Over the years, there have been a few horror franchises that have found a way to continue and evolve with decades’ worth of movies centered around key players. This is the case with the Hellraiser series, which has been around for nearly 35 years and is one of the more beloved entries among fans after bringing ten movies since 1987.
Initially starting out as a low-budget horror flick from acclaimed author Clive Barker, the film series has expanded into graphic novels and books that follow the adventures of Pinhead and his clan of Cenobites. This all leads to the current iteration of the series, which is coming in the form of a rebooted TV series set to arrive on HBO Max, although likely not until 2022 at the earliest.
The series is set to explore the backstory of the Cenobites, and even more excitingly, Clive Barker will be returning to the franchise as the show’s executive editor. Mark Verheiden (Battlestar: Galactica, Daredevil) and Michael Dougherty (X-Men United, Godzilla: King of the Monsters) will be penning the script while David Gordon Green (Halloween) will serve as the director of the pilot and several episodes to follow.
New Hellraiser Details
While there are no specific plot details known yet for this series, casting is in its early stages at the moment. We at The Illuminerdi are fortunate enough to share an update on that casting venture, one which should make for an interesting change for this next adventure.
Our sources have revealed that the Priest/Pinhead role is going through a gender-swap for the Hellraiser series on HBO Max. The description calls for a woman who is graceful, ethereal, commanding, and regal, and there was interest in one point in Elizabeth Debicki.
While the main antagonistic role from the Hellraiser movies has typically been depicted as male, this should add a new dynamic for the face of the franchise. It will be interesting to find out how much different the character will look, although it’s assumed that the classic pins will still be stuck all over the character’s head.
Even though it seems that Elizabeth Debicki won’t be playing the role herself at the moment, she gives a solid base to what fans should expect to see from the character.
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Debicki is most famous for bringing the role of Ayesha to life in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, delivering the same regal and intimidating performance that should be expected from the Pinhead villain. Also recently appeared in the critically acclaimed Tenet from director Christopher Nolan, and there is a chance she could return to the MCU as Ayesha for 2023’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 as well.
No matter who is cast in this role, the Hellraiser series appears to be taking a chance and going in a new direction with a female villain. This will be an intriguing development to follow, especially as casting for the show continues, and it should be exciting for fans to see a new take on this classic franchise.
We hope to update you with more information on the Hellraiser series when it becomes available! What do you think of the new details? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below or over on our social media!
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