TV Tattler: Celebrity Interviews
Ron Perlman Brings Big Red Hero 'Hellboy' to Small Screen
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Oct. 26 -- It's been two excruciating years since 'Hellboy' first stormed the multiplex. But that big, lovable demon is charging back into the spotlight, and actor Ron Perlman couldn't be more stoked.
Perlman, who made the ladies swoon at the sight of his gigantic red biceps and trimmed down horns in the live action flick, is proud to lend his voice to that mythic marshmallow of a demon in a new animated feature, Hellboy: Sword of Storms on the Cartoon Network. And that's just the beginning of the 'Hellboy' revival.
In an exclusive interview, Perlman dished with AOL Television editor Sandy Deane about a weekly animated series, the live action sequel 'Hellboy 2,' Selma Blair's distinctly masculine sense of humor and the possibility of seeing his classic TV series 'Beauty and the Beast' on DVD.
What was the impetus for 'Hellboy' creator Mike Mignola to bring his comic vision to the small screen in animated form?
There was a strong interest from a number of animation marketers like the Cartoon Network, which I think is actually looking into turning this into a Saturday morning series. There was always interest from the get-go in terms of getting a lot more to the younger audience of 'Hellboy' ... and Mike was very hands on in retooling the character and aiming at an audience that might have really enjoyed the 'Hellboy' film but might not have seen it.
Can you describe the progression of 'Hellboy' from comic to movie to animated feature?
Mignola was very hands on in the writing of the [movie] script with [director] Guillermo (Del Toro) and also very hands on in creating the physical world of 'Hellboy' the film; he designed a lot of the sets, a lot of the props. There was a real follow through between his original invention of 'Hellboy' in the comic books and the realization of 'Hellboy' onto the screen. Once again, the same players are involved in the animated version. I think that these guys saw the opportunity to utilize the lack of parameters and expand the world into a multitude of worlds.
This is a character and a group of creative people that I absolutely love. And I just love being associated with the character. He's mythic in scope; it's almost like playing a Greek god. It's sort of harkens back to where I started. I have a Master's Degree in theater, and one of the enduring pleasures of my education was ... anything epic that happened in the course of theatrical literature. And here's a guy who occupies a space as heady and otherworldly as anything you can read in any literature. So he's a pleasure to play.
Why do you think 'Hellboy' is so popular, yet still remains a bit fringe?
Well, it got a great response when it burst onto the scene and I mean ?burst? because even for a comic book it had a tiny little readership. I think there were about 6,000 people worldwide who were even aware of 'Hellboy' the comic. There was a question of branding him, of introducing this character and this concept to the world basically from scratch. I think it's the heart of the character that resonates most with the audience. He's a really low-tech guy, he's basically an underachiever, pretty lazy. He'd rather stay home and eat pizza and live in this bachelor pad that's just a bunch of dirty socks and old pizza boxes and eight television screens watching 'Felix the Cat' cartoons. He's as blue-collar a hero as you're gonna find. With all of the powers and all of the strengths, he's kind of a marshmallow inside, especially anything regarding Liz Sherman, who is the object of his affection and love. He's a softy ? with the biggest biceps you've ever seen.
Do you and 'Hellboy' share any traits?
I would sound immodest if I was ever to put me and 'Hellboy' in the same company. Let me just say I understand the guy. Guillermo set the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Development in New Jersey and I grew up in New York. There's a cynicism to his humor that is so East coast, and I completely understand this guy. These are my rhythms.
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