UNIVERSAL PICTURES, LAWRENCE GORDON PRODUCTIONS AND DARK HORSE ENTERTAINMENT BEGIN PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY ON 'HELLBOY 2: THE GOLDEN ARMY,' WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY GUILLERMO DEL TORO

UNIVERSAL PICTURES, LAWRENCE GORDON PRODUCTIONS AND DARK HORSE ENTERTAINMENT BEGIN PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY ON 'HELLBOY 2: THE GOLDEN ARMY,' WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY GUILLERMO DEL TORO

Action-Thriller Reunites Actors Ron Perlman, Selma Blair and Doug Jones For Latest Astonishing Hellboy Adventure

BUDAPEST, Hungary, June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Principal photography has begun 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," "Die Hard"), Lloyd Levin ("Hellboy," "United 93") and Mike Richardson ("Hellboy," "Gone"). The film will be released on August 1, 2008.

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Del Toro, who most recently brought the Oscar(R)-winning elaborate fantasy "Pan's Labyrinth" to the screen returns to helm the second installment, starring "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").

With a signature blend of action, humor and character-based spectacle, the saga of the world's toughest, kitten-loving hero from Hell continues to unfold in "Hellboy 2: The Golden Army." Bigger muscle, badder weapons and more ungodly villains arrive in an epic vision of imagination from del Toro.

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" 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." The first installment, released by Revolution Studios in 2004, earned $100 million at the worldwide box-office and became a cult sensation when released on DVD. The character continues to be a top-seller in publishing and collectibles and has been expanded into best-selling animation and games.

The film also features British actor Luke Goss ("Blade II," "Undead") as the ruthless leader of the underworld, Prince Nuada, and actress Anna Walton (television's "Out of Hours," "Vampire Diary") as his compassionate sister, Princess Nuala.

"Hellboy 2's" behind-the-scenes team includes Oscar(R)-winning 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," "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy") and editor Bernat Vilaplana ("Pan's Labyrinth," "La Monja"). 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.

About Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi.

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Source: Universal Pictures

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