The Chicago Journal

Spawn reboot gets three big writers on board

As the comics continue to make the leap to the big screen, Spawn has once again joined the trend.

Although there was a movie over two decades ago, Image’s popular comic book superhero/antihero is finally getting a reboot.

The project recently received its latest announcement on Twitter.

The announcement

Creator and artist Todd McFarlane shared the great news Thursday that Spawn’s film has three writers on board: Malcolm Spellman, Scott Silver, and Mathew Mixon.

Malcolm Spellman helped write the Marvel series The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, while Scott Silver contributed to the gritty Joker movie in 2019.

While not much is known about Spawn’s reboot, actor Jamie Foxx is associated with the project as Al Simmons/Spawn.

However, a director has not yet been found and the full cast has not yet been announced.

Spellman’s enthusiasm for the project

Malcolm Spellman shared his excitement about working on the project, saying:

“I grew up in Berkeley, which is a comic book city,” he started.

“Todd McFarlane’s Spawn character was always one of my favorites — a Black superhero that was no bullshit, he was cool and dealt with modern issues.”

“Myself, Matt Mixon, and Scott Silver are pledged to honoring what Todd started and what Spawn is at its core, delivering something that’s relevant and edgy and unlike any other superhero movie out there.”

The long wait

A Spawn movie was released in 1997, starring Michael Jai White and John Leguizamo, but it was panned by critics.

Although the film was not well received, a sequel was in the works.

However, it made no progress.

Since then, fans have been waiting for Spawn to return to screens for years, as McFarlane teased a film adaptation.

Over the years, he kept assuring them that Al Simmons would be back.

“We’ve had some announcements of people who are attached to it, but not all of them,” explained McFarlane.

“We just wanna hold a little bit longer until we’re a little bit closer to the final script that we’re going to be selling out in Hollywood, so the buzz will be big.”

Todd McFarlane

For years, creator Todd McFarlane has been empathizing with frustrated fans eager to get a formal announcement.

Despite their frustrations, he kept quiet about the Spawn project, saying:

“I know when people don’t get concrete names and information and stuff, and when I have to say, ‘Stuff’s happening. Just wait,’ that’s not a very satisfying answer.”

“And that’s what’s frustrating, because I know that it’s way more than that happening.”

While fans expected McFarlane to share new details at San Diego Comic-Con this year, he explained that the plan was changing.

Spawn’s creative team held talks to reveal key details of the event, but decided to save it for New York Comic-Con 2022.

Meanwhile, Jamie Foxx shared that production has yet to begin but has seen the first concept art for the suit to be used in the film.

“I’ve seen a lot of concepts,” he said.

“Because Todd, what he does it, every single day he’s doodling and he’s fixing and he’s doing some things that, to me, I think is gonna be like way out when you see it.”

Reference:

Todd McFarlane’s Spawn film taps Joker, Falcon and Winter Soldier writers

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