Will our favorite hellfire-infused superhero be making a return to the big screen? According to Spawn creator, Todd McFarlane, it's looking that way...with a catch.
In a recent interview at New York's Toy Fair, McFarlane commented on plans to resurrect his CIA Agent-turned Hellspawn. While he plans to follow-through with the project, he has already anticipated the difficulties that come in the way of such ventures: Namely drama with the studios.
“I’m 80% through the script, I did my due diligence, went around Hollywood,” McFarlane said, “...I listened to the pitch from all the big studios, but I just went, ‘nah, I need to make this small and tight and contained. And if we keep the budget small, they’ll allow me to do all of that. [But] if you blow up the budget...and I understand that. I wouldn’t hire me, either. But then I have to give it away.”
Of course, the last time Spawn appeared on the big screen, was the $40 million budgeted effort in 1997 with Michael Jai White (who is currently turning heads as Black Dynamite) as the title character. It was generally received as a rather forgettable effort that failed to grab any lasting appeal with both hardcore or casual fans. Therefore, as McFarlane implies, you can expect a smaller-scale film that will likely be more introspective to the Al Simmons/Spawn character.
The high risk/high reward practice of self-financing is another option which McFarlane is entertaining. However, he did state that three "smaller" Hollywood studios (which he would not name) are interested in the project.
Besides issues about the financial logistics, McFarlane is also someone greatly concerned about the artistic integrity of his own projects. (Which really came across in his recent criticism of the Spider-Man series' treatment of Venom -- a character he was instrumental in creating.) Creative control will be a must for the legendary penciller/action figure tycoon. As McFarlane continues:
“At this point in my life, I’d rather keep it smaller and maybe get fewer people to come see it, but actually just sort of extract out of my brain what I’ve been living with for the past 10 years.”
No further details have been revealed about the prospective film.
Source: Newsarama
Comments
Displaying 1–17 of 17
Splenda123
Man, I really hope that they make this movie. I really REALLY enjoy the comic books and the movie and if they could make it better than by ALL means haha.
Splenda123
Man, I really hope that they make this movie. I really REALLY enjoy the comic books and the movie and if they could make it better than by ALL means haha.
V_Translanka
Gods...does this mean he still wants to make it a Sam & Twitch-centric movie with Spawn more in the background? Oh yeah, and the HBO animated series KICKED ASS~!!! That should still be a thing.
BONERJAM
Almost anything would have been better than the live action movie they already made.
UnJaked
hell yeah love spawn hope this isn't a bunch of smoke
deathtomonalisa
I have wanted to see a sam and twitch movie for a long time as well as a new spawn movie.
Cha0sRe1gns
I've got to agree with GreenSuedeShoes on this one. I'm not saying it can't be done, but a comic like Spawn might not translate well into a great film with a small budget.
McFarlane might just be better off doing the whole thing as animated CGI (like TMNT and Clone Wars).
Hueso
I've been following this for the last 10 years...FINALLY!!! I remember when he had to buy out the rights or buy the rights back for almost $100 million (I think it was). I just knew it was a lot of money. He then wanted to just sit on it but some one bugged him about it. Then he started writing again. I hope it's better then the last one but just as good as the character was supposed to be with the alleys.
Man, it's probably gonna be bigger than Spider-Man...I hope.
GreenSuede
the first spawn might not have been the best movies and the line delivery at times completely took away from any sort of suspense or connection to the story, but I still enjoy a watch every now & then.
I just don't think any sort of comic book/action hero based movie can be low-low-budget in today's cinema. I'll see it either way, I love Spawn, but I hope it has a reasonable budget so it doesn't look dated or unpolished.
ime95
Todd McFarlane wants you all to go Download the God of War 3 Demo NOW!!!!
Rayzorshark
I just watched the original Spawn movie last month and the special effects do not hold up. A modern CGI treatment on the character would be a good idea.
Hyphnip
Really? This is back in the nerd news? I remember hearing about this about a year agol I keep telling people it is coming but no one believed me. I'm still really excited about it.
ronaldo99
will michael jai white play spawn again? he's the man
also, i hope mcfarlane gets involved in the venom movie. venom is such a cool character and he deserves an awesome movie
JMason1984
50% of the movie should be Simmons being merc the rest his deal with the devil and taking on a demon as the main threat with something darker and ominous for a sequel.
G4maniac14
for what it was at the time, i greatly enjoyed seeing one of my fav comic book heroes/villains come to life on the big screen. Judging it now im SURE i would be largely critical in my review, but I'm not a dick-critic like that. I love Todd McFarlane's work, particularly 90% of his toy line ups simply because he puts SOOO much effort into the design of his action figures...I have faith in you TM! don't let me down! I shall be judging much more harshly now that im nearing my mid-20s!
MegaMark26
i'm looking forward to a new spawn movie. just hope they don't have a trace of john leguizamo and the rubber suit spawn(was more like a sibling to the awful guyver suit for the horrible live action films) wore involved in the project. a mix of cgi and actual suit sounds like a good mix. a long time ago i heard they were making a sequel that was more crime based pulp, guess they scrapped that.
deathsdelivery
I was just saying they should do a reboot to this movie, and ..BAM! there it is.Rated R please
Displaying 1–17 of 17
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