Word of a sequel has been swirling ever since the Spawn movie released in 1997. However, getting said film made has been nothing but difficult for Todd McFarlane. Now, Jamie Foxx says the reboot is “special and original,” compares film to The Joker.
“I will tell you this. I talk to Todd and the thing is that we want to craft something that is so special because I remember seeing the first Spawn movies and then seeing the HBO versions and so we have something that is almost like an original, without giving too much away,” Foxx said to ComicBook.com. “But it starts in a way that is so cool. And it’s not big budget, you know? And that’s what I love about it. It’s sort of like how when they did The Joker. The Joker, yes, is here, but the story about this man who was in fire, it’s the same with what we’re doing with this. And so, we’re just like, just getting this right, cooking it right, but staying in contact, keeping the energy going and when we lay it on you, there’s gonna be some moments where you go “oh man.” You’ve been watching everybody shoot their shot and now we’re getting ready to shoot ours.”
Rebooting Spawn has been in development hell since 1998. Things started moving in the right direction in 1996 when McFarlane announced he had completed the film’s script. In July 2017, Blumhouse Productions confirmed their involvement with the film and McFarlane on-board to direct. May 2018, Foxx was reveal to be starring as the titular character, while Jeremy Renner (Avengers, The Town) would star as Detective Twitch. After a missed start date and the success of The Joker, the film restarted development. The reboot was set to go into production in 2020, but again was delayed due to the pandemic. In 2021, screenwriter Brian Tucker (Broken City) had been hired to rewrite McFarlane’s screenplay. In July 2022, McFarlane said he has a big announcement coming up and is already teasing what’s in store.
“I get it, because we’re living in a weird time, in the pandemic, and nobody wants to say anything, because you don’t know what’s going to happen and whatever else,” McFarlane explained. “But we as a collective team are doing what needs to be done to keep this moving. We put a little bit of pressure on ourselves to say, ‘Can we have by midyear something really big and tangible to go public with?’ Which is not only to backtrack on the people we’ve added, but to also say, ‘And we sold it to a studio.’ Something that’s really tangible. That it’s like we’re not just farting around.”
“I know when people don’t get concrete names and information and stuff, and when I have to say, ‘Stuff’s happening,” said McFarlane.
Spawn (1997) Was A Financial Success
While Spawn was a success with $87.9 million in the box office on a $45 million budget, the quality of the movie and fan reception wasn’t so nice. On Rotten Tomatoes the film has a score of 17% based on reviews from 46 critics. The website’s consensus states: “Spawn is an overbearing, over-violent film that adds little to the comic book adaptation genre.”
The only bright side to Spawn was the acting of John Leguizamo (Ice Age, Chef) as Clown / Violator. However, McFarlane did pave the way for the more dark and gritty comic book movies.
The fact that McFarlane and Foxx are even talking to the media about the project is a good sign things are moving along. Rebooting Spawn starring a classic comic book character by one of the great comic book minds of our generation is going to be worth the wait.
Stay tuned to Capes and Tights for any more updates on the Spawn front.
