SDCC EXCLUSIVE: Doug Jones Chats the 20th Anniversary of ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’

The man behind Pan’s Labyrinth’s the Pale Man and the Faun, Doug Jones, sat down with BB and other members of the press at San Diego Comic Con. The actor was at the Con to talk about the 20th anniversary of his iconic movie. During the chat, Jones talked bringing the Faun and the Pale Man to life, what it’s been like promoting the movie 20 years later, and so much more. Check out what he had to say below.

You’ve worked with some of the industry’s best prosthetic makeup artists over the years. What do you enjoy most about the transformation process?

“It’s hell to go through. I’m not going to lie about that for a minute. So I don’t love the process—I can tolerate the process. That’s the difference.

With a movie like Pan’s Labyrinth especially, you’re going through hell every day: a five-hour makeup application for the Faun, a six-hour makeup application for the Pale Man. Then you go to the premiere and see the whole story come together. You see the characters you played with a purpose and relationships that all make sense. It’s like, ‘Ah, that’s worth the sacrifice.'”

The Pale Man is often mentioned among the greatest movie monsters of all time. What does that recognition mean to you?

“It really does mean a lot. I was a fan of the original Universal monsters growing up. Back then, monsters were movie stars. Then we went through a period where monsters became secondary characters—just chasing someone down a hallway in slasher films. You didn’t see a lot of artistic monsters.

Guillermo del Toro brought that back. With films like Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water, he made monsters the leads and gave them substance and sympathy. Often, the real monster in the story is a human being who’s abusing power or has gone off the rails.

It’s incredibly humbling when people mention Lon Chaney and me in the same sentence. They’re actually making a documentary about me called Get Me Doug Jones, and the filmmakers tracked down Ron Chaney, Lon Chaney Sr.’s great-grandson and Lon Chaney Jr.’s grandson. They asked him if it was okay to continue calling me ‘the Lon Chaney of today,’ and he gave his family’s approval. Hearing that afterward was an incredible moment for me.

I’ve also met Boris Karloff’s daughter, Sarah Karloff, who had nothing but wonderful things to say. I was fortunate enough to meet Ben Chapman and Rico Browning, who played the Creature from the Black Lagoon, before they passed away. Being able to connect, even in a small way, with that golden era of movie monsters means the world to me.”

You play two completely different creatures in Pan’s Labyrinth. How did you approach creating the Faun and the Pale Man?**

“It starts with sitting down with Guillermo del Toro before filming. He gives me notes, but he also trusts my instincts, which I’m grateful for.

For the Faun, he wanted me to study the hindquarters of barn animals. I looked at cows and goats—how their hooves met the ground, how they shifted their weight, how they shook off flies—and incorporated those movements into the character.

For the Pale Man, I originally played him very floppy and disjointed. Guillermo stopped me and said, ‘Dougie, no. Give me George Romero zombie.’ So I tightened everything up and made the movements much stiffer. The Pale Man had been asleep for a very long time and was only just waking up.

Collaboration is everything with Guillermo del Toro, and I love that he trusts his actors with what they bring to the table.”

What has it been like revisiting Pan’s Labyrinth nearly 20 years later?

“Isn’t that crazy? It really is surreal.My very first Comic-Con was in 2006 to promote Pan’s Labyrinth before it was released. Now, 20 years later, I’m back promoting the film’s theatrical re-release in 4K and 3D. I never imagined this day would come.

I also can’t believe I’m old enough to be celebrating the 20th anniversary of a movie I made in my forties. It’s surreal, but it’s also wonderful because it proves the staying power of the film. Guillermo del Toro is such a remarkable storyteller. He has this childlike spirit that helps audiences reconnect with the child inside themselves. His films are often about underdogs overcoming challenges, finding their voice, and ultimately becoming victorious.

I’m absolutely tickled to have been part of something that continues to resonate with audiences all these years later.”

Cineverse’s will re-release Pan’s Labyrinth in honor of the film’s 20th anniversary on Octoner 9, with new 3D and 4K conversions.

*This interview has been edited for length and clarity