So far, Lionsgate is doing a pretty good job of distancing their Hellboy reboot from previous films in the franchise. Aside from Big Red himself and Professor Broom, the new movie looks like it features a fresh cast of characters. However, one fixture from the original series that’s definitely going to be missed this time around is Abe Sapien, who was memorably played by Doug Jones in Guillermo del Toro’s films. Since Abe is such an integral presence in Mike Mignola’s Hellboy comics, it’s only a matter of time before he gets his second wind on the big screen. But in case there was any doubt, Jones promises that won’t be happening anytime soon.
“He will not be showing up, I’m told, in this first Hellboy reboot, which is fine for now,” Jones told the I Could Never Be podcast (via SYFY WIRE). “I don’t have to watch someone else do the role for now, and that’s a way to ease into it.”
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It’s clear that Jones still has an attachment to the character after playing him in 2004’s Hellboy and 2008’s Hellboy II: The Golden Army. However, despite any pernicious gossip, this doesn’t mean he disapproves of the studio’s decision to reboot the series. Jones also used the opportunity to clarify prior comments he made during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter last month. During that conversation, he revealed that the producers offered him a cameo in the new film. His commitments on Star Trek: Discovery kept him from accepting, but Jones wasn’t happy with the way THR construed his remarks.
“The Hollywood Reporter article, I think was written with a bit of a slant to… I think that the headline says, ‘Doug Jones says no thanks to the new Hellboy,’ right?” Jones said. “And that sounded evil. That sounded to me like me going, ‘No thanks, don’t want your stupid movie.’ Not even close. I was offered a cameo in the movie, yes — not to play Abe Sapien. It was another character creature thing. And I couldn’t do it because of my Star Trek schedule… I had also injured my shoulder, which I didn’t really talk about out loud that much.”
“And, it was a very physical role that I would not be healed enough to do it by the time that rolled up,” Jones continued. “So, between Star Trek and my shoulder, I couldn’t do it. But then the articles were written with a slant of, like, ‘Oh, he’s probably just being nice because he’s, you know, he’s so loyal to Guillermo del Toro and they’re not making a Hellboy 3… It was that narrative [they] put into it and I did not ever say any of that.”
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Fortunately, Jones is more supportive of the reboot than THR let on. “Absolutely I’m going to go see it and I wish them well,” he said. “You know, reboots are a reality of Hollywoodland, right? Of course, right? Yeah, so, it was inevitable that this would happen and, at some point with something I was in. I will absolutely watch the new one… Like I said, I still have friends involved with it, so I wish them well, absolutely.”
Would you have liked to see Doug Jones make a cameo in the Hellboy reboot? Who would you cast as Abe Sapien if a sequel gets made? Tell us what you think in the comment section below!
