Recasting Clive Barker's Hellraiser In 2021 | Screen Rant
Hellraiser is a staple of '80s horror, but with the franchise returning to Clive Barker's hands, what would the movie look like with a 2021 recast?
In 2021, Hellraiser is finally returning to the hands of its creator with a reboot on the way, which has fans wondering who might be playing the familiar characters as Clive Barker's story is recast. Both written and directed by Barker, Hellraiser is closely based on his novella, The Hellbound Heart, and centers around four characters within a family.
Essentially a family drama film injected with dark romance and horror, the main story of Hellraiser focuses on Julia, a woman obsessed with her husband’s brother, and the dynamics between her, her husband Larry, and her stepdaughter, Kirsty. Soon, it becomes clear that Julia will have an opportunity to reunite with Frank, if she’s willing to go the distance.
Outside of the family, there are also the movie's iconic villains, the cenobites, who appear as sadomasochistic demons in bondage gear to carry away anyone who summons them using the mysterious Lament Configuration puzzle box. The interplay between these demons and the family make up the larger story of Hellraiser. That said, in such a character-driven film, how would Hellraiser ideally be recast in 2021?
Larry Cotton is the lovable patriarch of the family, Julia’s husband and Kirsty’s father. He is also the older, more hardworking, and straight-laced brother of Frank. Ideally, whoever plays Larry will be likable enough that the audience wants to root for him, making it that much more tragic when he’s killed by Frank and Julia later in the film, and will be believable as an average dad figure.
Larry was originally played by Andrew Robinson, who is most well-known for his portrayal of the serial killer Scorpio in Dirty Harry, but switched gears to play the suburban dad, Larry, in Hellraiser. Coming from the opposite background, Jordan Peele is a great choice for Larry, and not only because he’s clearly very charming and engaging on screen, as evidenced by his background in comedy. In fact, Peele’s recent step into the directing chair with his highly-acclaimed additions to the horror genre, Get Out and Us, clearly show both his versatility as an industry professional and his love for horror, both of which would be a welcome addition to a Hellraiser reboot.
Frank Cotton is the dark, wild, and deviant younger brother of Larry, who seduces Julia on her wedding night and is then seduced by the dark mystery of the Lament Configuration. This leads to his summoning and subsequent capture by the cenobites. Despite the cenobites’ otherworldly horror, Frank is actually the true villain of Hellraiser, so it’s important that he be able to be both seductively handsome and deeply menacing.
Frank Cotton was played by three different actors in the original Hellraiser due to the different makeup effects applied to him throughout the movie, but for his human scenes, Frank is played by English actor Sean Chapman, who primarily worked in television and theatre. Michael B. Jordan, fresh off of having been crowned People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2020, definitely has both the looks and acting chops needed to carry the role. Thanks to his work as Erik Killmonger in Black Panther, it’s also clear that he has the ability to play an incredibly convincing villain, and likely could bring that same magnetism to a Hellraiser reboot.
Kirsty Cotton is the young adult protagonist of Hellraiser, serving as the curious observer who eventually uncovers the horrible secret of what Julia and Frank are up to behind her father’s back. Kirsty is strong, independent, and doing her best to be a good daughter to both her father and her stepmother. As far as the character is concerned, Kirsty needs to be played by someone who can capture the audience’s attention and keep them engaged as she uncovers the sinister truth about Frank and the cenobites.
Kirsty was originally played by Ashley Lawrence, who got her start as an actress in Hellraiser, and subsequently returned as Kirsty Cotton throughout the rest of the franchise. Taissa Farmiga is the perfect choice for Kirsty because she also embodies the very independent, down-to-earth, and quietly strong energy that Lawrence brought to the role, as evidenced by her work in the popular horror anthology series, American Horror Story.
Julia Cotton is the second antagonist of Hellraiser, whose lust and obsession with Frank drives her to kill for him. She’s characterized by a cold, stoically disconnected personality combined with a captivating beauty. Julia has little interest or love for either her husband or her stepdaughter, but becomes wholly consumed by her desire for Larry’s brother, Frank, and will do anything she has to do to be with him again — even seducing and killing a string of men in order to feed Frank their blood so he can grow his body back.
Originally, Julia was played by Clare Higgens, an English actress who is a six-time Olivier Award nominee for her work in the theatre, but whose filmography basically began with Hellraiser. Most well-known for her work as Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones, Lena Headey is the perfect choice for the role of Julia Cotton because of her ability to totally embody the coldly evil, yet beautiful persona that is so indicative of Julia's character.
Arguably the most iconic face of the Hellraiser franchise - despite the cenobites playing a very small role in the movie’s story - is Pinhead, or the Lead Cenobite. Pinhead is characterized mostly by his menacing, otherworldly voice and presence, and also the iconic silhouette he brings to the screen with dozens of nails sticking out of his head.
Originally played by longtime close friend of Clive Barker, Doug Bradley, the character of Pinhead has become almost synonymous with Bradley's name, though the actor has stated multiple times that he thinks it’s time for him to retire. For someone to take over the role, the Lead Cenobite needs to go in a totally new direction with a different look and a different actor’s energy, rather than someone trying to copy Bradley’s character and performance. Additionally, as is more clear in the book, Pinhead and the rest of the cenobites embody a sort of dangerous ambiguous sexuality, which is definitely something that should be brought to the character.
For this, Ezra Miller is a great choice for a modern day take on the Lead Cenobite. He's clearly capable of taking on the mantle of horror villain thanks to his work as the Trashcan Man in 2020's The Stand miniseries and the titular character in We Need to Talk About Kevin. Miller would be a refreshing change for the Pinhead character, and would bring his own energy to the demonic face of Hellraiser.