View source for Hellboy II: The Golden Army


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{{Infobox film
| image          = Hellboy 2 poster.jpg
| alt            = A full-look at Hellboy smashing his lightly-glowing Right Hand of Doom in the ground while wielding a large pistol in his left hand.
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Guillermo del Toro]]
| screenplay     = Guillermo del Toro
| story          = {{Plainlist|
* Guillermo del Toro
* [[Mike Mignola]]
}}
| based_on       = {{Based on|''[[Hellboy]]''|Mike Mignola}}
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Lawrence Gordon (producer)|Lawrence Gordon]]
* [[Mike Richardson (publisher)|Mike Richardson]]
* [[Lloyd Levin]]
}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|<!--Per poster billing-->
* [[Ron Perlman]]
* [[Selma Blair]]
* [[Doug Jones (actor)|Doug Jones]]
* [[Jeffrey Tambor]]
* [[John Hurt]]
}}
| cinematography = [[Guillermo Navarro]]
| editing        = [[Bernat Vilaplana]]
| music          = [[Danny Elfman]]
| production_companies = {{Plainlist|
* [[Universal Pictures]]
* [[Relativity Media]]
* Lawrence Gordon/Lloyd Levin Productions
* [[Dark Horse Entertainment]]
}}
| distributor    = Universal Pictures
| released       = {{Film date|2008|7|11}}
| runtime        = 120 minutes<ref name="Empire Review"/>
| country        = United States<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/675089/hellboy-ii-the-golden-army#overview|title=Hellboy II: The Golden Army|access-date=October 17, 2020|archive-date=October 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017195641/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/675089/hellboy-ii-the-golden-army#overview|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| language       = English
| budget         = $82.5–85 million<ref name=NUM>{{cite the numbers|id=Hellboy-2-The-Golden-Army|title=Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)|access-date=July 26, 2023}}</ref><ref name=BOM>{{cite Box Office Mojo|id=0411477|title=Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)|access-date=July 26, 2023}}</ref>
| gross          = $168.3 million<ref name=BOM/>
}}

'''''Hellboy II: The Golden Army''''' is a 2008 American [[fantasy film|fantasy]] [[horror film|horror]] [[superhero film]]<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/movies/2018/07/11/hellboy-2-10th-anniversary/|title=A look back at Hellboy 2, the greatest superhero fantasy movie of the 21st century|first=Darren|last=Franich|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=July 11, 2018|access-date=March 4, 2023|url-status=live|archive-date=March 4, 2023|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20230304170316/https://ew.com/movies/2018/07/11/hellboy-2-10th-anniversary/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/hellboy-ii-golden-army-guillermo-del-toro-most-vibrant-movie|title='Hellboy II: The Golden Army' is Guillermo del Toro's Most Vibrant Blockbuster|first=Matthew|last=Jackson|work=Syfy Wire|date=June 22, 2022|access-date=March 4, 2023|url-status=live|archive-date=March 4, 2023|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20230304170300/https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/hellboy-ii-golden-army-guillermo-del-toro-most-vibrant-movie}}</ref> based on the [[Dark Horse Comics]] [[Hellboy|character]], created by [[Mike Mignola]]. It is a [[sequel]] to ''[[Hellboy (2004 film)|Hellboy]]'' (2004) and is the second live-action film in the [[Hellboy (franchise)|franchise]]. It was written and directed by [[Guillermo del Toro]] from a story he co-wrote with Mignola. [[Ron Perlman]] stars as Hellboy, alongside [[Selma Blair]], [[Doug Jones (actor)|Doug Jones]], [[Jeffrey Tambor]], and [[John Hurt]]. In the film, Hellboy and the [[Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense]] must battle a mythical prince who plans to reclaim the world for his magical kindred.

''Hellboy II: The Golden Army'' was released in the United States on July 11, 2008, to generally positive reviews from critics, with praise towards its fantasy atmosphere as well as Perlman and the other cast's acting performances. It grossed $168.3 million against a production budget of $82.5–85 million. The film received a nomination for [[Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling|Best Makeup]] at the [[81st Academy Awards]].

The franchise was [[reboot (fiction)|rebooted]] in 2019, with a new film simply titled ''[[Hellboy (2019 film)|Hellboy]]'', and was released by [[Lionsgate Films|Lionsgate]]. Following the critical and commercial failure of the film, a second reboot was announced in 2023, titled ''[[Hellboy: The Crooked Man]]'' which itself was a critical and commercial disappointment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/hellboy-crooked-man-details-plot-production-millennium-efm-1235264086/|title='Hellboy: The Crooked Man' Plot & Production Details Revealed By Millennium; Reboot To Be A "Departure" & First In New Series — EFM|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=February 18, 2023|access-date=February 18, 2023|url-status=live|archive-date=February 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218192047/https://deadline.com/2023/02/hellboy-crooked-man-details-ploti-production-millennium-efm-1235264086/}}</ref>

==Plot==
During Christmas 1955, a young [[Hellboy]] is told a bedtime story by his adoptive father, [[Trevor Bruttenholm]], of an ancient war between humans and magical creatures. One day, the goblin blacksmith offers to Balor, king of the elves, to build him an indestructible mechanical army. Encouraged by his son Prince Nuada, Balor accepts. The Golden Army subsequently devastates humanity. Regretting his actions, Balor forms a truce with the humans. The crown to command the Golden Army, which can only be worn by one of royal blood, is split into three pieces. Nuada, disagreeing with the truce, leaves in exile.

In the present, a year after Hellboy foiled the evil sorcerer [[Grigori Rasputin (Hellboy)|Grigori Rasputin]]'s plans to summon the demonic entities known as [[Ogdru Jahad#Fictional character biography|Ogdru Jahad]] and enact Armageddon,{{Efn|as depicted in ''[[Hellboy (2004 film)|Hellboy]]''}} Nuada returns and begins gathering the pieces of the crown. He collects the first piece from an auction by unleashing [[Tooth fairy#In popular culture|tooth fairies]] that eat the crowd, and then kills his father for the second piece. His twin sister Princess Nuala escapes with the final piece.

Meanwhile, at the [[Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense]] (B.P.R.D.), demonic special agent Hellboy is having issues with his girlfriend [[Liz Sherman|Liz]] and dislikes that their organization must operate in secrecy. Investigating the auction slaughter, Hellboy allows himself to be revealed to the world. In the commotion, [[Abe Sapien]] discovers Liz is pregnant but she swears him to secrecy.

Furious at Hellboy's actions, [[Tom Manning (comics)|Tom Manning]]'s superiors send the [[ectoplasm (paranormal)|ectoplasmic]] medium [[Johann Krauss]] to rein him in. With Krauss in charge, the team tracks the tooth fairies to a secret troll market under the [[Brooklyn Bridge]]. Abe finds Nuala, who has obtained a map leading to the Golden Army, and falls in love with her. Hellboy fights and kills Nuada's accomplice Wink and an [[elemental]] forest god that Nuada summons against him. During the fight, Nuada questions why he fights for the humans when they have driven the magical creatures into hiding, of which he, too, is one. Nuala is taken under the B.P.R.D.'s protection.

Nuada tracks his sister to the B.P.R.D. headquarters using their magical bond, which also causes them to share wounds and read each other's thoughts. Nuala hides the final crown piece before Nuada finds her and he battles Hellboy. Nuada critically wounds Hellboy with his spear and abducts Nuala, promising her return in exchange for the crown piece. Unable to remove the spear shard in his wound, Liz and Abe decide to take Hellboy to the Golden Army's location in the [[Giant's Causeway]] of [[Northern Ireland]]. Krauss comes along, as he sympathizes with Liz, revealing that he, too, lost his wife in the accident that caused the loss of his own body.

They encounter the Bethmoora goblin master blacksmith who brings them before the Angel of Death to retrieve the spear shard. Though warned that Hellboy will doom humanity if he lives and that she will suffer the most from it, Liz pleads for Hellboy's life. The Angel removes the shard from Hellboy's chest and tells Liz to give him a reason to live. She reveals to Hellboy that he will be a father and he recovers.

The goblin leads the team to the resting place of the Golden Army, where Nuada awaits them. Abe gives him the last piece of the crown and Nuada awakens the Golden Army. Hellboy challenges Nuada for the right to command the army. As Hellboy is a member of Hell's royal family, Nuada must accept the challenge. Hellboy defeats Nuada and spares his life, but as Nuada tries stabbing him, Nuala commits suicide to stop her brother and the dying Nuada tells Hellboy he will have to choose whether humanity or magical beings must die. Abe psychically shares his feelings with Nuala before she dies. Liz uses her [[pyrokinesis]] to melt the crown, deactivating the Golden Army for good.

Hellboy, Liz, Abe, and Johann resign from the B.P.R.D. and Hellboy contemplates his future life with Liz and their baby, but Liz holds up [[Twin|two fingers]] and smiles.

==Cast==
[[File:Hellboy 2 Shot 2.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Foreground, from left to right: [[Johann Krauss]], [[Abe Sapien]], [[Hellboy]], and [[Liz Sherman]]; Background: Prince Nuada, Princess Nuala]]
* [[Ron Perlman]] as [[Hellboy]]: An immensely powerful demon who works for the government organization [[Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense]] (B.P.R.D.). Guillermo del Toro described the character's dilemma in the sequel, "[He] has always fought on the side of humans, but this [fantasy of destruction] pushes his buttons to reconsider."<ref name=clout/> In the sequel, Hellboy is armed with an enormous new gun called "The Big Baby", which fires flare-like bullets.<ref name=red/> [[Montse Ribé]] plays a young version of Hellboy in an opening flashback.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://makeupmag.com/news/newsID/292/ |title=Web Exclusive: Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, Young Hellboy : News from Make-Up Artist Magazine |website=makeupmag.com |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080810181727/http://makeupmag.com/news/newsID/292/ |archive-date=10 August 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Selma Blair]] as [[Liz Sherman]]: A [[pyrokinetic]] member of B.P.R.D. and Hellboy's girlfriend. Blair described her character as more engaging in the sequel, "In the first one she was afraid to take a step. She was completely a zombie, not wanting to own up to her power and having the memory of what she'd created in her life... I was really eager to come and play Liz with a little more vibrancy." Blair also had short hair for her role, avoiding long hair from her portrayal in the first film, which she felt "brought her face down". The actress emphasized Liz Sherman's growth in the sequel, "She's looking to the future much more, and things are happening in this one that she has to buck up... I think you're dealing with a lot knowing this young girl that we last saw as very damaged, and now she's with this guy, and all these people around her, I think, we've really had to step up a strength, and a confidence in her so that I don't look like the little baby kid sister tagging along."<ref>{{cite news | first=Edward | last=Douglas | url=http://www.superherohype.com/news/featuresnews.php?id=6742 | title=Selma Blair Returns as Liz Sherman | work=[[Superhero Hype!]] | publisher=Coming Soon Media, L.P | date=February 1, 2008 | access-date=July 8, 2008 | archive-date=February 9, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209151106/http://www.superherohype.com/news/featuresnews.php?id=6742 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Doug Jones (actor)|Doug Jones]] as three characters:
** [[Abe Sapien]]: An ichthyo sapien [[psychic]] who works for B.P.R.D. with Hellboy. Jones said of his return to the role after the first film, "He's been an absolute treat for me to play this time. He's written with so many different colours and levels and there's a love interest... And his buddy time with Hellboy is more concrete and his brother/sister time with Liz is even better." Jones believed that Abe Sapien became "the brains, the intellect of the team" while Hellboy protects his character because he is still "kind of innocent". The actor pointed to his character's adolescence with love,<ref name=triple>{{cite news | first=Edward | last=Douglas | url=http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=6758 | title=Hellboy II's Triple Threat, Doug Jones! | work=[[Superhero Hype!]] | publisher=Coming Soon Media, L.P | date=February 5, 2008 | access-date=July 8, 2008 | archive-date=September 21, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921205139/http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=6758 | url-status=dead }}</ref> "His love life is something that's never been tapped into before... So just like a 13-year-old with his first crush, this is how you're going to see Abe this time. A portion of him. Will this affect his decision-making powers?"<ref>{{cite news | first=Patrick | last=Lee |url=http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?id=41458 | title=''Hellboy 2''{{'}}s Sapien Swims Into Love | work=[[Sci Fi Wire]] |publisher=[[Sci Fi Channel (United States)|Sci Fi Channel]] | date=May 14, 2007 | access-date=July 8, 2008}} {{Dead link|date=March 2010}}</ref> Unlike the first movie, where Abe's voice was dubbed by [[David Hyde Pierce]], Doug Jones provided the voice himself.
** Angel of Death: A female angel with [[androgynous]] characteristics. Jones explained his portrayal, "The script refers to the angel as a her and that's what I do. I think she has feminine qualities, but she's not totally a woman either. And that's okay. I like characters that keep you guessing."<ref name="triple"/>
** Chamberlain: The door keeper for King Balor.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.collider.com/entertainment/interviews/article.asp/aid/8427/tcid/1 |title=Doug Jones Exclusive Video Interview |publisher=Collider.com |access-date=February 9, 2011 |archive-date=August 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809130947/http://collider.com/entertainment/interviews/article.asp/aid/8427/tcid/1 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The creature is long, gangly, eight feet tall and wears silk and velvet robes. It also has long, spindly fingers, which filmmakers mobilized with servos and which Jones wore as extensions of his own hands.<ref name=creatures/>
* John Alexander and James Dodd as [[Johann Kraus]]s: Krauss is a German psychic whose ectoplasmic being is contained in a suit after a botched [[séance]]. Originally, filmmakers planned to create a computer-generated version of the glass fishbowl helmet, but with the cost being prohibitive, they created an actual helmet. To ensure the invisibility of the actor's head under the glass, perspective and mirror tricks were used. The helmet was controlled by two puppeteers, so the heavy contraption had to be shared between Alexander and Dodd.<ref name=creatures>{{cite news | first=Edward | last=Douglas | url=http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=6754 | title=The Creatures of ''Hellboy II'' | work=[[Superhero Hype!]] | publisher=Coming Soon Media, L.P | date=February 8, 2008 | access-date=July 10, 2008 | archive-date=September 18, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918065021/http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=6754 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
** [[Seth MacFarlane]] voices Johann Krauss, having taken over from [[Thomas Kretschmann]], after del Toro decided that Kretschmann's voice and the mechanical sound effects to Johann's suit did not mesh well.<ref>{{cite news | first=Jeremy | last=Smith | url=http://www.chud.com/articles/articles/14445/1/JOHANN-KRAUS-IS-A-FAMILY-GUY/Page1.html | title=Johann Kraus is a family guy | work=CHUD.com | publisher=KrakenHeads | date=April 20, 2008 | access-date=July 14, 2008 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080623062751/http://chud.com/articles/articles/14445/1/JOHANN-KRAUS-IS-A-FAMILY-GUY/Page1.html | archive-date=June 23, 2008 | df=mdy-all }}</ref>
** John Alexander also performs and voices the Bethmoora Goblin, a legless goblin who helps Hellboy and the team find the Angel of Death. He is the master goblin blacksmith who forged the Golden Army and lost his original legs in the process.
* [[Luke Goss]] as Prince Nuada Silverlance: King Balor's son and a martial arts expert of extraordinary proficiency. Goss was previously cast as mutant vampire Jared Nomak in del Toro's 2002 film ''[[Blade II]]'', and the director approached the actor to be cast in ''Hellboy II''. The only other actor considered for the part was [[Charlie Hunnam]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.totalfilm.com/news/guillermo-del-toro-talks-pacific-rim|title=Guillermo del Toro talks Pacific Rim|last=Graham|first=Jamie|magazine=[[Total Film]]|date=June 7, 2012|access-date=June 9, 2012}}</ref> Goss trained with action director and former [[Jackie Chan Stunt Team]] member, [[Brad Allan]], learning sword and spear skills for six to seven months for his role.<ref name="goss">{{cite news | first=Edward | last=Douglas | url=http://www.superherohype.com/news/featuresnews.php?id=6740 | title=Luke Goss is Hellboy II's Prince Nuada | work=[[Superhero Hype!]] | publisher=Coming Soon Media, L.P | date=February 1, 2008 | access-date=July 8, 2008 | archive-date=March 9, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309054109/http://www.superherohype.com/news/featuresnews.php?id=6740 | url-status=dead }}</ref> He and Anna Walton also learned ancient [[Goidelic languages|Gaelic]] from a dialog coach for their lines.<ref name="walton"/> Goss did not perceive Nuada as evil, explaining, "It's issues, his people, he's part of what he truly believes. I don't think, really, he's so deluded... [He] is driven by an ethic that was instilled by the person he has problems [with; that is,] his father, and inevitably, that leads into the conflict with him and Hellboy." Goss also noted that his character admired and revered his twin sister, portrayed by Anna Walton. He said of the prince and the princess, "There is an [[incest]]uous relationship that's not maybe overly obvious to everybody, but some people hopefully will pick up on the fact, certainly from my direction towards her."<ref name="goss"/>
* [[Anna Walton]] as Princess Nuala: King Balor's daughter and Nuada's twin sister. She is described as "very light" while Nuada is "very dark", creating a [[yin and yang]] dynamic.<ref name="red"/> She elaborated on the incestuous tones between her character and Prince Nuada, "He's the dark side and she's the light side and they're pulled apart and pulled back together again, and she's trying to get away because she knows there is something she has to do. He can't let that go and they can't really do anything without each other so it's a really interesting thing." Her character also forms a relationship with Abe Sapien, and Walton noted their similarities, "They are both slightly lost souls and they understand each other." Walton spoke of her character's sense of purpose, "She feels very strongly about what she has to do in the film, and then her absolute connection and love for the Earth and what we are given. That's what she's here to protect... Her relationship with her brother, and how he is almost a part of her but she has to break away and will do whatever it takes to stop him from achieving what he wants to achieve, which is the mass destruction of mankind."<ref name="walton" >{{cite news | first=Edward | last=Douglas | url=http://www.superherohype.com/news/featuresnews.php?id=6741 | title=Anna Walton is Hellboy II's Princess Nuala | work=[[Superhero Hype!]] | publisher=Coming Soon Media, L.P | date=February 1, 2008 | access-date=July 8, 2008 | archive-date=September 17, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917124616/http://www.superherohype.com/news/featuresnews.php?id=6741 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Jeffrey Tambor]] as [[Tom Manning (comics)|Tom Manning]]: Head of the B.P.R.D., he has a slightly antagonistic relationship with Hellboy.
* [[John Hurt]] as [[Trevor Bruttenholm]]: Hellboy's adoptive father, he is seen in the beginning of the film telling young Hellboy the story of the Golden Army.
* [[Brian Steele]] as four of the trolls:
** Mr. Wink: A giant cave troll who was originally conceived by Guillermo del Toro. Wink was sculpted by Mario Torres, and the costume was worn by Brian Steele. In the film, Wink's right arm has a giant metal fist. The fist was designed by filmmakers to be made of heavy plastic to stay light enough for motors to operate the mechanical fingers. The fist could also be physically detached and used as a projectile without any computer-generated imagery used.<ref name=creatures/> Several of Mike Mignola's comics characters wield similar mechanical fists on chains, including the Kriegaffes used by [[Herman von Klempt]]. Likewise, Mr. Wink has an old wound on the left side of his face that has closed one of his eyes. Del Toro said that he named Mr. Wink after [[Selma Blair]]'s one-eyed dog (which Blair confirms in a commentary track for the DVD release).
** Cathedral Head: A troll who is the owner of a map shop who gives Princess Nuala the hidden map.
** Fragglewump: A monstrous Scottish troll that masquerades as a sweet old lady and feeds on kittens and fears canaries.
** Cronie Troll: A spice shop owner who gets in an argument with Hellboy in the troll market
* [[Roy Dotrice]] as King Balor: The one-armed king of Elfland. All of his dialogue is in Gaelic.

==Production==
In May 2004, following the release of [[Guillermo del Toro]]'s ''[[Hellboy (2004 film)|Hellboy]]'' the previous month, a sequel was announced by [[Revolution Studios]] with del Toro returning to direct and [[Ron Perlman]] reprising his lead role as the [[Hellboy|title character]].<ref>{{cite news | author=Stax | url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/515/515970p1.html | title=''Hellboy II'' Confirmed! | work=[[IGN]] | publisher=[[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]] | date=May 14, 2004 | access-date=July 8, 2008 | archive-date=May 22, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522132058/http://movies.ign.com/articles/515/515970p1.html | url-status=live }}</ref> The director sought to create a film trilogy with the first sequel anticipated for release in 2006.<ref>{{cite news | first=Brian | last=Linder | url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/544/544125p1.html | title=Guillermo, Blair Talk ''Hellboy'' Sequel | work=[[IGN]] | publisher=[[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]] | date=September 2, 2004 | access-date=July 8, 2008 | archive-date=May 22, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522132140/http://movies.ign.com/articles/544/544125p1.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Revolution Studios planned to produce the film and distribute it through a deal with [[Columbia Pictures]], but by 2006, their distribution deal was not renewed and Revolution began refocusing on exploiting their film library. In August 2006, [[Universal Pictures]] acquired the project with the intent to finance and distribute the sequel, which was newly scheduled to be released in summer of 2008. Production was scheduled to begin in April 2007 in [[Etyek]], Hungary (near Budapest) and London, [[England]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Fleming |first=Michael |date=August 3, 2006 |title='Hellboy' in U turn |url=https://variety.com/2006/film/markets-festivals/hellboy-in-u-turn-1200342528/ |url-status=live |journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607052130/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117947953.html?categoryid=1350&cs=1 |archive-date=June 7, 2008 |access-date=July 8, 2008}}</ref>

Director Guillermo del Toro explored several concepts for the sequel, initially planning to recreate the classic versions of [[Frankenstein's monster|Frankenstein]], [[Count Dracula|Dracula]] and [[The Wolf Man (1941 film)|the Wolf Man]].<ref>{{cite news | first=Scott | last=Collura | url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/739/739203p1.html | title=Exclusive: Hellboy vs. the Universal Monsters? | work=[[IGN]] | publisher=[[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]] | date=October 16, 2006 | access-date=July 8, 2008 | archive-date=August 29, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829120939/http://movies.ign.com/articles/739/739203p1.html | url-status=live }}</ref> He and comic book creator [[Mike Mignola]] also spent a few days adapting the ''Almost Colossus'' story, featuring [[Roger (Hellboy)|Roger]] the [[Homunculus]]. They then found it easier to create an original story based on folklore, because del Toro was planning ''[[Pan's Labyrinth]]'', and Mignola's comics were becoming increasingly based on mythology.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jesse|last=Schedeen|title=Mignola On The Hellboy Juggernaut|work=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]]|date=July 9, 2008|url=http://uk.comics.ign.com/articles/887/887545p1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713005354/http://uk.comics.ign.com/articles/887/887545p1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 13, 2011|access-date=July 10, 2008}}</ref> Later, del Toro pitched a premise to Revolution Studios that involved four Titans from the four corners of Earth—Wind, Water, Fire, and Earth—before he replaced the Titans with a Golden Army.<ref name=set>{{cite news | first=Edward | last=Douglas | url=http://www.superherohype.com/news/featuresnews.php?id=6764 | title=Guillermo del Toro from the Set of ''Hellboy II'' | work=[[Superhero Hype!]] | publisher=Coming Soon Media, L.P | date=February 8, 2008 | access-date=July 8, 2008 | archive-date=February 11, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080211165721/http://www.superherohype.com/news/featuresnews.php?id=6764 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Mignola described the theme of the sequel, "The focus is more on the folklore and fairy tale aspect of ''Hellboy''. It's not Nazis, machines and mad scientists but the old gods and characters who have been kind of shoved out of our world."<ref>{{cite news | first=Richard | last=George | url=http://comics.ign.com/articles/765/765210p3.html | title=Interview: Hellboy's Mike Mignola | work=[[IGN]] | publisher=[[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]] | date=February 15, 2007 | access-date=July 8, 2008 | archive-date=September 27, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927215904/http://comics.ign.com/articles/765/765210p3.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

Del Toro released ''[[Pan's Labyrinth]]'' in 2006, and the film earned multiple [[Academy Awards]], providing the director enough clout to begin production on the film.<ref name=clout>{{cite news | first=Larry | last=Carroll | url=http://www.vh1.com/movies/news/articles/1552289/20070212/story.jhtml | title='Pan's Labyrinth' Duo Use Oscar Clout To Make ''Hellboy II'' Their Way | work=[[VH1]] | publisher=[[MTV Networks]] | date=February 13, 2007 | access-date=July 8, 2008 | archive-date=September 27, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927084152/http://www.vh1.com/movies/news/articles/1552289/20070212/story.jhtml | url-status=dead }}</ref> Guillermo del Toro began filming the film in June 2007 in Budapest and concluded in December 2007.<ref>{{cite news |first=Andy | last=Serwin | url=http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/005779781.cfm | title=''Hellboy 2'' Update |work=WizardUniverse.com | publisher=[[Wizard Entertainment]] | date=August 28, 2007 | access-date=July 8, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080113030825/http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/005779781.cfm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = January 13, 2008}}</ref> The film was the first American production to shoot at Korda Studios in Hungary, then newly built outside Budapest.<ref>{{cite journal | first=Katja | last=Eichinger | url=https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/hellboy-2-heads-to-korda-1117965143/ | title='Hellboy 2' heads to Korda | journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | publisher=[[Reed Business Information]] | date=May 17, 2007 | access-date=July 8, 2008 | archive-date=November 21, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121060821/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117965143.html?categoryId=1061&cs=1 | url-status=live }}</ref> The creature shop was led by the company Spectral Motion,<ref>{{cite news | first=Eric | last=Moro | url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/832/832330p1.html | title=Set Visit: Hellboy II: The Golden Army | work=[[IGN]] | publisher=[[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]] | date=November 2, 2007 | access-date=July 8, 2008 | archive-date=October 6, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006234931/http://movies.ign.com/articles/832/832330p1.html | url-status=live }}</ref> and Filmefex contributed work in makeup and prosthetics. The latter company designed a creature for the troll market scene and built several statues and full-size replicas of the Golden Army.<ref>{{cite journal | first=Tobias |last=Grey |url=https://variety.com/2007/digital/news/budapest-company-bound-for-hellboy-1117976184/ | title=Budapest company bound for 'Hellboy' |journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | publisher=[[Reed Business Information]] | date=November 16, 2007 | access-date=July 8, 2008}}</ref>

==Music==
{{See also|Hellboy II: The Golden Army (soundtrack)}}
* [[Eddy Arnold]] – "[[Santa Claus Is Coming to Town]]"
* [[Takako Nishizaki]] and [[Jenő Jandó]] – "[[Violin Sonata No. 9 (Beethoven)|Violin Sonata No. 9]]"
* [[Travis (band)|Travis]] – "[[All I Want to Do Is Rock]]"
* Poet in Process – "Why"<ref>{{cite web|title=Starting at 38:35 in the movie "Poet in Process - Why"|website = [[YouTube]]| date=August 15, 2008 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Oqj0dU7c9w |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/0Oqj0dU7c9w |archive-date=2021-12-14 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* Brenga Astur – "Nel Caleyu La Fonte"
* [[Eels (band)|Eels]] – "Beautiful Freak"
* [[Barry Manilow]] – "[[Can't Smile Without You]]"
* Red Is for Fire – "Noir"

==Release==
''Hellboy II: The Golden Army'' opened on July 11, 2008, in 3,204 theaters in the United States and Canada.<ref name=bom>{{cite web | url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=hellboy2.htm | title=Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008) | work=[[Box Office Mojo]] | publisher=Box Office Mojo, LLC | access-date=July 13, 2008 | archive-date=December 5, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205142545/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=hellboy2.htm | url-status=live }}</ref> The film ranked first at the box office, grossing an estimated $35.9 million over the weekend, outperforming the opening of its predecessor, which had opened with $23.2 million.<ref>{{cite journal | first=Pamela | last=McClintock | url=https://variety.com/2008/film/box-office/hellboy-burns-competition-1117988853/ | title='Hellboy' burns competition | journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | publisher=[[Reed Business Information]] | date=July 13, 2008 | access-date=July 13, 2008 | archive-date=August 8, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080808031725/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117988853.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 | url-status=live }}</ref> The opening was the biggest of Guillermo del Toro's directing career until 2013, when it was surpassed by ''[[Pacific Rim (film)|Pacific Rim]].''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3702&p=.htm |title=Weekend Report: 'Pacific Rim' Loses to Family Sequels |first=Ray |last=Subers |date=July 14, 2013 |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=May 28, 2015 |archive-date=August 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818050109/http://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3702&p=.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]], during the opening weekend, gave the film a 'B' grade.<ref name="fire">{{cite magazine | first=Joshua | last=Rich | url=https://www.ew.com/article/2008/07/15/hellboy-ii-sets-box-office-fire | title='Hellboy II' Sets Box Office on Fire | magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] | publisher=[[Time Inc.|Time Inc]] | date=July 13, 2008 | access-date=July 14, 2008 | archive-date=August 28, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828182825/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20212220,00.html | url-status=live }}</ref> The demographic for the film was mostly male, and the age distribution for moviegoers below and above 25 years old was evenly split.<ref>{{cite journal | first=Carl | last=DiOrio | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i5dab627a6e5e9f67a073efd53be489c6 | title='Hellboy II' tops boxoffice |journal=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=[[Nielsen Company]] | date=July 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080718184001/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i5dab627a6e5e9f67a073efd53be489c6 |archive-date= July 18, 2008}}</ref> Outside of the United States and Canada, the film had a limited release on 533 screens in Mexico, [[Thailand]], [[Malaysia]], and [[Singapore]], grossing $4.6 million.<ref>{{cite journal | first=Frank | last=Segers | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hancock-top-overseas-again-115540 | title='Hancock' on top overseas again | journal=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | publisher=[[Nielsen Company]] | date=July 13, 2008 | access-date=May 28, 2015 | archive-date=January 16, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116033646/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hancock-top-overseas-again-115540 | url-status=live }}</ref>

In its second weekend in the United States and Canada, the film's box office performance dropped 71% to gross $10.1 million, a larger drop than its predecessor, which dropped 53% in comparison. The sequel's larger drop was attributed to the significant opening of the Batman film ''[[The Dark Knight]]''.<ref>{{cite news | first=Brandon | last=Gray | url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2504&p=.htm | title='Dark Knight' Begins Smashingly | work=[[Box Office Mojo]] | publisher=Box Office Mojo, LLC | date=July 23, 2008 | access-date=July 24, 2008 | archive-date=August 31, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080831213142/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2504&p=.htm | url-status=live }}</ref> As of September 9, 2008 the film has grossed $75,986,503 in the United States and Canada. The film came top in the UK and Ireland box office charts upon its release on August 22<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7584146.stm | title=Hellboy defeats Batman in cinemas | work=[[BBC]] | publisher=BBC | date=August 27, 2008 | access-date=August 28, 2008 | archive-date=August 30, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830024545/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7584146.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> and earned an additional international gross of $84,401,560 bringing its worldwide total to $160,388,063.<ref name=BOM/><ref name=NUM/>

===Marketing===
In addition to [[television spot]]s showing scenes from the film, humorous adverts were also aired depicting Hellboy appearing on ''[[Ghost Hunters (TV series)|Ghost Hunters]]''; being interviewed by [[James Lipton]] on ''[[Inside the Actors Studio]]''; playing video games with [[Chuck Bartowski]] from ''[[Chuck (TV series)|Chuck]]''; visiting the set of ''[[American Gladiators (2008 TV series)|American Gladiators]]''; auditioning for a high school event; and hosting a [[public service announcement]] with a cat.<ref>{{cite news | title = Who All Got to Meet Hellboy this Week? | work = [[Superhero Hype!]] | date = July 3, 2008 | publisher = Coming Soon Media, L.P | url = http://www.superherohype.com/news/hellboynews.php?id=7436 | access-date = July 4, 2008 | archive-date = July 5, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080705083127/http://www.superherohype.com/news/hellboynews.php?id=7436 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

===Home media {{Anchor|DVD}}===
''Hellboy II: The Golden Army'' was released on DVD and Blu-ray on November 11, 2008.<ref>{{cite web
| url         = http://dvd.ign.com/articles/913/913171p1.html
| title       = Hellboy II Conquers DVD and Blu-ray
| last        = Monfette
| first       = Christopher
| date        = September 24, 2008
| publisher   = IGN
| access-date  = September 30, 2008
| url-status     = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20080928073210/http://dvd.ign.com/articles/913/913171p1.html
| archive-date = September 28, 2008
| df          = mdy-all
}}</ref> For the DVD, there is both a single-disc and a 3-disc special edition (not available in the UK).

The single-disc edition includes the movie and a very limited selection of special features. Available on the one-disc edition is a "Director's Notebook" section, in which pages of Del Toro's notebook are reproduced, showcasing design sketches and annotations by the director, as well as "video pod" segments in which he explains these designs and concepts further. The segment is available in the three-disc edition in the "pre-production vault", which also includes other galleries. The three-disc special edition includes two audio commentaries (one by Del Toro and another by members of the cast), six deleted scenes, several featurettes, a full-length documentary, and image galleries. Though not added into the movie after credits due to budget cuts, a comic style of the Zinco Sequel is added to the special features, serving as a prologue to the third Hellboy movie. The third disc contains a digital copy. ''Hellboy II: The Golden Army'' was released on 4K UHD Blu-Ray on May 7, 2019.<ref>{{Citation|title=Hellboy II: The Golden Army 4K Blu-ray|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Hellboy-II-The-Golden-Army-4K-Blu-ray/233925/|access-date=2019-04-23|archive-date=August 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823190040/https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Hellboy-II-The-Golden-Army-4K-Blu-ray/233925/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Critical response===
[[Rotten Tomatoes]] reported that {{RT data|score}} of critics gave the film positive reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}, based on {{RT data|count}} reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Guillermo del Toro crafts a stellar comic book sequel, boasting visuals that are as imaginative as the characters are endearing."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hellboy_2_the_golden_army|title=Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date={{RT data|access date}}|archive-date=November 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127062045/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hellboy_2_the_golden_army|url-status=live}}{{RT data|edit}}</ref> On ''[[Metacritic]]'' the film has a weighted average score of 78 out of 100, based on 36 reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.<ref name="meta">{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/hellboy-ii-the-golden-army | title=Hellboy II: The Golden Army Reviews | work=[[Metacritic]] | publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] | access-date=March 20, 2018 | archive-date=December 2, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202190750/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/hellboy-ii-the-golden-army | url-status=live }}</ref> <!-- CinemaScore, already referenced above in Box office section -->

[[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film three and a half stars out of four, the same rating he gave the first film, writing: "In every way the equal of del Toro's original ''Hellboy'', although perhaps a little noisier, it's another celebration of his love for bizarre fantasy and diabolical machines."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/hellboy-ii-the-golden-army-2008 |work=RogerEbert.com |publisher=Ebert Digital LLC |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |date=July 10, 2008 |title=Hellboy II: The Golden Army |access-date=March 20, 2018 |archive-date=December 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208202611/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/hellboy-ii-the-golden-army-2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> Michael Rechtshaffen writing in ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' said ''Hellboy II'' was an uncompromised vision of del Toro's imagination. He said that with the director given free rein, the film came across as an amalgam of the best moments from his previous films, only with better visual effects.<ref name="rechtshaffen">{{cite journal |last=Rechtshaffen |first=Michael |date=June 29, 2008 |title=Film Review: Hellboy II: The Golden Army |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film/reviews/article_display.jsp?&rid=11343 |journal=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=[[Nielsen Company]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080707170519/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film/reviews/article_display.jsp?&rid=11343 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=July 7, 2008 |access-date=July 8, 2008}}</ref> John Anderson of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote of a [[rococo]] precision to the visuals that exceeded that of the first film. He cited del Toro's "clockmaker's preoccupation with detail" and ability to blend state-of-the-art technology with more classical visuals as the reasons for the film's success.<ref name="anderson">{{cite journal |last=Anderson |first=John |date=June 29, 2008 |title=Hellboy II: The Golden Army Review |url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117937571 |url-status=live |journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |publisher=[[Reed Business Information]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022154057/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117937571/ |archive-date=October 22, 2012 |access-date=July 8, 2008}}</ref> [[Owen Gleiberman]] of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' said that the plot did not often deviate from its comic-book traditions, but that del Toro staged the action "brilliantly". He said that while the visual effects deserved recognition, what made the film so exciting was the personality they were imbued with.<ref name="gleiberman">{{cite magazine |last=Gleiberman |first=Owen |author-link=Owen Gleiberman |date=July 9, 2008 |title=Movie Review: Hellboy II |url=https://ew.com/article/2008/07/18/hellboy-ii-golden-army-2/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |publisher=[[Time Inc.]] |access-date=March 20, 2018}}</ref> Chuck Wilson of ''[[The Village Voice]]'' said that del Toro was on autopilot, but that he and his ''[[Pan's Labyrinth]]'' crew, cinematographer [[Guillermo Navarro]] in particular, staged the steady stream of action set-pieces expertly.<ref name="wilson">{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Chuck |date=July 7, 2008 |title=Devil May Care About Hellboy II |work=[[The Village Voice]] |publisher=[[Village Voice Media]] |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-07-09/film/devil-may-care-about-hellboy-ii/ |url-status=dead |access-date=July 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080711124525/http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-07-09/film/devil-may-care-about-hellboy-ii/ |archive-date=July 11, 2008}}</ref> Mike Goodridge of ''[[Screen International]]'' wrote that del Toro had retained the [[B movie]] tone of the first film, saying the film managed to avoid the self-importance of ''[[The Incredible Hulk (film)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' and the [[Batman in film|''Batman'' film series]] and that del Toro was simply a "great storyteller" providing a "good time".<ref name="goodridge">{{cite journal |last=Goodridge |first=Mike |date=June 30, 2008 |title=Hellboy II: The Golden Army review |url=http://www.screendaily.com/ScreenDailyArticle.aspx?intStoryID=39640 |url-status=live |journal=[[Screen International]] |publisher=[[EMAP]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080710224017/http://www.screendaily.com/ScreenDailyArticle.aspx?intStoryID=39640 |archive-date=July 10, 2008 |access-date=July 9, 2008}}</ref> Stuart Levine in ''[[Premiere (magazine)|Premiere]]'' praised the visuals and "beautiful" set-pieces, but said del Toro's script fell a little short of his direction.<ref name="levine">{{cite journal |last=Levine |first=Stuart |date=July 7, 2008 |title=Hellboy II: The Golden Army review |url=http://www.premiere.com/moviereviews/4644/hellboy-ii-the-golden-army.html |url-status=dead |journal=[[Premiere (magazine)|Premiere]] |publisher=[[Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S.]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080710130623/http://www.premiere.com/moviereviews/4644/hellboy-ii-the-golden-army.html |archive-date=July 10, 2008 |access-date=July 10, 2008 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Writing for ''[[MSNBC.com]]'', [[Alonso Duralde]] declared that it represented a backwards step for del Toro, saying that despite several creepy sequences, the film was a return to the muddled storytelling and pretty visuals of his pre-''Pan's Labyrinth'' films. He said del Toro's screenplay lacked energy or momentum.<ref name="duralde">{{cite web |last=Duralde |first=Alonso |author-link=Alonso Duralde |date=July 8, 2008 |title='Hellboy II' falls from grace |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/hellboy-ii-falls-grace-wbna25589261 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204160109/https://www.today.com/popculture/hellboy-ii-falls-grace-wbna25589261 |archive-date=December 4, 2017 |access-date=July 9, 2008 |work=Today.com |publisher=[[NBC Universal]] / [[Microsoft]]}}</ref> However, [[Peter Bradshaw]], of ''[[The Guardian]]'', said almost the opposite was the case, as he thinks "it is a crackingly enjoyable and exciting sequel, with something that the memory of Pan's Labyrinth might have entirely erased: a sense of humour." Noting that "this spectacular movie seethes and fizzes with wit and energy, absorbing and transforming influences such as [[Ghostbusters]] and even [[Harry Potter]] and the secret world of [[Diagon Alley]]."<ref name="bradshaw">{{cite news | first=Peter | last=Bradshaw | author-link=Peter Bradshaw | url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/aug/15/sciencefictionandfantasy.guillermodeltoro | title=Hellboy II: The Golden Army | work=[[The Guardian]] | date=August 15, 2008 | access-date=August 15, 2008 | archive-date=September 16, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916212206/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/aug/15/sciencefictionandfantasy.guillermodeltoro | url-status=live }}</ref>

John Anderson said the film would be "almost unthinkable" without Ron Perlman in the lead role, saying the film was more successful than its predecessor mainly due to the more deliberately amusing tone and the "drily ironic" title character. He said the only weak link was Luke Goss's "unimposing" villain.<ref name="anderson"/> While praising the general banter between Perlman and Blair, Stuart Levine said the nonchalant Hellboy exhibited insufficient growth as a character, and that Jeffrey Tambor was largely wasted in his role. He agreed that Goss's villain was weak as written, with no tangible menace.<ref name="levine"/> Helen O'Hara of ''[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]]'' said the character was only let down by a lack of screentime in which to give him enough dramatic weight, and that Goss did "a perfectly good job".<ref name="Empire Review">{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/hellboy-ii-golden-army-review/|title=Hellboy II: The Golden Army|first=Helen|last=O'Hara|work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|date=August 1, 2008|access-date=July 26, 2013|url-status=live|archive-date=July 27, 2023|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20230727040702/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/hellboy-ii-golden-army-review/}}</ref> Owen Gleiberman said Perlman was more assured than in the first ''Hellboy'', funnier and more cantankerous. He said the entire ensemble had "an appealing, outsize grandeur" about it.<ref name="gleiberman"/> Mike Goodridge said the film carefully developed the character relationships,<ref name="goodridge"/> and Chuck Wilson said that other than the title character's penchant for chewing cigars, he was otherwise "uninteresting".<ref name="wilson"/> Alonso Duralde wrote that the "sitcom-ish" character dilemmas were uninteresting, saying that Perlman and Tambor's performances were regularly let down by the script. He said that Blair's performance was possibly the first bad one he'd seen by the actress, and that while Jones was "brilliant" physically, his vocal performance was inferior to [[David Hyde Pierce]]'s in the first ''Hellboy'' film.<ref name="duralde"/> Michael Rechtshaffen called Perlman "terrific" and said Blair's brooding portrayal was effective.<ref name="rechtshaffen"/>

Michael Rechtshaffen concluded that ''Hellboy II'' was less focused than the first film, but that it played "faster and looser" and mostly a "wild ride".<ref name="rechtshaffen"/> In a positive review, John Anderson's main criticism was a sequence set in Northern Ireland, which he called the least interesting and most conventional segment of the film.<ref name="anderson"/> Chuck Wilson said the film "didn't have much on its mind", but that it would amaze children and amuse adults,<ref name="wilson"/> Stuart Levine said the film was worth viewers' time,<ref name="levine"/> and Alonso Duralde said ''Hellboy II'' was "limp and unengaging".<ref name="duralde"/> Owen Gleiberman surmised that the film was "derivative yet... dazzling",<ref name="gleiberman"/> and Mike Goodridge concluded by praising the filmmakers' skill at creating a film that, despite featuring "stunning" action sequences and creature effects, still found time for character development and a fulfilling story that expanded the franchise's wider [[mythology]].<ref name="goodridge"/> Peter Bradshaw suggested that "'[[Visionary]]' is a word too easily applied to fantasy movies, but it sticks easily here."<ref name="bradshaw"/>

The film appeared on some critics' top ten lists of the best films of 2008. Rene Rodriguez of the ''[[Miami Herald]]'' named it the fifth-best film of 2008 (along with ''[[The Dark Knight]]''),<ref name=mctop08/> and Stephanie Zacharek of ''[[Salon.com|Salon]]'' named it the tenth-best film of 2008 (along with ''[[Iron Man (2008 film)|Iron Man]]'').<ref name="mctop08">{{cite web |url= https://www.metacritic.com/film/awards/2008/toptens.shtml |title=Metacritic: 2008 Film Critic Top Ten Lists |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=May 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212131728/http://www.metacritic.com/film/awards/2008/toptens.shtml |archive-date=February 12, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Awards===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Award !! Category !! Winner/Nominee !! Result
|-
| [[81st Academy Awards|Academy Awards]]
| [[Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling|Best Makeup]]
| [[Mike Elizalde]], [[Thomas Floutz]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[14th Empire Awards|Empire Awards]]
| [[Empire Award for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy|Best Sci-Fi/Superhero]]
| 
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[35th Saturn Awards|Saturn Awards]]
| [[Saturn Award for Best Horror Film|Best Horror Film]]
|
| {{Won}}
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Make-up|Best Make-up]]
| Mike Elizalde, Thom Floutz
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Special Effects|Best Special Effects]]
| Michael J. Wassel, Adrian De Wet, Andrew Chapman, Eamonn Butler 
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[15th Screen Actors Guild Awards|Screen Actors Guild Awards]]
| [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture|Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture]]
| [[Bradley James Allan]], Mark Chapman, [[Bonnie Morgan]], Andrew Owen, Michael Weis, Peng Zhang 
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="6"|[[Fangoria Chainsaw Awards|''Fangoria'' Chainsaw Awards]]
| Best Supporting Actor
| [[Doug Jones (actor)|Doug Jones]]
| {{Won}}
|-
| Best Actor
| [[Ron Perlman]]
| {{Won}}
|-
| Best Make-Up/ Creature FX
| Mike Elizalde/ David Martí/ Montse Ribé/ Cliff Wallace
| {{Won}} 
|-
| Best Wide-Release Film
| Universal Pictures
| {{Won}}
|-
| Best Screenplay
| [[Guillermo del Toro]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Supporting Actress
| [[Anna Walton]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[7th Visual Effects Society Awards|Visual Effects Society Awards]]
| Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature Motion Picture
| Michael J. Wassel, Lucy Killick, Adrian de Wet, Eamonn Butler
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Animated Character in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture
| Colin McEvoy, Christoph Ammann for "Elemental Sequence"
| {{nom}}
|-
|}

==Tie-in publications and merchandise==

=== Short story ===
Guillermo del Toro and [[Matthew Robbins (screenwriter)|Matthew Robbins]] co-authored the short story, "Tasty Teeth", which was published in the 2004 anthology ''Hellboy: Odder Jobs'' by [[Dark Horse Comics]]. In the story, Hellboy encounters [[tooth fairies]] in a tomb in [[Romania]], featuring elements that were later incorporated into the auction house sequence in the film.

===Promotional comic===
This story by Mike Mignola and Guillermo del Toro with art by Francisco Ruiz Velasco was published as a special promotion for the film by [[Dark Horse Comics]] in one-shot comic book ''Hellboy: The Golden Army'' (January 2008) with three variant covers:<ref name=red>{{cite news | first=Larry | last=Carroll | url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1574128/20071112/story.jhtml | title='Hellboy II': Too-Hot-To-Hold Details From Hungarian Set ... Including Talk Of A Threequel | work=MTV.com | publisher=MTV | date=November 13, 2007 | access-date=July 8, 2008 | archive-date=May 16, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516201033/http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1574128/20071112/story.jhtml | url-status=dead }}</ref>
# Photo cover of Ron Perlman as Hellboy
# Photo cover of Doug Jones as Abe Sapien
# Photo cover of Selma Blair as Liz Sherman

In his introduction film director del Toro affirms his and Mignola's admiration of Velasco's "clean, propulsive narrative, draftsmanship, and artistic skills" and states that the intention of this title is to treat the film's opening narrative as a mini-epic and give the artist the opportunity to tell it with unlimited budget and shooting time.

In the story Professor [[Trevor Bruttenholm]], caring for the young Hellboy at Douglas Air Force Base, [[New Mexico]], on Christmas Eve 1944, relates the story of the Golden Army from the film's opening prologue, which he describes as the first tale ever told, as a bedtime story that he ends by saying one day Hellboy may find out if it is true.

===Art book===
''Hellboy II: The Art of the Movie'' (June 18, 2008, {{ISBN|978-1-59307-964-2}}) by Guillermo del Toro and Mike Mignola with art by Sergio Sandoval and Francisco Ruiz Velasco looks into the film's evolution, from early concept art and diary sketches to photos of the final props, sets, and includes:
*Complete screenplay including a deleted scene illustrated with the original storyboards
*Interviews and commentary from creator Mike Mignola and filmmaker Guillermo del Toro

===Novelization===
''Hellboy II: The Golden Army'' (June 18, 2008, {{ISBN|978-1-59307-954-3}}) by [[Robert Greenberger]] is the official novelization of the film.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hellboy II: The Golden Army (paperback) |isbn=978-1593079543 |last=Greenberger |first=Robert |year=2008 |publisher=Dark Horse Comics }}</ref> It won a [[Scribe Award]] for best adapted novel in 2009.<ref name=S09>{{cite web|url=https://iamtw.org/the-scribe-awards/previous-scribe-award-winners/#2009|title=The Second Annual Scribe Awards (2009)|access-date=July 28, 2025}}</ref>

===Video game===
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2010}}
During its initial theatrical release in North America, a [[video game]] set within the Hellboy universe was released around the time that of the film entitled ''[[Hellboy: The Science of Evil]]'' for [[PlayStation 3]], [[PlayStation Portable]] and [[Xbox 360]], released on June 24 in North America and August 15 in Europe. Despite its close release date, promotion alongside the film and featuring voices of the same actors, the game is not a direct movie [[tie-in]] with the plot not being related to that of the film but instead follows an original story where Hellboy investigates [[Nazi]] operations in [[Romania]] under [[Herman von Klempt]], an antagonist from the comics.

===Zinco epilogue===
Included as a special feature on the DVD is an animated comic that foreshadows the events of the next film.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dvdizzy.com/hellboyII.html |title=Hellboy II: The Golden Army - Three-Disc Special Edition DVD Review |first=Kelvin |last=Cedeno |date=November 10, 2008 |access-date=May 28, 2015 |website=DVDizzy.com |archive-date=May 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509074053/http://www.dvdizzy.com/hellboyII.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In the Zinco Epilogue, a group of men go into [[Grigori Rasputin (Hellboy)|Rasputin]]'s tomb and find Kroenen's body. After bringing Kroenen to a doctor along with instructions to revive him with an alchemical manual, Zinco and his party travel to an arctic cave with Zinco as the only survivor. Upon entering the cavern, Zinco opens a container he has with him containing the preserved head of Kroenen and attaches it to a giant robot. As soon as it is attached, the cyborg awakens and the spirit of Rasputin appears, stating that he has one more job for him.

=={{anchor|hellboy 3}}Post release==
===Cancelled sequel and spin-offs===
{{see also|Guillermo del Toro's unrealized projects}}
Guillermo del Toro had envisioned a potential third installment in the ''Hellboy'' film series as early as 2006, when ''II'' was still in pre-production; the idea was not to end the second film on a cliffhanger, but rather to raise a minor plot point in its conclusion that a third entry could then expand upon.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Collura |first1=Scott |title=Exclusive: ''Hellboy 2'' Leads to ''Hellboy 3'' |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/739/739228p1.html |website=IGN |publisher=IGN Entertainment, Inc. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061025203243/http://movies.ign.com/articles/739/739228p1.html |archive-date=October 25, 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In the leadup to ''The Golden Army''{{'}}s release, del Toro continued to express interest in a sequel: "I think we would all come back to do a third ''Hellboy'' [...] I certainly know where we're going with the movie on the third one" – albeit indicating that his responsibilities with [[The Hobbit (film series)#With del Toro|adapting ''The Hobbit'']] were his immediate priority<ref>{{cite news | first=Joe | last=Utichi | url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dinner_and_the_movies/news/1739826/2/guillermo_del_toro_rts_dinner_and_the_movies_interview | title=Guillermo del Toro - RT's Dinner and the Movies Interview | work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] | publisher=[[IGN Entertainment]] | date=July 10, 2008 | access-date=July 15, 2008 | archive-date=July 15, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080715093602/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dinner_and_the_movies/news/1739826/2/guillermo_del_toro_rts_dinner_and_the_movies_interview | url-status=live }}</ref> (del Toro would exit the ''Hobbit'' project in 2010).<ref>{{cite web |title=Guillermo Del Toro departs "The Hobbit" |url=https://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/05/30/36920-guillermo-del-toro-departs-the-hobbit/ |publisher=The One Ring net |access-date=31 May 2010 |date=30 May 2010}}</ref>

In June 2010, del Toro speculated that ''Hellboy 3'' could happen, but emphasized it would not be his next film as a screenplay had yet to be written.<ref>{{cite news |last=Weintraub |first=Steve |date=June 25, 2010 |title=Guillermo del Toro Talks THE HOBBIT, HELLBOY 3, FRANKENSTEIN, MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS, Comic-Con, and so Much More!! |work=Collider.com |url=https://collider.com/guillermo-del-toro-interview-the-hobbit-hellboy-3-frankenstein-at-the-mountains-of-madness-saturn-and-the-end-of-days/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628002744/http://www.collider.com/2010/06/25/guillermo-del-toro-interview-the-hobbit-hellboy-3-frankenstein-at-the-mountains-of-madness-saturn-and-the-end-of-days#more-34233 |archive-date=June 28, 2010}}</ref> Del Toro and Ron Perlman appeared at the 2012 [[San Diego Comic-Con]] to promote ''[[Pacific Rim (film)|Pacific Rim]]''; having been inspired by a recent [[Make-A-Wish Foundation|Make-A-Wish]] function in which Perlman appeared in full Hellboy makeup for a terminally ill boy, del Toro announced that the duo were "going to make an effort" to make ''Hellboy 3'', despite not having communicated with Mignola or connected with a studio.<ref name="ew">{{cite magazine |last1=Vary |first1=Adam |title='Hellboy 3'? Guillermo del Toro and Ron Perlman say they're both game -- EXCLUSIVE |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/07/14/hellboy-3-guillermo-del-toro-ron-perlman/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |publisher=Entertainment Weekly Inc. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714230612/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/07/14/hellboy-3-guillermo-del-toro-ron-perlman/ |archive-date=July 14, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On April 5, 2013, in an interview with ''[[Comic Book Resources]]'', Hellboy creator [[Mike Mignola]] remarked that a third ''Hellboy'' film was unlikely to emerge, joking that he found himself "explaining endlessly ... that there's no ''Hellboy 3'' movie".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/mignola-explores-hellboy-in-hells-new-world/ |title=Mignola Explores "Hellboy In Hell's" New World |first=Kiel |last=Phegley |date=April 5, 2013 |website=Comic Book Resources |access-date=March 27, 2015 |archive-date=March 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319091253/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=44751 |url-status=live }}</ref> Mignola also vetoed the idea of telling the story of ''Hellboy 3'' in comic book form, out of a desire to keep the comic and film versions of ''Hellboy'' separate.<ref name="colliderunlikely">{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/hellboy-3-news-guillermo-del-toro/|title=Guillermo del Toro Says It's "Very Unlikely" HELLBOY 3 Will Happen; Talks Difficulty of Getting the Sequel Off the Ground|last=Chitwood|first=Adam|work=collider.com|date=July 8, 2013|access-date=July 8, 2013|archive-date=July 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130710225239/http://collider.com/hellboy-3-news-guillermo-del-toro/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The budget and scale of a potential threequel was often mentioned as an obstacle to its production. Del Toro indicated that the movie would need "about $150 million" – nearly double the $85 million budget of ''The Golden Army'' – to render its apocalyptic scale of Hellboy becoming [[The Beast (Revelation)|the beast of the Apocalypse]].<ref name="colliderunlikely"/><ref name="GDTama"/> Perlman similarly opined that "''[Hellboy 3]'' needs to be twice as big as ''Hellboy 1'' or ''Hellboy 2''."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/106058-ron-perlman-thinks-hellboy-3-is-epic-could-kill-him |title=Ron Perlman Thinks Hellboy 3 is Epic, Could Kill Him |website=ComingSoon.net |date=July 1, 2013 |access-date=May 28, 2015 |archive-date=January 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116033646/http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/106058-ron-perlman-thinks-hellboy-3-is-epic-could-kill-him |url-status=live }}</ref> Del Toro reiterated these issues in a 2014 [[Reddit]] AMA, admitting that "we don't have that movie on the horizon."<ref name="GDTama">{{cite web |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2agklw/i_am_guillermo_del_toro_director_writer_producer/ciuvi56 |title=GuillermoDelToroHere comments on I am Guillermo del Toro, director, writer, producer. AMA |publisher=Reddit.com |date=July 11, 2014 |access-date=January 17, 2017 |archive-date=May 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525050751/http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2agklw/i_am_guillermo_del_toro_director_writer_producer/ciuvi56 |url-status=live }}</ref> He explained that the first two ''Hellboy'' movies underperformed in theaters but made more money on [[home video]] rentals and sales, and that as that profit stream was declining with the rise of [[Streaming television|streaming]] studios had become wary of financing a project like ''Hellboy 3''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2agklw/i_am_guillermo_del_toro_director_writer_producer/ciuxkc0 |title=GuillermoDelToroHere comments on I am Guillermo del Toro, director, writer, producer. AMA |publisher=Reddit.com |date=July 11, 2014 |access-date=January 17, 2017 |archive-date=April 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409000512/https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2agklw/i_am_guillermo_del_toro_director_writer_producer/ciuxkc0 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Attempts were made to produce ''Hellboy 3'' for [[Legendary Pictures]], particularly in the wake of del Toro's production of ''Pacific Rim'' with the company. Legendary founder and then-CEO/chairman [[Thomas Tull]] had expressed a desire to "see ''Hellboy 3''" in 2013, leading del Toro to reach out him to resolve the series.<ref name="cslegendary">{{cite web |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/106004-could-hellboy-3-find-a-home-at-legendary |title=Could Hellboy 3 Find a Home at Legendary? |first=Edward |last=Douglas |date=June 30, 2013 |website=ComingSoon.net |access-date=May 28, 2015 |archive-date=August 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823190035/https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/106004-could-hellboy-3-find-a-home-at-legendary |url-status=live }}</ref> The production company indicated potential for funding ''Hellboy 3'' if [[Pacific Rim Uprising|the sequel to ''Pacific Rim'']] (initially planned to be written and directed by del Toro) performed well at the box office;<ref>{{cite web |last=Yamato |first=Jen |date=July 14, 2015 |title=Guillermo del Toro on the Drug War: 'Every Time Somebody Uses Drugs, It's Like Having a Gun' |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/07/14/guillermo-del-toro-on-the-drug-war-every-time-somebody-uses-drugs-it-s-like-having-a-gun.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123135515/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/07/14/guillermo-del-toro-on-the-drug-war-every-time-somebody-uses-drugs-it-s-like-having-a-gun.html |archive-date=January 23, 2017 |access-date=January 17, 2017 |website=The Daily Beast}}</ref> though as del Toro was replaced in both directorial and writing roles while ''Pacific Rim Uprising'' was still in pre-production,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fleming |first1=Mike, Jr. |title='Spartacus' Creator Steven S. DeKnight To Direct 'Pacific Rim 2' |url=https://deadline.com/2016/02/pacific-rim-2-directed-by-steven-deknight-spartacus-creator-legendary-pictures-guillermo-del-toro-1201708221/ |website=Deadline |date=24 February 2016}}</ref> this deal presumably fell through.

In February 2017, del Toro announced via Twitter that, after meeting with all parties, ''Hellboy 3'' "100% [...] will not happen", emphasizing that this would be his final word on the project.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=RealGDT | first=Guillermo | last=del Toro |number=834057572550324227 | date=February 21, 2017 | title=Hellboy 3 Sorry to report: Spoke w all parties. Must report that 100% the sequel will not happen. And that is to be the final thing about it | access-date=February 21, 2017}}</ref>

Perlman remained enthusiastic about and committed to the project over the years,<ref name="ew"/><ref name="cslegendary"/> even after del Toro's final statement and the release of the reboot,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/talkeasypod/episode-144-ron-perlman|title=Episode 144 - Ron Perlman|access-date=December 7, 2019|archive-date=April 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405091656/https://soundcloud.com/talkeasypod/episode-144-ron-perlman|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Moore |first=Sam |date=January 27, 2022 |title=Ron Perlman: 'Am I eager to do Hellboy 3? No, I'm 71 f***ing years old – but we owe this to the fans' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/ron-perlman-interview-dont-look-up-nightmare-alley-b2000962.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127063216/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/ron-perlman-interview-dont-look-up-nightmare-alley-b2000962.html |archive-date=January 27, 2022 |access-date=January 27, 2022 |website=Independent}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Reynolds |first=Maca |date=September 1, 2023 |title=Hellboy 3: Ron Perlman Wants to Return & Complete the Trilogy |url=https://movieweb.com/hellboy-3-ron-perlman-return |access-date=December 5, 2023 |website=movieweb.com}}</ref> going as far as turning down an appearance in a ''Hellboy'' project that would not involve del Toro.<ref name="nerdistreboot"/> In 2024, twenty years after the first ''Hellboy'' movie, Perlman admitted that he'd "finally gotten to the point where I realize ''[Hellboy 3]'' is just never going to happen."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jacobs |first1=Eammon |title=Ron Perlman has made peace with the death of 'Hellboy 3': 'It's just never going to happen' |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ron-perlman-movies-tv-shows-hellboy-sons-of-anarchy-mr-mrs-smith-2024-3 |website=Business Insider|date=9 March 2024}}</ref>

====''Hellboy: Silverlance'' spinoff====
In 2010, ''Hellboy'' screenwriter [[Peter Briggs (screenwriter)|Peter Briggs]] was asked by Universal to script a spin-off centering on Prince Nuada, and provisionally agreed that Briggs could direct the film in New Zealand. Briggs began work on an outline with co-writer Aaron Mason. Titled ''Hellboy: Silverlance'', the script was a [[B.P.R.D.]] story featuring Abe Sapien as the main character with Hellboy in a supporting role. Moving into the new B.P.R.D. headquarters in Colorado, Abe is troubled by his psychic connection with Princess Nuala, and begins researching the elves' history. The film would have shown Nuada's adventures throughout history, including his rivalry with a fairy courtier who orchestrates Nuada's exile in hopes of marrying Nuala and seizing control of the fairy kingdom; Nuada first meeting Mister Wink by saving him from a troupe of soldiers during the [[Spanish Inquisition]]; and Nuada in [[Nazi Germany]], engineering a pact to keep various supernatural entities safe during [[World War II]] (with Nuada and [[Karl Ruprect Kroenen|Kroenen]] fighting in a "friendly" match for Project Ragnarok men). Doug Jones would have played both Abe and the Angel of Death, who strikes a bargain with Nuada. [[Rupert Evans]]'s Agent Myers would also have returned. The story climaxed at the new B.P.R.D. headquarters, with the return of [[Grigori Rasputin (Hellboy)|Rasputin]]'s summoning gauntlet. Universal wanted to proceed with the project, but it emerged that del Toro's ''Hellboy 3'' was still a possibility, so ''Silverlance'' was shelved.<ref name="silverlance">{{cite web|url=https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2017/05/original-hellboy-writer-talks-hellboy-silverlance-the-abe-sapien-spin-off-movie-that-never-happened/|title=Original Hellboy writer talks Hellboy: Silverlance, the Abe Sapien spin-off movie that never happened|last=Jones|first=Jordan|publisher=Flickering Myth|date=May 10, 2017|access-date=June 6, 2017|archive-date=August 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823190034/https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2017/05/original-hellboy-writer-talks-hellboy-silverlance-the-abe-sapien-spin-off-movie-that-never-happened/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2015, Briggs received another call from Universal, saying that ''Hellboy 3'' had been cancelled and asking him and Mason to return for a reworked ''Silverlance'', with producer [[Lawrence Gordon (producer)|Lawrence Gordon]] involved. The caveat was that Hellboy could not appear, but the writers managed to get the character a cameo appearance at the climax. If successful, the film would have launched a ''From the Files of the B.P.R.D.'' spin-off series.<ref name="silverlance"/>

In May 2017, Briggs affirmed that, with the announcement of the ''Hellboy'' reboot, the ''Silverlance'' project was dead.<ref name="silverlance"/>

===Reboots===
{{main|Hellboy (2019 film)|Hellboy: The Crooked Man}}

About 2014, Mignola, writer [[Andrew Cosby]], and the producers began work on the story for a new film. The project was initially intended as a sequel to del Toro's films, but Perlman was unwilling to star without del Toro involved. When [[Neil Marshall]] joined, it was decided that the new film would be a [[Reboot (fiction)|reboot]].<ref name="nerdistreboot">{{cite web|url=http://nerdist.com/mike-mignola-hellboy-movie-comics-exclusive-interview/|title=MIKE MIGNOLA TALKS KILLING HELLBOY AND RESURRECTING HIS WORLD (EXCLUSIVE)|last=Knight|first=Rosie|publisher=[[Nerdist News|Nerdist]]|date=July 12, 2017|access-date=July 12, 2017|archive-date=July 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715030856/http://nerdist.com/mike-mignola-hellboy-movie-comics-exclusive-interview/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On May 8, 2017, it was announced that [[Millennium Films]] was in negotiations with producers Larry Gordon and [[Lloyd Levin]] for a film with the working title ''Hellboy: Rise of the Blood Queen'', with Marshall in talks to direct and ''[[Stranger Things]]'' star [[David Harbour]] expected to play Hellboy.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kit|first=Borys|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/hellboy-reboot-works-stranger-things-star-david-harbour-1001462|title='Hellboy' Reboot In the Works With 'Stranger Things' Star David Harbour|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 8, 2017|access-date=May 8, 2017|archive-date=April 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420181334/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/hellboy-reboot-works-stranger-things-star-david-harbour-1001462|url-status=live}}</ref> Hellboy creator Mike Mignola co-wrote the script with Cosby and [[Christopher Golden]].<ref>{{cite web |date=May 8, 2017 |last=Perry |first=Spencer |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/845915-neil-marshall-to-direct-hellboy-reboot-starring-david-harbour |title=Neil Marshall to Direct Hellboy Reboot Starring David Harbour! |publisher=Comingsoon.net |access-date=May 8, 2017 |archive-date=April 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404073700/https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/845915-neil-marshall-to-direct-hellboy-reboot-starring-david-harbour |url-status=live }}</ref> On August 8, 2017, [[Lionsgate Studios|Lionsgate]] confirmed that the project would finally only be known as ''Hellboy''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Brian |date=August 8, 2017 |title=Hellboy Title Confirmed, Will Completely Reboot Original Movie |url=http://movieweb.com/hellboy-reboot-drops-blood-queen-subtitle/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823190051/https://sdk.streamrail.com/cs-config/cs.html?org=646613a092e24f00018d1fd3&tc=64663935dbadca000122cda2&as=64663935dbadca000122cda4&type=hb&wd=cs.yellowblue.io&domain=movieweb.com |archive-date=August 23, 2023 |access-date=August 10, 2017 |website=movieweb.com}}</ref> The film was released on April 12, 2019, to negative reviews and performed poorly at the box office.<ref>{{cite web |last=Clark |first=Travis |date=December 9, 2019 |title=The 16 biggest box-office flops of 2019 |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/biggest-box-office-flops-2019-hellboy-the-beach-bum-tolkien-2019-5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216021330/https://www.businessinsider.com/biggest-box-office-flops-2019-hellboy-the-beach-bum-tolkien-2019-5 |archive-date=February 16, 2020 |access-date=January 22, 2023 |work=[[Business Insider]] |quote=even some superhero movies have crashed and burned this year}}</ref>

In February 2023, Millennium Media announced plans for a new live-action reboot titled ''Hellboy: The Crooked Man'', the first in a planned series of films. [[Brian Taylor (filmmaker)|Brian Taylor]] directed from a script by Mignola and Golden, based on the [[Hellboy: The Crooked Man and Others|2008 comic of the same name]]. The film was co-produced between Nu Boyana and Campbell Grobman Film and is presented by Millennium Media in association with Dark Horse Entertainment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/hellboy-crooked-man-details-plot-production-millennium-efm-1235264086/|title='Hellboy: The Crooked Man' Plot & Production Details Revealed By Millennium; Reboot To Be A "Departure" & First In New Series — EFM|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=February 18, 2023|access-date=February 18, 2023|url-status=live|archive-date=February 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218192047/https://deadline.com/2023/02/hellboy-crooked-man-details-plot-production-millennium-efm-1235264086/}}</ref> The film was released [[video on demand|direct-to-VOD]] in the United States on October 8, 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/movies/news/hellboy-the-crooked-man-us-release-date-revealed-vod/ |title=Hellboy: The Crooked Man US Release Date Revealed |website=Comicbook |first=Nicole |last=Drum |date=September 24, 2024 |access-date=September 25, 2024}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book |first=Robert |last=Greenberger |title=Hellboy II: The Golden Army |others=Novelization of the film |type=Paperback |date=June 15, 2008 |publisher=Dark Horse |isbn=978-1-59307-954-3 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781593079543}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Del Toro |first1=Guillermo |author-link1=Guillermo del Toro |last2=Mignola |first2=Mike |author-link2=Mike Mignola |last3=Sandoval |first3=Sergio |last4=Velasco |first4=Francisco Ruis |title=Hellboy II: The Art of the Movie |type=Paperback |date=June 6, 2008 |publisher=Dark Horse |isbn=978-1-59307-964-2}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Del Toro |first1=Guillermo |last2=Mignola |first2=Mike |last3=Sandoval |first3=Sergio |last4=Velasco |first4=Francisco Ruis |title=The Monsters of Hellboy II |type=Paperback |date=December 29, 2008 |publisher=Dark Horse |isbn=978-1-59307-965-9}}

==External links==

* {{Official website|https://www.uphe.com/movies/hellboy-ii-the-golden-army}}
* {{IMDb title|0411477}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|hellboy_2_the_golden_army}}
* {{Mojo title|hellboy2}}
* {{Metacritic film}}
* [http://www.extrageographic.org/magazine/arts/2008/080821_hellboy_two_look_photos.html From mind to movie - how the world of Hellboy II was created - Extrageographic] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816153043/http://www.extrageographic.org/magazine/arts/2008/080821_hellboy_two_look_photos.html |date=August 16, 2009 }}

{{Hellboy}}
{{Dark Horse Comics films}}
{{Guillermo del Toro}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Horror Film 1991–2010}}


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{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Hellboy II: The Golden Army|access_date=2026-03-03}}