Hellboy might not be an incredibly mainstream character, but he's still one of the biggest and most successful independent comic book superheroes out there. This has seen him receive several adaptations, most notably three different live-action theatrical movies. The first of these three films were better than the last, but none of them truly cut to the core of the character.
Hellboy and the characters involved with Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (B.R.P.D.) are better suited for long-form storytelling, namely television. Whether it be live-action or animated, a Hellboy TV series is the perfect way to bring the character to life without having to cut corners. Here's why this particular medium might be what's needed to avoid the issues of the previous film adaptations.
None of the Hellboy Movies Truly Did the Character Justice
The Hellboy films from director Guilermo del Toro were well-received by fans of the comics, newcomers and even the critics. Offering a bit of an alternative to the many Marvel and DC heroes dotting superhero movies at the time, the films were also different due to their embracing supernatural horror and fantasy. Sadly, they weren't perfect adaptations, with elements of certain characters changed around in order to fit the tone the director was going for. This was a decidedly more humorous scope than fans were used to, with many of the more terrifying horror elements downplayed. The result was a duo of movies that, while liked, were essentially "Hollywood" versions of their source material.
Conversely, the 2019 Hellboy adaptation was despised across the board, namely due to how poorly done its storytelling and pacing were. This reboot was touted initially as being a more faithful adaptation of creator Mike Mignola's work, but it turned out to be more "jokey" and watered down than del Toro's movies, despite being R-rated. One huge criticism was that so many of the comics' storylines were crammed into the movie, with the plot ending up muddled and rushed. For instance, the crux of its plot was based on what's chronologically one of the last Hellboy stories. That was only one of the movie's several issues, but it speaks to the biggest problem in trying to turn Mignola's comics into a movie series.
Hellboy's Mythology Would Work Better In a TV Series - Live-Action or Animated
The various Hellboy comics are not only more artistic than many mainstream comic books, but also a bit more "literary." This, when combined with their gothic horror feel makes them an odd choice in terms of being adapted into a traditional blockbuster superhero flick. A better way to handle the material would be to turn Hellboy into a TV series, starting from the beginning of his story and working through to the end via different seasons. By doing so, the story, concepts and characters would all have room to breathe, and there wouldn't be as much of a need to water things down to force them into a roughly two-hour format.
Given the rise of prestige television -- especially in the fantasy and horror categories -- a Hellboy live-action series wouldn't be as out of the question as it might have been years ago. Game of Thrones in particular has opened doors in that regard, with supernatural shows featuring high budgets and production values being the norm among streaming services especially. Netflix's The Witcher series is another great example of Hellboy's potential, as the show could spin off into tie-in shows such as B.R.P.D. and other adaptations of characters in the Mignolaverse. There would obviously need to be a sizable budget, but a judicious use of practical and computer-generated special effects would ensure that things look both convincing and appropriately creepy.
Likewise, an animated series might be the best bet to not worry about budget, and the project could even bring Ron Perlman back to the role of Hellboy. There were already two animated Hellboy films that were perfect representations of the comics, and they felt like story arcs from an animated series that never existed. Of course, there seems to be a culling of animation in the West, but given that the comic book adaptation craze likely won't end anytime soon, this is the best chance that Hellboy has at truly reaching mainstream audiences.