Dough Bradley was the first actor to ever take on the role of the iconic horror villain Pinhead. Starting with that of the first Hellraiser movie, which came out in 1987, Bradley would go on to play the Cenobite for several films – eventually leaving the series and the role being replaced by other actors.
The latest entry in the film series is that of 2018’s Hellraiser: Judgment (which did not feature Bradley); but, as many horror fans know, we are getting a new Hellraiser movie, and this one is serving as a reboot. The 2022 Hellraiser movie will also feature a female actress playing that of the iconic Pinhead – being that of Jamie Clayton. Many folks have made comments regarding Pinhead being played by a woman – even though the villain’s gender in Clive Barker’s The Hellbound Heart – Pinhead’s initial appearance in media – was left ambiguous.
Doug Bradley has also chimed in himself regarding that of Clayton stepping in for the Pinhead role. As reported by Bloody Disgusting, while at the Silver Scream Con this past weekend, Bradley shared his thoughts regarding Clayton playing that of Pinhead. This is everything he had to say:
“It seemed like [a female Pinhead] was coming. It’s an interesting piece of casting. I don’t know Jamie. Of course, they’ve taken even a little bit of a wrinkle in that, because Jamie is transgender. I’m not familiar with her recent work, but there was a science fiction series on Netflix several years ago called Sense8, which I was quite a fan of. Jamie was in that, and I really, really liked her performance in that.”
“I really can’t say more than that. I do like to point out that I did wear a skirt as Pinhead. It’s an interesting casting decision. Well, that only goes so far. We say ‘female Pinhead’ like we know what that means, but there are a million shades of femininity. Where exactly are they going to go with that? Everything about Hellraiser has always been transgressive. Everything, always, from start to finish. It’s not a new idea in that sense, but I’m intrigued. I’m in the same position as all the rest of you, I guess, to see where that goes.”
These are excellent and insightful points Doug! As hardcore fans of Hellraiser and Clive Barker’s work (as well that of director David Bruckner and Jamie Clayton’s work), we are so excited for this movie! We are also super excited to see what Jamie brings to this role of hers. How excited are you to see this new Hellraiser movie?
Watch: New Hellraiser Movie Gets Release Date + First Look At Actress Jamie Clayton As Pinhead
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