Ask Guillermo

[Otto66]

Some weeks back, I started a thread about posting questions to
GdT which would be answered at the Entertainment Weekly website.
The link below will lead you to the first of three parts.
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/comment...5_1_0_,00.html

...and I'm think'n that GdT mentioned Bruce Campbell at Lobster Johnson
just to stir things up.;)

[Poe Ghostal]

Awesome. Glad to hear a studio's at least interested in ATMOM. But I have to say, ever since someone suggested Hugo Weaving as Lobster Johnson, I could never imagine anyone else in the role. He's got both the mouth and the documented ability to play a borderline sociopath. (This is all just for fun--I realize we'll probably never see LJ on screen, unless he pops up in the animated.)

[Otto66]

Hugo is my choice also, much as I loathe the idea of another
English actor playing an American comicbook character (or am I just
prone to think of LoJo as American?) much like whats happened
to the current Batman franchise.

Don't get me wrong. Luv Bruce and his movies (Michigan boy after all)
but I just see him as TOO MUCH for the LoJo role.

[SpydaWeb]

Keep Hugo away from LJ. It's BC all the way.

[Otto66]

Keep Hugo away from LJ. It's BC all the way.

RonBoy plays Hellboy to a "T", could ya really take LoJo
seriously if Bruce played him?

'Course, maybe thats why Mignola isn't backing GdT on the idea.

[Catlin]

Aww, I love Bruce Campbell. I could seem him as LJ...

[parrish]

I think it would depend on the context of what LJ was doing in the film. If it was a light-hearted, campy role I think Bruce Campbell would be great. If he was going to be more serious I think Hugo Weaving would be good. I could see both.

I've always thought LJ was an American, too.

Personally just to see him on screen would be great, unless they had someone truly terrible play him, like Carrot Top or something...

[ZombieHound]

I would love to have a Lobster Johnson appearance in the next Hellboy film/s, but only if it works well for the plot. I'd rather see him used well than just thrown in for the hell of it. From the sounds of Hellboy 2, I couldn't imagine how he could fit in without the Nazi background stories and whatnot. That's part of Lobster Johnson - the Nazis. Maybe hearing his name on a radio story, or on one of Hellboy's televisions could serve as a nice cameo until/if Del Toro goes back to any form of Third Reich plots.

As far as who would portray him, I don't mind, really. With the choice of casting Ron Pearlman as Hellboy, I have enough faith in Del Toro if Lobster Johnson were to ever be used.

[Otto66]

Maybe once Mignola finishes his Lobster Johnson project
we'll have a better idea of just who he is/was and what part
he plays in the Hellboyverse. Again, Mignola's reluctance to let
GdT tamper with his character may go deeper than we know.
(Otto66 wonders if the G-Man will stop lurking and comment?)

[SpydaWeb]

I distinctly recall GDT publically using the words I promise when talking about casting Bruce Campbell in the Lobster Johnson role. If LJ ever makes a live action appearance, Bruce will be it.

The only thing stopping that from happening would be Bruce himself turning down the role.

[Tad]

Bruce Campbell would make a great Lobster Johnson in the old black and white serial version of him but the real Lobster Johnson? And obviously LJ could appear to any movie on one of Hellboy's TV sets.

But Lobster is like the Spider or the Shadow. BC is an actor and could play that sort of character except the audience would be waiting for him to jut out his chin and camp it up.

[Gary_B]

I'd rather see LoJo played by an actor I've never heard of. Fewer expectations and pre-conceptions involved that way.

[Poe Ghostal]

See, I think one of LJ's more charming features is that he doesn't have a strong chin a la BC. He actually has a fairly weak chin, and big lips in a perpetual frown...a la Hugo (specifically thinking of Mr. Smith here).

[Catlin]

See, I think one of LJ's more charming features is that he doesn't have a strong chin a la BC.

Thus the name of BC's book - If Chins Could Kill. Great read, btw, but do not drink anything while doing so or you may do a spit take.

[absenter]

Bruce Campbell would make a great Lobster Johnson in the old black and white serial version of him but the real Lobster Johnson? And obviously LJ could appear to any movie on one of Hellboy's TV sets.

But Lobster is like the Spider or the Shadow. BC is an actor and could play that sort of character except the audience would be waiting for him to jut out his chin and camp it up.

Well observed. I totally agree.

Great visual aide Poe! Really hammers home the point.