Universal Pictures announced the start of principal photography on the action/thriller HELLBOY 2: THE GOLDEN ARMY from writer/director Guillermo del Toro and film producers Lawrence Gordon (HELLBOY, LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER), Lloyd Levin (HELLBOY, UNITED 93) and Mike Richardson (HELLBOY, GONE). HELLBOY 2: THE GOLDEN ARMY stars HELLBOY alums Ron Perlman (OUTLANDER, THE MUTANT CHRONICLES), Selma Blair (THE FOG, IN GOOD COMPANY), and Doug Jones (FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER, PAN'S LABRYINTH). The film also features British actor Luke Goss (BLADE II) as the ruthless leader of the underworld, Prince Nuada, and actress Anna Walton (VAMPIRE DIARY) appears Princess Nuala, the caring and compassionate sister.
After an ancient truce existing between humankind and the invisible realm of the fantastic is broken, hell on Earth is ready to erupt. A ruthless leader who treads the world above and the one below defies his bloodline and awakens an unstoppable army of creatures. Now, it's up to the planet's toughest, roughest superhero to battle the merciless dictator and his marauders. He may be red. He may be horned. He may be misunderstood. But when you need the job done right, it's time to call in Hellboy (Ron Perlman). Along with his expanding team in the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Development -- pyrokinetic girlfriend Liz (Selma Blair), aquatic empath Abe (Doug Jones) and protoplasmic mystic Johann -- the BPRD will travel between the surface strata and the unseen magical one, where creatures of fantasy become corporeal. And Hellboy, a creature of two worlds who's accepted by neither, must choose between the life he knows and an unknown destiny that beckons him.
The screenplay for HELLBOY 2: THE GOLDEN ARMY is written by Guillermo del Toro, from a screen story by del Toro and Mike Mignola, based upon the Dark Horse comic created by Mike Mignola and the 2004 motion picture HELLBOY. HELLBOY 2: THE GOLDEN ARMY key crew includes director of photography Guillermo Navarro (PAN'S LABYRINTH, NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM) production designer Steven Scott (HELLBOY, DOOM), costume designer Sammy Sheldon (V FOR VENDETTA, HITCHKIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY) and editor Bernat Vilaplana (PAN'S LABYRINTH). Chris Symes (ERAGON) is the executive producer of the film, with Mike Mignola serving as co-producer.
HELLBOY 2: THE GOLDEN ARMY will film in both Budapest and the United Kingdom, with post-production based in London. The lead vfx house will be Double Negative. HELLBOY 2: THE GOLDEN ARMY is scheduled for release August 1, 2008.
