Hellraiser Movie Casts Transgender Actor Jamie Clayton To Play Pinhead

John F. Trent |

Oct 7, 2021

The upcoming Hellraiser movie from director David Bruckner cast transgender actor Jamie Clayton to play Pinhead.

Clayton previously played Nomi Marks in Sense8, Sasha Booker in Designated Survivor, and Tess Van De Berg in The L Word: Generation Q.

Pinhead was originally played by Doug Bradley back in the original Hellraiser film in 1987. He would go on to reprise the role in Hellbound: Hellraiser II, Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth, and Hellraiser: Bloodline.

He also played the character in Hellraiser: Hellworld, Hellraiser: Deader, Hellraiser: Hellseeker, Hellraiser: Inferno, and Motörhead: Hellraiser.

In the character’s original back story, he was a human known as Elliot Spencer who was born in England in 1887. His transformation into Pinhead was shown in Hellbound: Hellraiser II.

While Hellbound: Hellraiser II revealed that Pinhead was originally a human male, the first Hellraiser film introduced a female Cenobite known as Deepthroat. The character was portrayed by Grace Kirby.

In Hellbound: Hellraiser II the character was portrayed by Barbie Wilde. Like Pinhead the character was originally a human nun named Sister Nikoletta.

Kirsty Cotton would be transformed into a Cenobite known as the Hell Priestess that looks like a female version of Pinhead. This Hell Priestess version of her would appear in the comic series Hellraiser: The Road Below and Hellraiser: The Dark Watch. The first series was written by Brandon Seifert with art by Haemi Jang while the second was written by Clive Barker and Brandon Seifert with art by Korkut Oztekin.

On top of the announcement that Clayton will play Pinhead, they also confirmed the film will also star Grand Army actress Odessa A’zion. The rest of the cast includes: Brandon Flynn, Goran Visnjic, Drew Starkey, Adam Faison, Aoife Hinds, Selina Lo, and Hiam Abbass.

Alongside these casting announcements, they also noted that Hellraiser creator Clive Barker has also joined the film as a producer.

The film is being directed by Burckner based off a script by Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski with a story by David S. Goyer.

Spyglass President of Production Peter Oillataguerre stated, “Next year marks the 35th anniversary since Hellraiser first haunted our dreams. It’s only fitting to come full circle in collaborating with Clive, the original creator and master of visionary horror. We look forward to working with our partners at Hulu in bringing this unique take on the original to new audiences.”

Buckner added his own comments, “It’s been such an honor to have Clive onboard 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.”

“From the moment I first read The Hellbound Heart, Clive Barker became one of my literary heroes. His work is transgressive and completely redefined the horror genre. Under the guiding hand of David Bruckner, we’re going back to the source and taking our inspiration from that original novella,” said Goyer.

Barker also stated, “Having seen some of the designs from David Bruckner’s new Hellraiser film, they pay homage to what the first film created, but then take it to places it’s never been before.”

He added, “This is a Hellraiser on a scale that I simply didn’t expect. David and his team are steeped in the story’s mythology, but what excites me is their desire to honor the original even as they revolutionize it for a new generation.”

No release date was announced.