At the Berlin International Film Festival, Millennium Films President Jonathan Yunger revealed that artificial intelligence was utilized in the redesign of a creature in the upcoming “Hellboy: The Crooked Man.” The film, the third reboot of Mike Mignola’s character, remains in production.
“I generated a staggering 3000 creature designs within an hour,” Yunger disclosed. “This abundance empowers me to meticulously select and refine them before finalizing the designs for visual effects.”
Brian Taylor, director and co-writer of _The Crooked Man_, clarified on social media that Yunger’s comments about AI were referring to a different Millennium project. Taylor emphasized that _The Crooked Man_ features practical special effects, resulting in exceptional visuals of Hellboy.
to be clear: there is exactly *ZERO* AI used on hellboy: the crooked man. both characters – hellboy and the crooked man – were created and shot 100% gloriously practical, as the movie gods intended, with no cgi enhancement… and look AMAZING. @artofmmignola
— Brian Taylor (@theunrealBT) May 1, 2024
he was misquoted, my man. the comment was referring to a different film, THE OFFERING. rest assured there is zero AI used on HBTCM and our gloriously practical hellboy looks phenomenal. probably the article was written by AI…
— Brian Taylor (@theunrealBT) May 1, 2024
AI art and imagery have sparked controversy in recent major projects like “Secret Invasion,” “Late Night With the Devil,” and “What Jennifer Did.” Amid concerns about replacing actors and writers with AI, the entertainment industry has grappled with its use. Creator credits and the balance between practical and computer-generated VFX are also key issues in comic book adaptations, raising questions about AI’s involvement.
What Is Hellboy: The Crooked Man About?
In “Hellboy: The Crooked Man,” stranded in 1950s rural Appalachia, Hellboy and a BPRD agent uncover a community haunted by witches led by the Crooked Man, a local devil with a connection to Hellboy’s past. The film stars Jack Kesy, alongside Jefferson White, Adeline Rudolph, and more. Produced by Millennium Films and distributed by Ketchup Entertainment, the screenplay is co-written by Taylor, Mignola, and Christopher Golden.
“Our lengthy search for the ideal Hellboy led us to the understanding that this portrayal would be somber and unsettling,” producer Les Weldon remarked on their casting decision to Collider. “We aimed for authenticity without any embellishments. Having collaborated with Jack in the past, we recognized that his unique personality would seamlessly align with the movie’s tone.”
The release of *Hellboy: The Crooked Man* is anticipated in the latter part of the year.