Adam Scott auditioned for Hellraiser 6 despite being killed off in Hellraiser 4, which is either the most committed example of actor hustle or the most confusing application of franchise continuity since Jason Voorhees went to space. Scott, who had a prominent and doomed role in 1996’s Hellraiser: Bloodline, apparently decided that being dismembered by Cenobites was merely a suggestion rather than a permanent condition.
Scott reflected on this career choice with the kind of self-aware humor that has defined his later roles in Parks and Recreation and Severance. He tried to sneakily audition for 2002’s Hellraiser: Hellseeker, presumably hoping that the casting director wouldn’t notice he had already been turned into a human puzzle by Pinhead’s minions. Spoiler alert: they noticed. He did not get the role.
The attempt speaks to a specific era of horror franchise filmmaking, where continuity was flexible and actors were apparently interchangeable as long as they could scream convincingly. The Hellraiser series, which began with Clive Barker’s genuinely disturbing 1987 original, had by the fourth installment descended into direct-to-video territory where logic was optional and Cenobite designs were increasingly elaborate.
Scott’s career trajectory makes this anecdote even funnier. He went from failed Hellraiser resurrection to becoming one of television’s most beloved deadpan comedians, then pivoted to prestige drama with Severance, earning Emmy nominations and critical acclaim. Meanwhile, the Hellraiser franchise continued its own strange evolution, eventually getting a Hulu reboot in 2022 that nobody asked for but everyone watched because Jamie Clayton’s Pinhead was genuinely terrifying.
The lesson here is that sometimes not getting the role is the best thing that can happen to your career. If Scott had successfully conned his way back into Hellraiser, he might have spent the next decade fighting demons in increasingly cheap productions rather than becoming the guy who makes corporate dystopias feel weirdly relatable.
Adam Scott’s failed Hellraiser audition is a reminder that persistence is admirable, but knowing when to move on is essential. Also that being killed by Cenobites is generally considered a career-ending event, no matter how good your agent is.
Watch Adam Scott in Severance on Apple TV+ and appreciate the career that almost included more Pinhead encounters.
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