Gary Tunnicliffe Talks Hellraiser: Judgment; Pinhead Will Return

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Let’s recap what we know so far. Dimension Films has hired makeup effects artist Gary Tunnicliffe to direct the next installment in the Hellraiser franchise, and Doug Bradley won’t be returning to play Pinhead. The good news? A Nightmare on Elm Street‘s Heather Langenkamp is on board. Get it? Got it? Good. Let’s learn more.

In an interview with Fangoria, Tunnicliffe – who has been the franchise’s longtime makeup artist – revealed that the film will be titled Hellraiser: Judgment, and he promised that this isn’t another rushed sequel conjured up by Dimension as a way of holding on to the rights of the series. He also revealed that even without Doug Bradley, Pinhead will be back.

This is not a simple recycling of the Hellraiser formula,” Tunnicliffe told the site. “This is a film that will boast some of the strangest, most bizarre, horrific and thought-provoking sequences ever seen in a horror film – a horror film that owes its inspiration to the works of Heironymous Bosch and Francis Bacon as well as Cronenberg, Fincher,  and Lynch as well as, obviously and foremost, Clive Barker. I have to thank Bob Weinstein, Matthew Signer, Stu Arbury, Scoop Wasserstein, and the rest of the team at Dimension for helping me and for being brave enough to let me do what I want to do… which is to simply create a horror film that flat out horrifies.”

Related Story: Doug Bradley Talks New Hellraiser Film

To the fans, I would say this… I know you’ve been let down, and trust me, I have too, but simply give me a chance,” he continued. “I know we can NEVER make a film as great as the first two Hellraisers; I wouldn’t even attempt to do so, but I think we have a fun script here and an opportunity with an amazing cast and crew to give you all something that feels a little familiar, a little different, completely terrifying, and is a worthy part of the Hellraiser canon.

The film isn’t a re-hashing of an old script (as some lesser informed sites are assuming), nor was it rushed into production. It’s a completely original piece, and so far it’s looking pretty amazing… we certainly have some sights to show you.”

So, who will be playing Pinhead? Tunnicliffe didn’t reveal the actor’s name but noted that he’s “a classically trained stage and film actor who brings a great physical presence and more than a hint of Peter Cushing and Ralph Fiennes.”

I can’t wait to get him bound in leather, gridded up, and in front of the camera and on screens!” he added.

Hellraiser: Judgment is now filming.

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