Director Guillermo Del Toro loves his “Hellboy” franchise, but he doesn’t love it that much. Or maybe it’s because he does, in fact, love it that much that he has promised that, should the second movie, “The Golden Army” do well, he would like to return for a third installment, but after that, there should, and will, be no more. No prequels or sequels or parallel universes or reboots, says Del Toro. The question is, if “The Golden Army” does do well, will Hollywood listen? Just ask Sam Raimi.

Del Toro said this to Sci Fi Wire:

“If there was ever a third one, I would really make sure that we at least sign a contract that there is no more,” del Toro said in an interview at New York Comic Con last week. “No prequels and no sequels: nothing. If that happens, then there is a third one we have planned, and the seeds are planted in this film.”

Again, just because Del Toro wants out after the third one, doesn’t mean the producers/Hollywood feel the same way. These are the same people who have been remaking everything in sight, and they won’t just throw out a profitable franchise if that’s what “Hellboy” ends up becoming.

So what happens if “Hellboy 2″ and “Hellboy 3″ make money? Expect a “Hellboy 4″, minus Del Toro.

In any case, here’s the latest poster for “Hellboy 2: The Golden Army”.