Home Gaming Hellboy behind-the-scenes report alleges numerous on-set clashes, very troubled production

Hellboy behind-the-scenes report alleges numerous on-set clashes, very troubled production

3 min read
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When the first reviews for director Neil Marshall’s R-rated Hellboy reboot dropped yesterday, I’m sure that quite a few of you responded with “What the hell?!”. I was never completely blown away by Guillermo Del Toro two Hellboy movies from the early 2000s, but I certainly liked them enough. At the very least, I expected the same from this new adaptation of Mike Mignola’s seminal horror-fantasy comic. Instead, what we apparently got was a big red pile of demon poop.

With just a 10% Rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes, many fans are wondering what went wrong. Well, The Wrap claims to have some answers with a report that paints the picture of a production gone off the rails due to on-set clashes as various parties tried to make this their movie. The main factions in this on-set power struggle were reportedly Marshall on one side facing off against Lawrence Gordon and Lloyd Levin, two of the film’s 16 producers, and who own the film rights. Also adding in his two cents was apparently Hellboy himself in star David Harbour who allegedly took issue with some of Marshall’s filming practices.

The Wrap’s sources claim that Marshall and the producers butted heads frequently over numerous issues, including something as trivial as whether a digital tree in the film would be symmetrical or not. The producers allegedly also gave the cast their own on-set instructions in between takes contrary to what Marshall had asked for. When the battle between the two sides reached fever pitch, Marshall’s long-time cinematographer Sam McCurdy was reportedly fired for following Marshall’s orders.

Marshall, McCurdy, Gordon and Harbour have all declined to comment to The Wrap about the report, but Levin’s lawyer, Martin Singer, has issued statements outright denying the allegations made against him and his producing partner. They also claim that Marshall himself is stoking the fires so that he won’t take the brunt of the blame for Hellboy’s critical failure (box office predictions are looking pretty bleak as well). However, Gordon and Levin don’t deny that they reportedly took over the final editing of the film after Marshall turned in his cut, as they say the filmmaker was never promised this right to begin with.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of The Wrap’s report, which the two sides are contesting:

• Three people told TheWrap that Levin interrupted Marshall frequently in front of the crew as Marshall tried to rehearse actors, sometimes giving them different directions than the director. Singer’s attorney disputed that: “In fact, Mr. Levin would speak to Neil Marshall after rehearsals and discuss issues with him at that time.”

• Two insiders said Harbour repeatedly walked off set, refusing Marshall’s requests for more takes. Singer responded for Levin: “My client has no recollection of that ever happening. To the contrary, David Harbour gave everything he was asked of and more during filming.”

• Two insiders said the script was re-written throughout the production. One said those doing the rewriting included actors Harbour and co-star Ian McShane. Singer responded: “Only a few scenes were rewritten during production, and neither David Harbour nor Ian McShane did any rewriting of the screenplay at all. Rewriting certain scenes of a movie during production is customary in the entertainment industry, including by actors, producers, writers and directors.”

• One insider described a prolonged dispute over a surreal tree that figures prominently in the film. Marshall wanted a realistic-looking, asymmetrical tree. But the insider said Levin overruled him, insisting on a symmetrical tree. Then, in postproduction, the tree became asymmetrical again. Singer disputed any suggestion that Levin “somehow mucked it up in a back-and-forth tug-of-war over symmetry versus asymmetry,” adding: “The design of the tree, like hundreds of other design elements in the movie, went through an exhaustive design and evolution process.”

Hellboy opens in cinemas countrywide today.

Last Updated: April 12, 2019

23 Comments

  1. How dafuq do you go into a multi million dollar project without everyone being on the same page?!
    That shit is weak…

    Reply

    • Pariah

      April 12, 2019 at 10:26

      Dyslexia. Some people read page 84, others were on page 48. It happens.

      Reply

      • Original Heretic

        April 12, 2019 at 10:35

        Yeah but don’t they learn?!
        How many times have we heard stories of on set conflict that ruined a movie?
        And how often has executive meddling ruined a movie?

        Reply

        • Pariah

          April 12, 2019 at 10:35

          This is what happens when too many people who call the shots are put onto a single project. This happens in EVERY industry. Just that the general public gets to see the results when it’s a movie.

          Reply

          • Original Heretic

            April 12, 2019 at 10:44

            It’s all about their own pathetic egos. All the assholes what it their own way. Instead of pushing those side and asking the question “what’s best for the project?”.

          • Pariah

            April 12, 2019 at 10:44

            I know it’s your phone being spastic, but wtf is a “pisbipu”?

          • Original Heretic

            April 12, 2019 at 10:44

            Whoa… Thanks, I fixed it

          • Original Heretic

            April 12, 2019 at 10:44

            That word actually sounds dirty..

          • Pariah

            April 12, 2019 at 10:44

            Sounds like what hobos do.

    • Kervyn Cloete

      April 12, 2019 at 12:21

      If you ever want an eye-opener on how shit like this happens, get your hands on the documentary The Death of “Superman Lives”: What Happened?

      Reply

  2. The D

    April 12, 2019 at 10:44

    Did Bioware make this movie

    Reply

    • Jbumi

      April 12, 2019 at 12:00

      Under EA’s supervision.

      Reply

    • Guz

      April 12, 2019 at 12:21

      Too soon….

      Reply

  3. Llama In The Rift

    April 12, 2019 at 11:33

    Betcha Guillermo Del Toro is having a blast.

    Reply

  4. Admiral Chief

    April 12, 2019 at 10:26

    Typical. Good IP, good team, RUINED by a few asshats.

    Movies, games, government, citizens. Always a handful of asshats spoiling it for the majority

    /rant

    Reply

    • Pariah

      April 12, 2019 at 10:26

      It’s like Trevor with a steak.

      Reply

      • Original Heretic

        April 12, 2019 at 10:26

        Why does Trevor have a stake? Is Rince a vampire now?

        Reply

        • Pariah

          April 12, 2019 at 10:26

          He was always a vampire. I thought that was public knowledge?

          Reply

          • Original Heretic

            April 12, 2019 at 10:35

            Shame… Ginger AND a vampire? Poor guy…

          • Pariah

            April 12, 2019 at 10:35

            I dunno. Seems like a sweet deal to me. Suck both blood AND souls at the same time. Two for one deal.

          • Dresden

            April 12, 2019 at 11:23

            Think of the power he wields!

          • Guz

            April 12, 2019 at 12:21

            Both hate the sun

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