Neil Marshall's Hellboy is finally coming to the big screen. For over a decade, Hellboy has been kept from big screen greatness to the point where the Big Red Guy has almost faded into obscurity. Regardless of the quality of the new film, however, fans will continue to pine for Guillermo del Toro and his interpretation of the saga. What could it have been like? What would've happened if the now Oscar-Winning Director managed to team up with Ron Perlman for one last Hellboy film?
Details are sparse as to what would've happened in the final film. However, for the sake of continuing to ask "What could've been?" it's important to ask what Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy 3 would've been like.
There Wasn't a Script Written Yet
Guillermo del Toro talked often about his ideas, but, it turns out, never had a real script for Hellboy 3. He would speak of the ideas and plot details he intended on exploring, but never did he write a script for the film.
This is most obvious when del Toro announced 17 unused scripts he had written that never got turned into film. While many of them were projects he had spoken extensively over the years, such as At the Mountains of Madness, Hellboy 3 isn't among them. That means that, while del Toro had plenty of ideas, he didn't have a solid script.
The Original Actors -- Especially Perlman -- Would've Been Involved
One key element of this film was the return of the prior actors to finish their stories. While it's unknown how many of the characters would need to return, it felt logical that Liz (played by Selma Blair) would've reprised her role, considering she was now the mother of Hellboy's twins.
And, of course, Ron Perlman was scheduled to return -- and, in fact, one of the biggest supporters of the project from start to its bitter end.
Would've Involved Hell
It is uncertain if the film would've featured Hellboy going to Hell as he does in the original comics or if it would've involved Hell opening up on Earth. However, part of the film would've involved actual physical demons traversing the plane of man.
What makes this appealing is how little of Hell the films actually showed at this point. Rasputin summons Hellboy to summon eldritch Gods (more Lovecraft than Bible), while the second film features elves and fantasy entities. This final film would've brought the Hell to Hellboy.
No B.R.P.D.
At the end of Hellboy II, Hellboy and company quit the B.R.P.D. This ends a chapter in his life that would lead to him going off on his own to live his own life.
In the comics, after Hellboy quits the B.R.P.D., that's it. It's unknown if del Toro would've deviated from this (after all, there was no script written), but, at the trajectory the sequel was going, Hellboy would've left the B.R.P.D., and never gone back.
Hellboy as a Dad
Another factor to consider, at the end of Hellboy II, Liz is pregnant with Hellboy's twins. The final part of the trilogy would've brought the story full circle. At the start, Hellboy is the prodigal son of an experienced monster hunter. Now, he is the father with kids of his own.
The final part would've dealt with fatherhood, presumably in a way that was equal parts epic, funny, and tragic. Especially considering the constant reminder of Hellboy's ultimate destiny.
Guillermo del Toro's Schedule Kept it From Being Made
One huge reason the film was never made was Guillermo del Toro's intense schedule. Hellboy 3 always took priority under his next project. Most of which didn't get made. The Hobbit. At the Mountains of Madness. Both huge project took up years of del Toro's life, yet never got made (or, at least, Guillermo del Toro's Hobbit never got made).
Ironically, these unmade films ended up pushing Hellboy 3 back, which resulted in it, too, getting unmade. But at least he made Pacific Rim.
It Would Be Very Tragic
Hellboy 3 was always intended to offer a tragic end to the trilogy, with Hellboy being confronted with his inevitable, depressing destiny. As a result, it would probably kill off characters, bring about some pretty unpleasant moments, and leave a few eyes quite soaked through with tears.
This is one constant throughout all of Perlman and del Toro's talk of the film. This would not be a happy experience.
The World Would've Ended
Hellboy's destiny is tied in with the end of the world. As such, the film would've ended with a huge bang. One word that continually comes up in descriptions of the unmade film is "apocalyptic."
The film would've dealt with the end times. If the world itself didn't fully end, it would, at the very least, result in a lot of death and destruction. Which leads to another reason the film never got made...
It Would've Been Expensive
The estimated budget for Hellboy 3 always seemed to hover around $120 million dollars. For a film series that often underperformed at the box office, it was too expensive for investors to get behind the project.
In order to bring the apocalyptic saga to a close, it needed money. More money than anyone was willing to give the project.
We Would've Learned Why Hellboy Was Brought to Earth
In the original film, Rasputin brings Hellboy into Earth to open the doors to his elder Gods. However, that's not really why Hellboy is there. After all, he was born and created for a purpose. Some insidious reason unbeknownst to all. And in Hellboy 3, audiences would've learned why Hellboy was there -- and Hellboy would have to confront his nightmarish destiny.
The whole idea of the final film was to bring Hellboy face-to-face with his inevitable destiny, and for our heroes to deal with the crushing winds of fate. Given Hellboy's attempts at being a hero, given his attempts to live a normal life as a family man, the crushing tragedy of fate would've offered audiences a finale that might've been operatic and disturbing.
It was just too good for this sinful Earth.