‘Hellboy’ helmer won’t do films in Mexico

updated 6:43 p.m. ET Dec. 11, 2008

MEXICO CITY - “Hellboy” director Guillermo del Toro says he is unlikely to make another film in Mexico because his father’s kidnapping 10 years ago left him fearing for his safety, a newspaper reported Thursday.

Del Toro’s father was eventually released, but the family says it later received death threats.

Del Toro said he does not feel safe directing films here because his daily routine becomes public.

“Not all of the people who participated in the kidnapping were captured,” El Universal newspaper quoted him as saying.

He described his situation as a “forced exile” and said it saddens him to think he may never film again on Mexican streets.

Del Toro spoke on the red carpet of a special Mexico City showing of the film “Rudo y Cursi,” which he co-produced. He currently lives in New Zealand, where he has signed on to direct “The Hobbit.”

Yotzmit Rami, a spokeswoman for Universal Pictures, which organized del Toro’s trip, said he would not be available for further comment.

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Mexico has one of the highest kidnapping rates in the world. The government, however, says abductions have fallen 18 percent to about 72 a month since governors, mayors and federal officials signed a national security accord to battle crime in August.

Reliable data is hard to come by because most abductions go unreported for fear of police involvement. The nonprofit Citizens’ Institute for Crime Studies estimates the real kidnapping rate is about 500 per month.

Del Toro is best known for directing the “HellBoy” movies and “Pan’s Labyrinth,” which won an Oscar for best cinematography.

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