Fans have been clamoring for a third entry in the Hellboy series, as has director Guillermo del Toro (Crimson Peak). At last year’s San Diego Comic-Con, Del Toro said in a panel discussion that while he would love to make the film, but it would require at least $120 million, which no studio has been willing to provide.
Legendary Pictures has reportedly agreed to fund the third film in the franchise, if del Toro’s other movie under their banner, Pacific Rim 2, is a financial smash. That could be a bit of a tall order, as the first film failed reach blockbuster expectations, at least domestically. However, the film did very well in foreign markets. Pacific Rim’s cult status and growing fan base is largely thanks to a big cable and video presence. While Hellboy and Hellboy 2 were successful, they didn’t earn the numbers of their comic book-brethren like The Dark Knight or Iron Man. It also wouldn’t hurt if del Toro’s upcoming horror film, Crimson Peak, gets a large audience.
Along with Pacific Rim 2, Del Toro is currently working on a darker, animated retelling of the classic story Pinocchio. Pacific Rim 2 is set to be released August 4, 2017.