Full Breakdown
Glenn Danzig to Direct Horror Feature “Hellmask” Based on His Comic
6/19/2026, 4:24:01 AM
Hellmask Film Announcement
Glenn Danzig, frontman of The Misfits and founder of the metal band Danzig, will direct a new feature film titled Hellmask. The film adapts Danzig’s own comic book of the same name, which debuted in the Verotik 30th-anniversary issue in October 2023. Production is being handled by veteran indie horror filmmaker James Cullen Bressack, with casting underway and principal photography scheduled to begin in August. The project will be Danzig’s third feature as a director. The comic’s logline describes a brutal medieval backdrop of dark magic, armored warriors and massive bloody battle scenes.
Background: Comic Publishing and Prior Film Work
Hellmask originates from Verotik, a publisher specializing in dark fantasy and horror, which released the comic as part of its 30th-anniversary celebration. Danzig previously translated his comics to screen with the 2019 horror anthology Verotika and the 2021 spaghetti-western vampire film Death Rider in the House of Vampires. Both projects were self-produced and marked Danzig’s initial forays into directing after a career primarily defined by music.
Key Figures and Production Partners
Glenn Danzig is represented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which handles his entertainment contracts. Verotik serves as the intellectual-property holder for Hellmask and will oversee the adaptation. James Cullen Bressack, known for low-budget horror titles, is producing the film and recently completed a horror project shot entirely on VHS. The collaboration brings together Danzig’s musical and comic background with Bressack’s genre-film experience.
Development Timeline
- October 2023 – Hellmask comic appears in Verotik’s 30th-anniversary issue.
- 2019 – Danzig directs horror anthology *Verotika*.
- 2021 – Danzig directs *Death Rider in the House of Vampires*.
- August (year unspecified) – Casting underway; principal photography for Hellmask scheduled to begin.
Data & Statistics
The Hellmask project represents Danzig’s third feature-directing effort. The source comic debuted in a milestone 30th-anniversary issue, highlighting Verotik’s three-decade history. Production is slated for an August start, with casting already in progress. No budget figures or distribution partners have been disclosed.
Why It Matters: Cross-Media Expansion in Horror
Hellmask illustrates a growing trend of musicians leveraging their visual-art portfolios to enter film production, thereby expanding the horror genre’s creative pipeline. By adapting a self-published comic, Danzig retains artistic control while collaborating with an experienced horror producer, showing a model where musicians and comic creators partner with genre producers. The film’s medieval gothic setting also adds a distinct aesthetic to contemporary horror offerings.
What’s Next: Production and Release Outlook
With casting in progress, the Hellmask crew aims to commence filming in August. No release date has been announced, and distribution channels remain unspecified. Danzig’s representation by CAA suggests that negotiations for theatrical or streaming placement may follow the completion of principal photography.
