Todd McFarlane has shared an update on the long-gestating Spawn movie. During an interview on Joe Q’s Mornin’ Warm Up with Joe Quesada, the Image Comics founder explained that progress is being made, even during the Hollywood shutdown.
“I know that people are saying that, ‘Todd, you talk a lot about the movie and the Hollywood stuff and nothing’s really happening,’ and that’s not true. Especially with production being shut down,” McFarlane said. “I can tell you right now there is momentum going on Spawn, the movie, and I’m not just saying that on my end, I’m saying that the things you need to do to eventually get to the point where you’re going to get into production once COVID allows us to get into production, all those things are going on right now and we’re adding talent, big, big talent that we haven’t announced yet. I wish I could but I can’t.”
“So the Spawn movie is not a casualty right now, it’s actually, we’re moving as much as we can, given that there’s no production,” McFarlane added. “When will we be in production? I don’t know, that’s still an unknown, but all the steps we need to take to get there are currently being done behind the curtain.”
The project has been in the works for years now. McFarlane wrote the screenplay and has a deal in place with Blumhouse Productions to produce it. McFarlane also intends to direct it himself. As far as casting goes, Jamie Foxx is on board to star in the lead role as Al Simmons, aka Spawn. Jeremy Renner has also been tapped to play Twitch Williams, a long-standing character from the comics.
In the past, McFarlane has said the film will be R-rated and unlike other superhero movies. He is aiming to make it for a lower budget, comparing it to Jaws, assuring it will be scary.
Spawn was created in 1992 and remains in print to this day. Last year, the book crossed a major milestone with issue #301, making its way into the Guinness World Records as the longest-running creator-owned superhero comic book in history.
A live-action movie was previously released in 1997. Michael Jai White starred as Spawn, with John Leguizamo as Violator. The adaptation was panned by critics, holding just a 17 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. It also was not a commercial success, earning just $87 million against a $40 million budget.
There is no word currently on when production might begin. A possible release window has also not been revealed at this time.
So what do you think? Are you excited for the new Spawn movie? Any guesses about who McFarlane is alluding to? Join in on the conversation over on Facebook or Twitter!
