Clive Barker, the visionary creator of the Hellraiser franchise, has voiced his genuine astonishment and pride regarding the upcoming game, Hellraiser: Revival. He described the final result as something he is "proud as f**k" of, particularly noting his surprise at the game's ability to remain faithful to the series' signature blend of gore and kink.
Barker, who collaborated closely with developer Saber Interactive on the game's world-building and narrative, admitted to initial fears that the project might be overly censored. "I was fearful at one point that the game would be overly censored, but I'm genuinely astonished by how far they've been able to push it," he stated in an interview with Dread Central.
He believes Saber Interactive's approach to adapting the Hellraiser license serves as a significant example for future franchise endeavors. "I think what was achieved in the game is a wake-up call to anyone who's been involved in the making of a franchise like Hellraiser," Barker explained.
Having reclaimed the American franchise rights to Hellraiser several years ago, Barker positioned Hellraiser: Revival as a legacy sequel, intentionally disregarding the film continuity following Hellraiser 2. He noted that many of the later Weinstein-produced films were primarily made to retain the rights, often with diminishing creative and financial investment.
Barker expressed a strong desire to further explore the Hellraiser universe, with current ideas being realized in a new comic book series. However, he also stated his ambition to "love to go further in the movies."
Furthermore, Barker indicated a potential for future collaborations with Saber Interactive beyond Hellraiser: Revival, expressing eagerness to work with them on other projects, though the nature of these future endeavors remains unspecified. This positive reception for Hellraiser: Revival comes at a time when Saber Interactive has faced scrutiny over its use of generative AI, particularly in relation to the Rideshare Stimulator controversy. The studio's CCO, Tim Willits, has assured players that such technology is not being utilized in Hellraiser: Revival or other ongoing projects like Jurassic Park: Survival and Space Marine 3.