The long-held fan dream of a third installment in Guillermo del Toro’s Hellboy saga remains a frequent topic of discussion, but new details from franchise veteran Doug Jones have shed light on the specific project that almost kept that universe alive. Before the series was rebooted in 2019, a spinoff titled Silverlance: From the Files of the B.P.R.D. was in active development, promising a deeper dive into the supernatural Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense.
The project, which was developed at Universal between 2010 and 2016, would have shifted the spotlight away from Hellboy to focus on Abe Sapien. Jones, who portrayed the aquatic empath in both original films, recently confirmed that the spinoff was designed to bring back Prince Nuada (Luke Goss) as a central character. In a unique technical challenge, Jones was slated to reprise dual roles, playing both Abe Sapien and the haunting Angel of Death.
The Abe Sapien solo project was ultimately shelved following the announcement of the 2017 reboot, which sought to start the franchise fresh with a new cast. This cancellation effectively ended the narrative thread established in 2008’s Hellboy II: The Golden Army. While that sequel was a critical and cult favorite, its failure to reach “Marvel money” box office heights is often cited as the primary reason a direct Hellboy 3 was never greenlit by the studio.
The “Oldest Superhero Team” Revival Chances
Despite the nearly 20-year gap since the release of The Golden Army, the original cast remains vocal about their desire to return. Jones recently remarked that the core group, along with Guillermo del Toro, feels they “owe it to the fans” to finish the trilogy. However, he acknowledged the logistical reality of their ages, joking that a reunion now would feature the “oldest superhero team in history.”
This sentiment was echoed by the “Big Red” himself. In October 2026, Ron Perlman remains open to the role, stating he would still suit up to play Hellboy at age 86 if Del Toro made the call. Perlman, now 76, has consistently maintained that he has no “expiration date” for the character, though the physical demands of the heavy prosthetics remain a significant hurdle for a cast now in their mid-70s.
The franchise has struggled to find its footing without the original creative team. Since the 2008 film, the property has undergone two separate reboots: the 2019 film starring David Harbour and 2024’s Hellboy: The Crooked Man. Neither entry managed to capture the same cultural footprint or audience loyalty as the Del Toro era.
While the Silverlance scripts and the third film’s storyboards continue to collect dust, the persistent enthusiasm from Jones and Perlman keeps the conversation alive. For now, the “Silverlance Files” serve as a reminder of a period when the B.P.R.D. was nearly ready to expand its cinematic universe before the industry shifted toward full-scale reboots.
