Guillermo del Toro says Ron Perlman is his "good luck charm".
The 50-year-old director has worked with the actor on several occasions - most famously on the 'Hellboy' films - and cast him as Xibalba, ruler of the Land of the Forgotten, in his new animated movie 'The Book of Life'.
Guillermo - who produced the film - insists Ron is one of his favourite actors to work with because the 64-year-old actor inspires his work.
Speaking to ShortList magazine, he said: "I cast Ron (in 'The Book of Life') simply because he can do anything. I've worked with him repeatedly, and he's almost a good luck charm to me. He gets cast as these heavies, but he can do comedy so well. I thought he was perfect for Xibalba. Ron is so good at that blend of charm and creepiness. I'm a better writer when I write for him."
Guillermo wanted to make 'The Book of Life' - which also features Zoe Saldana, Channing Tatum and Ice Cube voicing characters - to introduce some of his home country Mexico's lesser known folklore to an international audience.
He said: "In 'The Book of Life', I wanted to show the Mexico that isn't out of a tourist guide, but has the explosion of light and sound you get when you go to the country. There's an incredibly rich folklore that's not explored often in cinema - we have two supernatural characters in the film that embody it. One is La Muerte, a personification of death, and the other is Xibalba, inspired by the idea of hell in southern Mexico that's survived from Mayan times. It's fascinating how the old magical ideas of death and the afterlife were merged with the influence of Spanish Catholicism."

Joan Rivers' daughter feels "saddened" by her loss following her mother's recent autopsy results.
Melissa Rivers - Joan's only child - took to her Twitter account last night (16.10.14) after it was confirmed the former 'Fashion Police' host, 81, died from "predictable" surgical complications while undergoing a minor operation on her vocal cords on August 28.
She tweeted: "In response to NYC's Medical examiner's report, we continue to be saddened by our tragic loss. No further comment at this time."
The New York City Medical Examiner's Office released a statement yesterday afternoon stating that Joan's brain had been starved of oxygen after she suffered cardiac and respiratory arrest on the operating table.
The report reads: "OCME has completed its investigation. The cause of Ms Rivers' death is anoxic encephalopathy due to hypoxic arrest during laryngoscopy and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with propofol sedation for evaluation of voice changes and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
"The manner of death is therapeutic complication. The classification of a death as a therapeutic complication means that the death resulted from a predictable complication of medical therapy."
The blonde beauty had been undergoing the throat operation at the private Yorkville Endoscopy in New York City, but was rushed to Mount Sinai hospital and placed in a medically-induced coma after doctors failed to resuscitate her at the clinic.
Joan sadly passed away on September 4 and was laid to rest at a service at the Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan on September 7.

Khloé Kardashian is reportedly desperate for a baby.
The 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians' star, 30, who is currently going through the process of divorcing Lamar Odom, is worried she's running out of time to have a child of her own and wants to fall in love again soon.
A source told the HollywoodLife.com: "She wants to be in love again. She wants a family. She doesn't want to be pigeonholed as the best aunt in the world.
"She loves her nieces and nephew but there's nothing like being a mother. She wants that. And it's like, here she goes again being the dutiful and proud aunt."
The brunette beauty is reportedly envious of her sisters Kourtney - who has children Mason, five, Penelope, two, and one on the way - and Kim, who has 16-month-old daughter North with her husband Kanye West, because their families seem to be "thriving."
The source explained: "She's happy for Kourtney and Kim [Kardashian] but she's sad inside because everyone around her is thriving and living and she's stuck. Her life sucks right about now."
Meanwhile, it is thought Khloé is back in contact with her estranged husband, whom she married in 2009, following her recent split from rapper French Montana.
A source said previously: "After months of not talking, she's been calling Lamar.
"Ever since the split, Khloé's been super sad and really missing Lamar, so she decided to reach out. Lamar was so happy to hear from her."
Khloé ended her relationship with Lamar last year following rumours he had cheated on her with multiple women and had addiction to cocaine.

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen are selling their Los Angeles mansion for nearly $2 million.
The couple, who got married in 2013, are keen to offload their plush pad in Hollywood Hills for 1,995 million as they want to splash out on a bigger home.
Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, John, 35, explained why they're selling their luxury property: "We're ready to expand a little bit. If we could have the twice-as-big version of this place, we would get it."
The 2,000 square-feet property, which was built in the 1960s, is complete with three bedrooms, a recording studio and a wooden hot tub.
The interiors include custom-made cabinets and furnishings, and the large back garden boasts a pond and stunning views, as well as a bronze entry gate at the front of the home.
It is not known why the loved-up pair want to purchase a bigger house but Chrissy, 28, recently said she wanted to have lots of children with her spouse when the time is right and their work schedules don't clash.
She said last month: "I want a huge family. We want a lot of kids. When it happens, it happens. For us it's hard because he's on the road so much and I'm working. People think it happens so easily ... but the stars really have to align to have a baby and it is a little miracle so when it happens ... we will be so happy."

Misty Upham's family fear she committed suicide after a body was found along the White River in Seattle.
The 'August: Osage County' actress' relatives believe she may have taken her own life after a search team discovered the remains of someone who resembles the star in a ravine in Washington last night (16.10.14).
A family source told TMZ.com: "One of their search teams found a body in a ravine about an hour ago."
The body is yet to be officially identified by Misty's family but police believe the remains belong to the actress, who was reported missing on October 6.
The brunette beauty was last seen leaving her sister's apartment in Muckleshoot, Washington, on October 5
Her father Charles released a statement at the time: "Misty is considered an endangered missing person due to a medical condition. She hasn't been in contact with her family or friends since her disappearance."
Police arrived at Misty's apartment, which she shares with her parents, on October 5 after receiving a suicide call, but when they arrived she had already packed some of her belongings and left the property.
This isn't the first time police have been called to her apartment as within the last year they've reportedly responded to four suicidal calls from Misty's home.
Charles admitted that Misty's behaviour had been slightly erratic in the weeks leading up to her disappearance as she had recently changed her medication for her bipolar disorder, but he didn't think she would even consider committing suicide.

Nikki Reed has adopted a kitten.
The 'Twilight' actress, who is dating Ian Somerhalder, added the fluffy four-legged creature to her growing family of rescue pets after falling in love with her during a trip to the animal shelter yesterday (15.10.14).
Taking to her Instagram account last night, Nikki posted a photograph of her snuggling up to the gorgeous grey kitten, which she accompanied with the caption: "Went to the animal shelter today to give some love to the babies living in cages who don't have homes and ended up adopting this little girl! What should we name her?"
The 26-year-old beauty, who has built a special guest house on her property in Los Angeles for the animals she rescues, also recently adopted a baby rat.
She said last month: "I'm on my way to pick up my new baby rat. I'm animal obsessed! I basically have a farm in my house. I do feel like by buying rats from a pet store, you are saving them because if not, they would get fed to a snake or something."
The actress owns two horses, two German shepherds and four other dogs, but also regularly provides temporary shelter for foster pets.

Neil Patrick Harris wants to keep the 2015 Oscar Awards "classy."
The 'Gone Girl' actor, who has previously emceed the Tony Awards and the Emmys several times, will present the star-studded 87th annual ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on February 22 and has already planned out how he will approach the event.
Speaking to 'Entertainment Weekly,' he said: "I don't want them to be super derivative of other shows that I've done. I don't want it to seem like I'm doing the same award hosting gig that I did on the Tonys, just now on a different stage ...
"I want to also just make sure that it's a classy event. I've always loved the Oscars and have great respect for its history, and the gowns, and the classiness of it."
The 41-year-old actor announced he would be presenting the upcoming awards on Twitter yesterday (15.10.14) by posting a video clip of himself telling an unidentified person "I'm in" during a phone call.
In a statement, he added: "It is truly an honour and a thrill to be asked to host this year's Academy Awards. I grew up watching the Oscars and was always in such awe of some of the greats who hosted the show.
"To be asked to follow in the footsteps of Johnny Carson, Billy Crystal, Ellen DeGeneres, and everyone else who had the great fortune of hosting is a bucket list dream come true."
Talk show queen Ellen hosted this year's ceremony in March, which scored the best ratings in 14 years, but declined an offer to take on the job again.

Diane Kruger and Joshua Jackson "may" get married in the future.
The couple, who have been dating since 2006, haven't tied the knot yet because they're not "religious" but haven't ruled out getting hitched at some point.
Speaking in the November issue of Glamour magazine, Joshua said: "I can tell you why we're not married: We're not religious. I don't feel any more or less committed to Diane for not having stood in front of a priest and had a giant party.
"We're both children of divorce, so it's hard for me to take marriage at face value as the thing that shows you've grown up and are committed to another person. But it may change at some point. We may get married."
Meanwhile, despite their views on marriage, Diane, 38 - who was previously married to French actor Guillaume Canet - is keen to have children with the 'Dawson's Creek' star, 36, and has already decided where she wants to raise her family.
She said previously: "I consider myself half French. That's where I think I want to raise my children, where I see myself growing old.
"Maybe because I'm European, their way of life is very close to what I know. I've always loved Paris. When I went there it was my first time ever on a plane. From the moment I arrived, I was like, I'm never leaving."

Kris Jenner makes business calls during her workouts.
The 58-year-old matriarch, who manages all of her children's careers, doesn't have time to take a break from her busy schedule and even does important phone calls while running on the treadmill at the gym.
Kris' personal trainer Gunnar Peterson told the MailOnline: "She's so driven. Kris comes to the gym at 6:30am and she's on the treadmill while on her cell phone, shouting down the phone about millions of dollars. She's everything to that franchise.
"People accuse her of wh**ing her kids out but she hasn't, she's helped her kids get jobs. I think she's done wonderful and it's unfair for people to criticise."
The brunette beauty recently admitted she finds it "hurtful" when her parenting skills are criticised because being a mother to her kids comes first.
She said previously: "As hurtful as it might be, no one knows what's going on. When someone starts criticising your role and your ability to be a good mum.
"I prided myself my entire life ... my most important role in my life is being a mum. There's nothing I wouldn't do for my kids."
Kris even keeps up the date with the whereabouts of Kourtney, 35, Kim, 33, Khloé, 30, Rob, 28, Kendall, 18, and Kylie, 17, with email notifications.
She said: "Sometimes I want to know where everybody is. I have a Google Alert on the kids, and I'll go, 'Wait, that's right! They're in Italy!' "

Jude Law is set to become a father for the fifth time.
The 41-year-old actor and his ex-girlfriend Catherine Harding are set to welcome their first child together into the world early next year and, despite their split, are determined to put everything into raising the baby.
A representative for the star told PEOPLE.com: "I can confirm that Jude Law and Catherine Harding are expecting a child together in the spring.
"Whilst they are no longer in a relationship, they are both wholeheartedly committed to raising their child.
"They consider this a private matter and other than this confirmation no statement will be made.
"I ask that you respect the privacy of all parties involved and their families."
The 'Holiday' star already has three children, sons Rafferty, 18, and Rudy, 12, and daughter Iris, 13, with his ex-wife Sadie Frost, as well as a five-year-old daughter, Sophia, with model Samantha Burke.
The hunk, who has also previously dated Sienna Miller, admitted five years ago that becoming a father shifted his priorities in life and gave him a wake-up call.
He said in 2009: "Being a daddy is what counts. I used to sleep until noon, but it's not so bad to have to get up at 7 and give them breakfast. My daughter made me realise that if there's anything that's going to make a man of you, it's having your will broken by a little girl."

Joan Rivers died from surgical complications.
The former 'Fashion Police' host passed away on September 4 after being placed in a medically-induced coma following minor surgery on her vocal cords on August 28, and her autopsy results have now confirmed her death was caused by lack of oxygen to the brain during the routine operation.
The New York City Medical Examiner's Office released a statement today (16.10.14) stating: "OCME has completed its investigation. The cause of Ms Rivers' death is anoxic encephalopathy due to hypoxic arrest during laryngoscopy and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with propofol sedation for evaluation of voice changes and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
"The manner of death is therapeutic complication. The classification of a death as a therapeutic complication means that the death resulted from a predictable complication of medical therapy."
The blonde beauty was undergoing the operation at the private Yorkville Endoscopy in New York City, but was rushed to Mount Sinai hospital after she went into cardiac and respiratory arrest.
Her only daughter, Melissa, thanked the medical team at Mount Sinai following her mother's death.
She said at the time: "My son and I would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff of Mount Sinai Hospital for the amazing care they provided for my mother."
Joan was laid to rest in a private service at Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan on September 7.

Jessica Simpson allegedly wants to undergo breast reduction surgery.
The 34-year-old singer - who has daughter Maxwell, two, and 14-month-old son Ace with her husband Eric Johnson - lost 50 pounds prior to her wedding in July but is reportedly keen to go under the knife in order to make her boobs slightly smaller.
A source told the US' OK! Magazine: "Now that Jessica has lost weight, she's noticing how much her breasts are weighing her down, especially since she's always carrying her kids around."
The Weight Watchers spokesperson never lost sight of her self-worth when she was struggling to regain her pre-pregnancy body, but she admits she "feels more comfortable" in her own skin now.
She said earlier this year: "It wasn't my priority to please the public and make them feel like I'm supposed to be looking like when I was 25.
"I don't think that I wasn't still a sex symbol. To my husband I was extremely sexy."
Despite being criticised for her figure in the past, Jessica added: "It empowered me to rise above and stand up for all the women out there that do have trouble losing the weight."