy reporting when Harry doesn't even bother mentioning who wrote the first script, or what even happened to the first script! I took Peter to task on my ALIENS VS PREDATOR page about giving credit where credit is due, and he stepped up and at least explained his actions. 4) Personally, the script I read kicked ass so much, and was extremely faithful to the HB comics, that yes, I am really wary about how a completely different approach by Del Toro can not only equal but surpass the Briggs version. 5) Harry's even admitted himself that his "personal experiences" with people and events influence his opinions, a la GODZILLA, ARMAGEDDON and to some extent his cameo in THE FACULTY. Just because he knows Del Toro, could it be he's pushing Del Toro's draft and not Briggs'? Hell, maybe Del Toro's draft kicks ass -- I want to find out. I'm gonna try contacting him myself and see if I can do a full report in "Wizard" and on "Coming Attractions". If Del Toro's version kicks ass, great, I'll be behind it 'cuz I want to see a great HB movie. But if there is "something rotten in Denmark", then I also wanna know what's going on. I haven't read Del Toro's script but I'm on the case...and if anyone associated with Del Toro or the man himself would like to speak to me so the "Wizard" and "CA" readers can find out what's happening on the HB movie, email me at the address above.

yes ... Edmund *IS* (or rather WAS) the Count de Monte Cristo ... not the author thereof .. I was mistaken. (BUT THE LINKAGE STILL STANDS!) and you know what? I am prepared to admit to making a small factual error! Are you prepared to admit to some 'small factual errors' regarding dates and contracts and who phoned who and when and WHY? Are you now prepared to admit who you REALLY are? MY name is Robert Brown .... what's yours? You know what is interesting? ... its always interesting when people fall to pointing out typos and minor flaws in a message, rather than addressing the CONTENTS - its an excellent distracting ploy - I believe William Jefferson Clinton has a few guys payed to do just that!

Jesus, a couple of you are getting real annoying. Why are you even still here? Here's the deal. The Briggs script was good... lots of action, pretty obvious, straightforward stuff, would've cost a hundred million bucks. Larry Gordon (producer extraordinaire, check his creds on IMDB) wants to make the movie, which needs a real _artist_ at the helm who can translate the property with all its atmospheric grandeur, sharp wit, and gothic horror. He finds the perfect guy, who not only signs on, but takes a crack at writing a new script, 'cause he thinks he can do better. Why the hell not? Take a swing. He does - and hits it out of the park. Not only is the film now significantly more likely to get made, it's also far better than what Briggs did, and more faithful to the source material. Now, I was trying to be polite earlier, but frond and a couple others are making it real hard. Briggs was hired to write a script. He wrote it. He was paid. Now there's a better script. And, if Universal has any sense, it'll get a greenlight this week or next, and you'll see the best film adaptation of a comic EVER in about a year and a half. Now, honestly, Knowles did a piss-poor job of relating the whole story, and should have done beter reporting. Hopefully he still will. But, I surmise the fact he and del Toro are acquainted is probably why he's resisted reporting on these very things, until he gets independent sources (like the poster). Objective or not, he IS correct that the del Toro script is far and away superior to the Briggs one. And, no, del Toro didn't "steal" Briggs' script, he started from scratch. They are completely different. Del Toro's has _character_development_, and _story_, and _horror_, and all sorts of stuff the Briggs script really didn't, not like this. Briggs' would've been a competent, straightforward action film, but now you're going to get a truly amazing work of cinema that totally captures the essence of Mignola's "Hellboy." That's all you need to know. Once the project gets greenlit, THEN expect to hear publically from Gordon, del Toro, Mignola, et al. Right now, just think good thoughts and stop pissing yourselves. The Briggs script is gone. Period. And you should all be happy. Goddamn, if you've been satisfied with the Briggs and Golden stuff, you'll be fuckin' ecstatic when you see this. But Jesus, for those of you to attack a script you haven't even read, a film that hasn't even been greenlit, a filmmaker whose prior work I have yet to read any major complaints about... that just leaves me shaking my head and reaching for another cigarette. Just think good thoughts and shut up already before you curse the good fortune you don't even realize you have.

Patience. If we pause enough the mutual flinging of shite, we might be able to listen to the good news in all of this: A Hellboy movie might be on its way.

As a full-fledged Briggs supporter here's what I'd like to add to this heated discussion. Del Toro's screenplay may very well be a fanboy's wish come true. However, I think it's important to recognize that it is a monkey's paw wish. There's a very definite cost to this and Briggs is paying it. It'd be generous to say that the above article glosses over this aspect of the story. I (and perhaps the others...I shouldn't speak for them) take umbrage with this oversight. It is a disservice to the blood, sweat and tears Briggs put into his work. I also think it's curious that supporters of the Briggs script are being told to "shut up", "deal with it", etc. Isn't this a public forum? Didn't Harry put it here in the interest of a spirited discussion of his Cool News? If it wasn't for Frond, Chant and the few people who are actually questioning the situation this message board would read like a publicity campaign. Let's not be afraid of a balanced discussion. Now Del Toro's job is to make the best movie he can make and, as he's expressed to me, he has to live and die by his own decisions. I honestly hope that if Del Toro's Hellboy movie gets made, it'll be fantastic. I hope it leaves Hellboy fans writhing in ecstasy in the theater ailses and everybody else rioting in the streets (OK, maybe that's a little extreme...those theater ailses are no place for writhing). But I'm not going to forget that there's a completely ass-kicking version out there that didn't get made. And I'm not going to pretend that Briggs' version never existed.

Dear all ... since I feel I was largely responsible for fanning the flames here, I feel it falls to me to spray a little CO2. Largely due to my little squabble with 'edmund' some of the messages here have become more concerned with personalities than the issues at hand. I have maintained email contact with Peter Briggs for several years now, and recently, I have opened up a productive and civilised dialogue with Mr del Toro as well. Whilst I feel it is a great shame that Briggs script wont see the big-screen, (he seems to be cursed somehow - I hope the rumours about GdT's prior projects are untrue) - I have been assured that del Toro will look into the shoddy treatment Briggs recieved (wrt being informed of proceedings etc), and that he will make some attempts at redressing the matter. SO THAT'S THAT - at least as far as I am concerned. *my* only purpose here has been to balace the books. I felt, and still feel, that Harry Knowles has allowed his personal feelings towards a good friend of his (GdT) to colour his impartiality ... usually a story about one screenplay replacing another would be HEADLINE news on AICN .. well back in the old days anyway, before the big-bucks started rolling in. I hoped to set the record straight. I suspect I may have achieved that, and I may even have managed to help open adialogue between GtD & Briggs, but sadly, in the process, I also awoke a few hard-heads and released their ascerbic streams of vitriolic indignation. for what it is worth, this is my LAST post on this matter. I suggest the debate now revolve around what the film MAY BE, and perhaps also how it might-have-been. HellBoy is a wonderful creation, and it deserves the BEST. I hope GtD gives it his all - it requires nothing less. He has expressed the same sentiment to me, so I look forward to something special. Harry Knowles, I hope, will play a few less 'favourites' in the future. I would remind him of how it was when he was still *THE* 'underground newshound'. Adios

Damn, I keep forgetting everytime you hit return this place thinks you're finished writing the message...anyway, some more comments on what Liz and Rob had to say. First to Liz: telling people to "shut up" isn't a good sign of trying to endorse approval of the new HB script. I wanted to find out why Briggs name was completely absent from the original article, and if it's just Harry deciding to play favorites again, well, then that's his fault. Of course I'll reserve judgement until I read Del Toro's script -- but when you say things like how Del Toro's script is more faithful than Briggs...well, that's majorly upping your bet at the table. Briggs script kicked ass and it was faithful. If Del Toro can up that, God bless him and I'll be behind it 'cuz I want to see the best HB movie. But be made aware that he's got big shoes to fill. Now, that said, the question a lot of people have about whether or not Del Toro was trying to squeeze out Briggs hard work is something only the circle of people involved with making the film know -- but when you read Harry's article, it comes across as a revisioning of history. And yeah, I welcome Del Toro or anyone associated with the HB project to email me -- there's about half a million "Wizard" readers who'd love to get excited about the HB movie, not to mention Rob's readers on "Comics2Film" or mine on "Coming Attractions". I *care* about seeing a good HB movie because I love the comic, plain and simple. And so far, from what I've read so far, Briggs script was poifect. If Del Toro can do something a bit different but make it just as good as Briggs, hey, fantastic! But again Liz: telling fans (who also happen to be journalists) to shut up already just ain't the way to go about it. It seems like you're either protecting Del Toro or his/your project, and I can understand that sort of instinct (hell, I read Briggs' script and I felt the need to defend it), but don't go pissing off the ones you're trying to convince to your side. Like I said Liz: love to cover it for Wiz/CA. Drop me a line.

OK. I've been following this "discussion" with a bit of bemused interest. Then, things got creepy for me when I saw a posting by a GDBull that read "Let's all be quiet." EWWWW. Then, I started to get a really bad taste in my mouth: the very close "friendship" of Harry Knowles and Del Toro, the way Peter Briggs' script for Hellboy was virtually ignored by AICN, and then a posting by Del Toro HIMSELF (I mean come on, Bull=Toro) saying "Let's all be quiet". WHAT? It seems to me that this reeks of: "Let's all be quiet so that the fact that Briggs wrote a great script, that was well liked by EVERYONE, but then, I got on board and I want to write MY OWN script, so let's ALL BE QUIET that Briggs ever wrote a script in the first place." I just gotta say "El Yucko" to that. AICN used to be all ABOUT these kinds of "discussions" and, I could be wrong, but I gotta think that if Harry wasn't such great pals with Del Toro, he'd probably be griping about the shoddy treatment Briggs has received, too! Argue on, Fan Boys!!! That's what Ain't It Cool News USED to be all about!!!

Flames dim creating an artificial sunset. A few corpses pepper the muddy internet landscape. The warriors rest: may the dialogue begin. For it can be said that Mignola's world allows for parallel views. You may choose daylight or take the night. Same landscape, two different lights. I am not Dantes. I am not Liz. If you want to talk. Talk to me.

Not only is this a great idea simply because of the storyline and background that is the Hellboy comic, but with Mr. G behind both the pen and the camera, this could become one of the few movies that are more than "comic book adaptations" and are great movies in their own right. Nazi's -- WATCH OUT!