Earlier this year. director Guillermo del Toro left the long-awaited adaptation of "The Hobbit," fueling speculation that he might return to the "Hellboy" film franchise sooner than he had previously stated.

However, when asked by MTV News about his "Hellboy" plans, del Toro seemed to indicate that its fate rested in the hands of Ron Perlman, the actor who starred in the title role under several layers of makeup; a process which Perlman apparently dislikes.

"You know, I think that everyone should ask Ron [Perlman]," said del Toro. "I had dinner with [Perlman] last night. He said 'six hours [in the makeup chair], what do you want?'" And he's doing 'Sons of Anarchy' without makeup. He's spoiled! He likes to be the big cheese without the makeup session."

"I would love to do it," continued del Toro. "But the heartbreak for me is that I know how it ends and I don't know if I want to see that ending. But I would love to do it."

During "Hellboy 2," it was hinted that Hellboy and Liz Sherman may meet a dark fate, in addition to Hellboy having to face his destiny as the potential harbinger of the apocalypse.

Back in 2008, "Hellboy" creator Mike Mignola also shared his own thoughts on what may happen to Hellboy in the comics and in the movies.

“The problem is, what del Toro’s talked about to me is that ‘Hellboy III’ would be the end of Hellboy,” said Mignola. “And here’s where we have the big conflict. My version of Hellboy in the comics is a finite story, but it’s going to take me 15 years to get to the ending. If he makes ‘Hellboy III’ and it’s the death of Hellboy, I’m left doing the comic going, ‘But I’m not done yet.’

“My Hellboy is not going to have kids,” continued Mignola. “My Hellboy is going to die, but I want to be the one who does that. And if del Toro does my ending, there won’t be a lot of surprise when I get to the end of the comic.”

Do you think Ron Perlman will want to reprise his role as Hellboy? Should del Toro's Hellboy continue to steer its own course away from Mignola's vision? And do you want to see Hellboy die in "Hellboy 3"? Let us know what you're thinking in the comment section or on Twitter!