A new Hellraiser movie, Hellraiser: Judgment, was confirmed recently by both director Gary Tunnicliffe and actress Heather Langenkamp. Incidentally, the confirmation came through an unlikely series of events as Langenkamp, of A Nightmare On Elm St. fame, revealed she was starring before the project was made public. Fangoria then obtained a statement from Tunnicliffe that made it official.
That much isn’t the odd news, though. Former Pinhead actor Doug Bradley took to Facebook to make it public that he would not be involved. In the post, Bradley says that he was contacted before Christmas to read the script and play the part of the horror icon for the film. He declined, not because he didn’t want to but because he was sent a particularly disconcerting NDA with the script. So, the production is moving forward without him and, as he says it, “that’s everything.”
In the interview with Fangoria, Tunnifcliffe responded to Bradley‘s post, confirming his story before describing his replacement. “[Doug Bradley‘s replacement is] A classically trained stage and film actor,” describes Tunnicliffe. “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!”
The film, which failed in crowdfunding in 2013, has been in various states of production since with this being the first time something concrete has come to light. Like most horror series, Hellraiser‘s later instalments are generally poorly regarded. Aware of this, Tunnicliffe tried to reassure fans that there’s no rushing or recycling going on with this material. “I know we can NEVER make a film as great as the first two Hellraisers, I wouldn’t even attempt to do so,” He added. “But I think we have a fun script here 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… oh and of course if you want blood?… well you’ve got it!”
