Why Hellboy Failed

6. A Clash Of Creatives

One of the biggest issues, as is often the case with big superhero movies like this, was trouble behind the scenes. Thanks to an exclusive investigation into the film’s production from The Wrap, we know that shooting the picture was just as hellish as the visuals audiences eventually got on screen.

A major cause of friction seems to have been the war for creative control that was going on behind the camera. Although Neil Marshall was there as the director all the way through shooting, he wasn’t the only one calling the shots, and he allegedly butted heads with producers Lawrence Gordon and Lloyd Levin at every stage.

According to unnamed inside sources, Levin would interrupt Marshall’s rehearsals with the actors, undermining his direction and even giving the performers different orders, essentially resulting in a bunch of wildly different characterisations.

The conflict between the director and the producers eventually became so toxic that, according to The Wrap’s report, it culminated in the producers having Marshall’s longtime collaborator and cinematographer, Sam McCurdy, fired. Though unconfirmed, those close to the set said the sacking was a power play to let the director know he wasn’t in charge.