We get news right out of left field this morning regarding Hellboy 2. It appears Seth MacFarlane (the voice actor and creator of Family Guy) has been tapped to voice the plasma-in-suit being known as Johann Kraus. We get the following news thanks to our friends at firstshowing:
The first good announcement from the New York Comic Con comes from the Hellboy II: The Golden Army panel this fine Saturday afternoon. Guillermo del Toro and cast made an appearance and brought with them an extended three-minute sizzle reel which featured the mystic Johann Kraus (pictured on the left above) actually speaking. Following the clip, Guillermo announced that instead of the inital actor they had tested, they ended up going with Seth MacFarlane as the voice! I will be the first to say this is surprising to hear, but in the sizzle reel it didn’t sound too odd. If anything, this is probably a great choice.
This seems like an odd choice, and I am concerned on some levels that Johann Kraus will sound like baby Stewie. Seth is a talented voice actor however, and if Guillermo was pleased with his performance and comfortable with him in the role – then I will give the casting the benefit of the doubt. I am pleased when voice actors get chosen to showcase their craft, and this is certainly of of the coolest gigs this year for someone in the field.
Johann Kraus is a character that I cannot wait to see on the silver screen. A few of the international friends were nice enough to let me in on his back story; and it increased my already high interest in the character ten fold. A living gelatinous mass, Krauss is kept together by the kick ass suit that resembles an old diving outfit!
I will be furious if Seth MacFarlane is a horrible match for the character, but I trust in Guillermo and the positive report made available by firstshowing puts my doubt to rest.
