Hellboy vs. the Universal Monsters

[Poe Ghostal]

http://movies.ign.com/articles/739/739203p1.html

"I must say that I'm having a great experience right now at Universal, because I find that their understanding of Hellboy as a possibility is so great," del Toro says. "My hope is that if everything goes well and we continue [the franchise], Hellboy can start fighting the Universal monsters! I would love to see that."

It's enough to make a fanboy faint. And del Toro also adds that he's not talking about designing new versions of Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolf Man, and the rest of Universal's stable of characters, ala Van Helsing, but rather recreating the classic Karloff/Lugosi/Chaney Jr./etc. classics of yesteryear.

"I would love to [go with the classic versions], I would love to," laughs the director, who says that Frankenstein and the Creature from the Black Lagoon are his favorites. "[Hellboy creator Mike] Mignola, when we closed the deal with Universal, we both looked at each other and just said, 'Frankenstein!'"

Del Toro emphasizes that while the topic has come up with Universal, this is all just spit-balling for now and there is no definitive plan on the table… yet. And if the project doesn't happen in the live-action Hellboy films, then there are other options.

"We talked briefly about this because I think it is such a great possibility for the future, to do that either in the animated universe or in another universe we create just for that," he says. "I remember seeing the test footage for the animated Frankenstein they were making years ago. Black & white… it is just spine-tingling. Your hair stands on an end because it was of such beauty."

[Sparky]

I can't wait for Abbott and Costello Meet Hellboy.

[gdeo]

How cool would that be.I could see it already...Abe Sapien MeetsThe Creature from the Black Lagoon.Bride of Hellboy.Son of Hellboy.Bride of the Son of Hellboy..the possibilities are endless.:D

[Tad]

I can't wait for Abbott and Costello Meet Hellboy.

Now that I can get excited about!

[Poe Ghostal]

Say what you will, I'd love to see Hellboy mix it up with Frankenstein's monster or the Gillman...

[Petersen]

Seems there is enough existing Hellboy story that could be told that a crossover just seems indulgent for the sake of being indulgent.

I'd rather see a movie that tells the story of the Frankenstien of the Hellboy universe: Roger, or save any cool Lagoon stuff for Abe.

[Poe Ghostal]

Seems there is enough existing Hellboy story that could be told that a crossover just seems indulgent for the sake of being indulgent.

I'd rather see a movie that tells the story of the Frankenstien of the Hellboy universe: Roger, or save any cool Lagoon stuff for Abe.

MAN you people are diehards around here. It's like a Tolkien literary forum. Mike and GDT are thrilled by the prospect of having Hellboy interact with the classic Universal Monsters, and I'm with them.

[Petersen]

I just want to see some of the backlog of material make it to the screen is all And I'd rather see that than the classic Universal Monsters with Hellboy.

One of the reasons Moore's LoEG works it that it's a fresh take on the existing characters. And it is made to fit into the same world. Each of the Leauge have been redefined..I'm sure Robert Howard never planned on Alan Quartermain becoming an opium addict.

Usualy I'm not a fan of crossovers in general, so it's not just a Mignola-purist thing. And for the record, I am a huge fan of chocolate and Peanut butter together. oh AND I agree with the bennifits of leaving Tom Bombadill out of the LotR movies.

[jackups]

I like the udea I was thrilled to learn Hb 2 had been picked up by Universal the home of Monsters.But I think that there are way better storys to be tolded from the comics ,like a comic like wake the devil would be so cool, plus Rofger would be nicer to see than Ol Frank:D

[MackSztaba]

That would be awesome!

[Mike Cross]

The only HB crossover i've ever bought/read/enjoyed, was Batman/HB/Starman..Painkiller Jane? What the hell?

[Elegance Liberty]

Eh, I'm setting myself up for flames here, but that's not something I really want to see happen. =/

Unless they find some way to pull it off without having it end up like crap, like most cross-company crossovers are.

Now if Mike were to come up with a film based on the Monsters and NOT a crossover, *then* that would be the coolest thing ever.

[Poe Ghostal]

Fair enough.

But, now that they have the relationship with Universal, what if they did something like this: an Elseworlds-style graphic novel re-imagining Hellboy's origin in the era of Frankenstein or Dracula and then having him play the role of, say, Van Helsing? Written by MM and drawn by, let's say, Gary Gianni.

Wow...the idea of a Victorian Hellboy is so cool I can't extrapolate the concept further at the moment.

[Elegance Liberty]

Heh. Sorry to be the only dissenter.

But seriously, I really can't wrap my brain around the idea of a Hellboy/Universal Monsters crossover on film. Maybe a one-shot comic would be better suited for this kinda thing, I dunno.

Actually, I guess something like this would be better suited for the Halloween Horror Nights they have down at Universal Studios in Florida (no clue if the Hollywood place does it too), like a stage show or something.


...Then again, that might be worse.

[Tad]

I think Guillermo was mostly kidding. He was laughing through out. As to comic versions, I'd rather have new "real Hellboy" stories than Elseworlds versions.