There’s a movie reboot of horror classic Hellraiser on the way courtesy of streamer Hulu. Yesterday, it and production company Spyglass Media Group announced the casting of actress Jamie Clayton for the iconic role of Pinhead.
Clayton, 43, is best known for her roles in Sense8 and The L Word: Generation Q, among other shows.
Deadline reports the movie will star Odessa A’zion (Grand Army), along with gay actor Brandon Flynn (13 Reasons Why, Ratched) Goran Visnjic (The Boys, ER) Drew Starkey (Outer Banks, Love, Simon) Adam Faison (Everything’s Gonna Be Okay, Into the Dark), Aoife Hinds (Normal People, Anne Boleyn), Selina Lo (Boss Level) and Hiam Abbass (Blade Runner 2049, Succession).
Related: Gay horror master Clive Barker wants to make a transgender version of ‘The Mummy’
It was also announced that Hellraiser author, the gay horror writer Clive Barker, has come on board as a producer. Spyglass has previously called the new movie a “loyal, yet evolved reimagining” of the 1987 original.
Director David Bruckner said in a statement: “It’s been such an honor to have Clive on board to help support and shepherd us through the incredible universe he created so long ago. Combined with a fearless and committed cast, including the amazing Jamie Clayton, who fully embodies the role as the Hell Priest, we’re aiming to create a very special new chapter in the Hellraiser legacy.”
Clayton has been a vocal advocate for more inclusive casting for trans actors. In 2019, promoting her role in the HBO Max docuseries Equal, she told Gay Times, “The only difference between a trans character and a cis character is that cis characters aren’t bogged down in language and dialogue about their gender identity. So in actuality, on any show that you love, any character could be trans if you want them to be.”
Related: ‘Sense8’ actress Jamie Clayton on the finale, the Matt Bomer flap & casting trans roles
She took to Twitter and Instagram to spread the news of her Pinhead casting, brandishing the Hellraiser puzzle box that is used to summon the demons in the story.
Demons to some. Angels to others. @hulu #Hellraiser https://t.co/Tvhuo7P7Vn pic.twitter.com/Fj228ZPugt
— Jamie Clayton (@MsJamieClayton) October 7, 2021
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jayceecook
Good for her. I liked her on Sense8. Her acting wasn’t the best but I enjoyed her character. Hopefully she’s improved over the years. Haven’t seen her in anything else. The original films terrified me as a very little kid.
BoomerMyles
Why mess with a classic?
jayceecook
Clive Barker has been wanting to reboot or revive the franchise for years. I’m glad he’s now on board. It was going to happen some day. Just a matter of time.
bobbyjoe
It’s kind of a relief to see this— I’ve always been a big Clive Barker fan, but his latest (and supposedly last) Hellraiser novel “The Scarlet Gospels” has a key character that made me wonder if Barker had jumped aboard the JK Rowling TERF train. The character was a trans person who was portrayed in the worst, stereotypical villainized way, and even the hero of the novel deliberately misgendered her. It’s good to see Barker supporting trans people in real life, hopefully a sign that he doesn’t really buy into the bigoted nonsense.
jayceecook
Which “key” character? The only one I can think of is the character who was asked to help heal Harry. That was a very minor character if I recall correctly.
ShiningSex
Some things should be left alone.
That being said, more transpeople need bigger roles, but seems misplaced here.
ShiningSex
I love my transgender brothers and sisters, but as a hardcore horror fan, this news is not welcoming.
I think it would be great to have cast her in a major role but not as Pinhead. Some things don’t need “an update”. Some things should be left alone.
It is important to give more major roles to LGBT folks.
jayceecook
The Hell Priest is described as feminine in the novella. Most cenobites are completely androgynous. Kirsty becomes the new Pin Head in the canon comics. What about her casting is “not welcoming”?