Most followers agree that Ron Perlman’s time as Hellboy ended far too quickly, with the good actor solely enjoying the character in two movies, Guillermo del Toro’s Hellboy (2004) and Hellboy II: The Golden Military (2008), earlier than the franchise was in the end rebooted as a substitute of delivering the long-hoped-for third installment.
Whereas Perlman did reprise the function by offering the voice for the character within the Hellboy animated movies The Phantom Claw, Iron Footwear, Blood and Iron, and Sword of Storms, and likewise voiced Hellboy within the online game Hellboy: The Science of Evil, most followers agree that what they really needed was to see him return in reside motion, as his claiming of the function marked the golden period of Hellboy in cinema.
As such, it stays crushing {that a} third movie directed by Guillermo del Toro by no means occurred. Practically 20 years later, that loss hits even tougher now that Perlman has opened up about why the third movie by no means got here to fruition and what it could have explored.
Ron Perlman Confirms Why Hellboy 3 Was By no means Near Taking place
Guillermo del Toro’s Script, Finances Limits, and Inventive Commitments Stopped the Threequel
On January 2, 2026, Perlman appeared on The Joe Vulpis Present, the place he mentioned every part from Sons of Anarchy to Hellboy. It was the latter that stood out when Vulpis requested whether or not Hellboy 3 ever got here near taking place. Perlman answered no, explaining that the creatives concerned in the end “moved on.”
Followers got hope in 2010 when Guillermo del Toro teased the potential of a 3rd movie and confirmed {that a} script nonetheless wanted to be written. Nevertheless, as Hellboy followers know, this by no means materialized. Perlman later elaborated that the script by no means got here collectively resulting from a number of components, together with del Toro’s dedication to different initiatives.
Past del Toro’s lack of availability, unmet finances calls for for an apocalyptic-scale story additionally contributed to the movie by no means seeing the sunshine of day. Whereas reviews prompt an try and make Hellboy 3 via Legendary Footage, the place del Toro made Pacific Rim, that effort reportedly fell via, leaving followers in limbo till 2017, when it was confirmed by del Toro the movie would by no means occur.
Hellboy’s Greatest Storylines Have been Left Unresolved After The Golden Military
Hellboy 3 Would Have Paid Off His Future, Liz’s Being pregnant, and the Apocalypse
Those that watched Hellboy and Hellboy II: The Golden Military know the duology left main plotlines unresolved, together with Hellboy changing into a father to twin kids and the success of his apocalyptic “seed of destruction” prophecy. Later reboots reset continuity, sidestepping these arcs and failing to completely depict Hellboy each inflicting and confronting the apocalypse.
Because of this, followers mourn the unrealized Hellboy 3, which might have explored Hellboy and Liz Sherman changing into mother and father, the risks surrounding Liz’s being pregnant, and the true nature of their kids, whereas absolutely paying off Hellboy’s future. Though del Toro’s Hellboy movies ended prematurely, audiences have been nonetheless lucky to obtain two motion pictures showcasing Perlman’s iconic portrayal.