Judging from their work together on Hellboy, Hellboy 2, and Pan's Labyrinth, when director Guillermo del Toro gets together with actor Doug Jones, good things usually happen. So, naturally, in casting his many upcoming projects, Del Toro has turned to the highly talented Jones again. In an interview with SCI FI Wire, Jones spoke about his involvement in Del Toro's upcoming films, Frankenstein, The Hobbit, and possibly Hellboy 3.
I've excerpted some of the best parts of the interview below, but make sure to check out the full interview, which is linked at the bottom of the page.
On Frankenstein:
"Guillermo did say to the press that he's already cast me as his monster, but we've yet to talk about it. But in his mind, if that's what he's decided, then it's done...It would be a dream come true."
On The Hobbit:
"We have not had any conversations about what he wants...I don't know what I'm doing or how many characters it will be, because he tends to like to use me the whole time depending."
Doug Jones as Abe Sapien in Hellboy
On Hellboy 3:
"It's just a matter of time, and...if Ron Perlman wants to don the makeup again...If there is a Hellboy 3, Doug Jones will be in it."
It will be great to see Jones and del Toro team up again. I loved his work as The Pale Man in Pan's Labyrinth and can't wait to see what role he'll end up playing in The Hobbit. Although he is known for taking on roles as non-human characters, it is unfair to pigeonhole him as a "monster movie actor." Jones brings such depth to each of his characters that you don't even think about the heavy makeup. In this regard, Jones reminds me of the great Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, two actors whom he greatly admires.
Are you looking forward to seeing Doug Jones take over the reins of Frankenstein's monster? Who do you think he'll end up playing in The Hobbit? What's your favorite Doug Jones role?
The first chapter of The Hobbit is due out in December, 2011 and the second chapter in December, 2012. Frankensteinwill enter pre-production this summer, but, according to Guillermo del Toro, won't begin filming for about five years(!). There are no production dates set for Hellboy 3, but del Toro and Hellboy creator Mike Mignola have worked out a potential story.
