We’ve been stoked for the upcoming Hellboy film for awhile. First we were jazzed that Neil Marshall is directing, then we were really thrilled that Stranger Things star David Harbour was cast as Hellboy, and then we got even more excited when the title Rise of the Blood Queen was announced, alluding to one of the Mike Mignola comics’ best storylines. It’s all been great so far; now we have even more reason for excitement: American Gods and Deadwood badass Ian McShane has been added to the cast, as Hellboy’s mentor/father figure Professor Trevor “Broom” Bruttenholm.
The news comes from The Hollywood Reporter, which added the film will begin shooting in September. (Hey! That’s pretty soon!) McShane is a fantastic choice for any role, with more gravitas that 48 of me put together. McShane will fill the shoes of the late John Hurt who portrayed Broom in the two Guillermo del Toro-directed Hellboy movies. Hurt’s take on the character was very avuncular and kindly as well as being stern, and we could see McShane’s version be a little harder-edged, and maybe with the acerbic wit for which he’s known.
Professor Bruttenholm is a fascinating character in the annals of Hellboy; he’s the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense’s lead scientist and the one who found and raised the baby Hellboy Hellbaby, and many storylines in various comics have flashed back to WWII and forward history of the BPRD. However, the character himself dies in the very first story arc of the first Hellboy comics series; it’s amazing he’s had the kind of longevity he’s enjoyed both in movies and in comics. Seeing as Broom doesn’t feature at all in the “Blood Queen” saga in the source material, it’s a safe bet he’ll be a flashback. …Unless they’re drastically changing the narrative, which, if it gives Ian McShane more screen time, that’s A-OK by us.
Check out our Everything We Know post for Hellboy: Rise of the Blood Queen right here!
What do you think about Ian McShane playing opposite a red and horned David Harbour? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Images: Starz/Dark Horse Comics
Kyle Anderson is the Associate Editor for Nerdist and is deep in the Hellboy universe as we speak. Follow him on Twitter!
