Universal Pictures will fully finance and distribute a sequel to 2004's "Hellboy" with a Summer 2008 slot targeted reports Variety.

The Guillermo del Toro-directed, Dark Horse Comic-spawned original was made by the now defunct Revolution Studios.

The sequel has been available for a while now, a script apparently ready and the stars locked with only funding and distribution unsure - now at least one on of those has been settled.

In a script by del Toro, Ron Perlman returns as Hellboy, the humanoid creature born in the flames of hell who was deposited on Earth's doorstep as an infant and battles otherworldly evil for a covert government agency. Selma Blair returns as the horned hero's pyrokinetic love interest.

Production starts in April in Budapest and London.