Guillermo del Toro has always played by his own rules. Considered one of the "three amigos" of new Mexican filmmakers, alongside buddies Alejandro González Iñárritu ("Babel") and Alfonso Cuarón ("Children of Men"), del Toro could have had his choice of plum projects after directing the critically acclaimed "Pan's Labyrinth." Instead, he returned to his passion: the world of fantastical comic-book action, the world of Hellboy.

"When you go see a movie called 'Hellboy,' already there is an implicit, assumed certain sense of goofiness that you have to say, 'Look, we know we're pulpy, but we take ourselves seriously,'" del Toro says.

The visionary's initial "Hellboy" was only a modest hit, and a sequel wasn't a given. It was only after the success of the DVD and "Pan's" more than two years later that "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" got the green light. And with a new studio behind the scenes (Universal Pictures), del Toro got the complete creative control he had to fight for on the first film. That gives "The Golden Army" a tapestry of folklore and fairy tales missing from the first installment.

"Y'know, the idea of the underworld, or the world beneath, and the King and the war with humans and the creation of something to destroy the [world]? All that is somewhere floating in the sagas or in folktales and I grabbed a lot from that," del Toro says.

Then again, his originality does come into play. Del Toro continues, "For example, trolls [being] afraid of canaries is something I made up, but it seems perfectly reasonable. And what I found in life is that if you actually do the research [it can be true]. In the first 'Hellboy,' I say Nazi submarines disembark in Scotland. And I just came up with that. And then I did the research and it took me awhile, but I found many sighting s. There was actually a high trafficked area from Nazi submarines."

Currently, del Toro is embarking on his biggest adventure yet: Working with executive producer Peter Jackson, he's writing the screenplay for J.R.R. Tolkien's prequel to "The Lord of the Rings," "The Hobbit," which he will also direct. Expected to be released as two separate films, the four-year project (which might just save MGM studios) won't be easy, but del Toro seems to relish the challenge.

Trivia game: Test your knowledge of award-winning films

"On the first film the real creative endeavor is to be faithful to the feel and the drive and spirit of the book," del Toro says. "I think a lot of people say it's a children's book and I say therefore it should be taken seriously, y'know?"

Del Toro also claims he doesn't feel much pressure in matching the high standards Jackson achieved with his original Oscar-winning "Rings" trilogy.

"Well, if I thought in those terms I would actually be more daunted, but I see the five films, provided that we do everything right, as symphony. And I believe what I am doing is an overture," del Toro says. "So, therefore, it can be a different color and a different energy and lead you to something that can already be a film legacy. All we have to do is create an almost freestanding piece that can then, if viewed together, make sense as a symphonic work."

The "Hellboy" cast is well aware their franchise's father will be gone for a long time, but del Toro is still confident his trilogy can be completed. He notes, "There was a gap of four years between the first 'Hellboy' and second 'Hellboy' and, provided Ron [Perlman] takes his medicines and if he can stay healthy enough, we can have a 'Hellboy III' on the other end."

And considering very few people thought a sequel would occur after the first flick, no one should discount del Toro's passion in making it happen once more.

"Hellboy II: The Golden Army" opens nationwide on July 11.

Sound off: Comment on this story | Also: Features archive

Next: 'Hellboy' Can't Smile Without Perlman