Kim may replace Skrein as Hellboy’s Major Ben Daimio

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Although actor Daniel Dae Kim has over 70 acting credits to his name, he is probably best known to most viewers for playing characters on two different television series filmed in Hawaii: for six seasons Kim played Jin-Soo Kwon on ABC's Lost, then he followed that up by playing Chin Ho Kelly on seven seasons of CBS's Hawaii Five-O reboot.

Having left Hawaii Five-O over contract disputes, Kim now has time to find another memorable character to play – and someone who can turn into jaguar definitely sounds like they have a shot at being memorable.

The reboot of HELLBOY stirred up some controversy back in August when actor Ed Skrein was cast to play Major Ben Daimio, a character who had been Japanese-American in the comic book source material. Less than a week after Skrein's casting was announced, the actor dropped out of the role so it could be "cast appropriately". Kim, who is Korean-American, is now in negotiations to be Skrein's replacement.

Daimio is 

a rugged military member of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense who, due to a supernatural encounter, can turn into a jaguar when angered or in pain. 

If his deal is closed, Kim will be joining a cast that includes David Harbour as the title character, Ian McShane as his mentor Professor Broom, Sasha Lane as his love interest Alice Monaghan, Penelope Mitchell as the elder witch Ganeida, and Milla Jovovich as the villainous Nimue, Queen of Blood.

To be directed by Neil Marshall from a screenplay by Andrew Cosby, Christopher Golden, Aron Coleite, and Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, the story of the reboot has 

Hellboy, along with his team of paranormal researchers, trying to save the world from a medieval sorceress who wants to destroy humankind. 

HELLBOY is scheduled to begin filming this month.