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Todd McFarlane in Early Talks for Another Spawn Movie?!

by Alex Billington
April 29, 2009
Source: IESB

Awesome! Another distinguished guest who showed up at the X-Men Origins: Wolverine premiere in Tempe, Arizona earlier this week was comic mastermind Todd McFarlane. Our friends at IESB were in attendance and got him to talk about all the latest on Spawn, and it sounds like there is definitely another new Spawn movie in the works. McFarlane said that he's got five offers on the table, ranging from big studios and big budgeted productions with a lot of special effects, to low budget, small ideas, including one that he even wants to direct himself. If you're a fan of the Spawn franchise, then you'll want to hear this!

McFarlane says that while he's got those big budget offers on the table, he's leaning towards the smaller project because he could potentially write and direct it. If he goes with something bigger, they'll only let him produce. Since he has two teenage daughters, he wants an idea for a Spawn movie that they would actually go see with their dates (don't worry, that sounds worse than it really is). McFarlane wants to "keep it down, keep it dark, keep it grungy," this time. "Think Departed with something moving in the shadows."

"It's not a 'comic book movie,' it's just a scary movie, a creepy movie. Everything's real except for one element, which happens to be the character we know as Spawn. So it's not going to be supervillain vs superhero or any of that stuff, it's just going to be a 'tight' movie."

That sounds like a very interesting way of bringing Spawn back and it's actually something I'd love to see. Although the Spawn movie from 1997 wasn't very well received by fans or critics, I'm personally still a fan of the character and would love to see him back on the big screen, in any form. McFarlane is only credited as a director on a music video, so while he's got at least some minor experience, if this actually comes together, it will be both his screenwriting and directing debut. I think it's a bit too optimistic to hope that we'll see McFarlane write or direct this, but at the very least I'm certainly excited to see Spawn return once again.

I'm sure hardcore Spawn fans still want to see a big budget movie, but with so many comic book movies these days, I'm afraid it would get screwed up, like Punisher or Catwoman. Maybe it's best to let the creator do what he wants with his own character. We'll find out in due time which offer McFarlane chooses, so until then, let us know what you think. Are you looking forward to seeing another Spawn movie?

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xerxex

Please let this happen! The first one could of been great but it wasn't so if this happens then lets hope whoever it falls to does a stupendous job and gives us the Spawn we all want!
JimD

I really enjoyed the first spawn. I could go for a sequel if its handled right.
madstick

there's nothing wrong with a big-budget movie provided however Todd shall be given full rein on the movie's creative direction
http://Firstshowing.net The_Phantom

I actually really liked Thomas Janes verson of The Punisher, Alex. It felt more real. As for a new Spawn, I thought Michael Jai White did a great job and I loved the costume. As for the story, it could of been a lot better. I'm excited to see where this goes too!
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

#4 - I agree... Secretly (not so much anymore), I actually really liked the Michael Jai White movie. Might have to go pop it in tonight to catch up on it since its been a long time.
Bo

FUck yes, fuck that roger rabbit shit, but hells yeah to this
MrSammich

Eh fuck him, I want the person best suited to make this movie. Having a comic writer/artist direct the movie didn't work to well for the people that made The Spirit now did it. Find someone that can make the right kind of movie witht the right kind of budget OK! Then you will get my ten dollars Hollywood.
Janny

i liked the spawn back in 97... they really developed the spawn character well and it looked great.. but the bad guy was campy and the bad chick was way past stereotype... as long as McFarlane has a firm grip on the reigns a reboot should be good. I don't think it needs a huge budget (in terms of transformers type explosions and such) but the effects have to be good and it has to be as creepy as the animated series
nelson

just so everybody knows Spawn will be on FX at 6pm Tomorrow
Hey Ya

He's a douche, but I love Spawn. Probably one of the biggest fans, I have issues 1-50 of the original series then it got spotty when I moved overseas. Never the less, if they make it like the HBO show, it'll be sweet! That show was awesome but keep it to the comic please! The first one strayed a bit and was a bit annoying plus the script was horrid. The lines were cheesy and the actors weren't the best, save The Clown.
S

Hell yes. This is a movie that needs to be remade. It needs to be dark and gruesome like it should have been.
Florian

bring back john leguizamo in some way, shape, or form. He was without a doubt the best part of the whole original movie.
Lazarus

McFarlane is the one and only man i would trust to bring Spawn back into the movie media world...with that said, Hollywood trusted Frank Miller for Sin City...I'm sure the big wigs in suits can give McFarlane his due with his own baby he's made oh I don't know...7 or 8 big time major companies and the fact he knows his character better then most mortals...
Dan W

I am excited for a new one and I do agree that a smaller budget movie would fit better. Because spawn isn't all about crazy explaosions and great graphics. They already went along that route and it wasn't too geed. Ok for younger kids but nothing more. What does he mean by his daughter talking their dates to the movie. Will this be a romance drama??!?!?!?!?!!??!
http://handfulofwires.blogspot.com DCompose

I know it's not cool to like Spawn anymore beause people are sick of dark superheroes, but the comic was awesome and it was the big tentpole of that whole shift. He was a superhero covered in chains with a living cape (the only way a cape can be acceptable,) living in a sick alleyway surrounded by bums and drunks, commanding rats and bugs and nailing people to walls. He was the dirtiest hero ever, unable to use his powers because he was essentially using his soul, opting instead to use GUNS AND HAMMERS, figting a cyborg in one comic and murdering a child molester in the next. Showing up at his ex-wife's place, watching his best friend marry her. There were so many amazing villains and side characters in that book. And NONE OF IT TRANSLATED IN THE ORIGINAL FILM. None of it. Not one thing. He looked like an imp and the clown wasn't "rapist gross" like he should have been.
nem

If Michael Jai White is not in the new one, then I'll pass.
Dr Robotnik

#9 - thanks so much! now I got a valid reason to skip my little sister's school thing
Craig

I don't want to see a smaller budget Spawn movie directed by Todd (no offense, there's a lot that can go wrong with these factors). Recipe for a good Spawn film are: Warner Brothers/Legendary Pictures (I bet you they are one of the studios trying to buy the filming rights) + good director + good screenwriter/s + 110 mil budget = A fantastic Spawn movie (possibly spawning a trilogy).
Darunia

Todd Mcfarlane has been saying another Spawn movie is in the works for years now.
RPD

I'm just as interested in this as I am in Venom. Not at all...
http://www.10tu.com/forums dRailer

I seriously can't believe anybody liked this film. The film hinged on a CGI sequence at the end that was absolutely the worst thing I've seen in decades of CGI work. I've attached a link to the sequence. It starts at around 4:11:00. I think I've seen better effects on Ultraman. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90lK7EXINZ4 I don't know how anybody can watch that and say "This is an appropriately handled/directed climax to a brilliant film." And I do look at it as a whole... horrible climax, horrible movie. I was embarrassed for myself, and embarrassed for the team that worked on the movie for having seen that.
zetsu

the original spawn looked right(spawn,the clown & the violator.)it was little things like the acting was fucking terrible & a female chapel.please do it fucking right this time it would be fucking awesome.
Chris

The thing I loved about the Spawn movie - the soundtrack. The collaborations reminded me a lot of the stuff from Judgement Night. Ahhh, ace tracks.
michael

the first movie sucked. one of the worst special effects ever seen. felt like i was watching Clash of the Titans from 81. Not sure if i want to see McFarlane direct this (although im a fan of his) bec it seems to me he wants to take the Batman Begins/Dark Knight/ Watchmen route for Spawn.
Tim

will this be a sequel? Will this follow up with the last one? Should it be an all new story.
cindarr

OMG!! Hope is gonna happen... The first is fairly decent during that time. With today's technology on graphic, i think it can pull through
ERivas

You know...I use to think that I liked that spawn movie...then I re watched it again a weeks ago...I was very disappointed. The movie was not only cheesy, but it was annoying.. The acting was all over the place. bad special effects. No thank you..Reboot the film if you are going to do it. Concerning Todd McFarlane doing this movie - I believe that sometimes being too close to something makes more of a liability to a project. I really dislike the statement that he would want to make a movie that his daughters could watch on a date. I think that she should shoot for making something that would entertain and challenge you. Something with heart, but that is viewable..Please don't turn this into a vanity project..
Richard

This would be awesome, I would rather it be 1/2 big budget 1/2 indie, so he has some control but it doesn't get screwed up ala The Spirit or something. This might make my Spawn #1 signed by Todd worth some money, wait I think they printed 100,000,000 of those. I hate that when Image came out it screwed its fans by making so many prints and alternate covers and stuff, pretty much making all their stuff worthless.
http://comicbooks.tumblr.com/ Ivan

This is nothing new. Todd has been saying the same thing about wanting to direct a new Spawn feature film for about a decade now... I remember asking him myself at a con several years ago and got almost the same answer. Don't hold your breath, folks.
Fisherr

Of Course i am excited about Spawn since the dawn of his existence,I would love to see the character back again in action.I loved and enjoyed the first one and i would love to see a good sequel. Spawn II was one of the movie that was in the list of the "Development Hell" till recently,i would loved to see the character back to life.
SlashBeast

Spawn is a film franchise (if you can call it that) that can greatly benefit from being rebooted. Special effects had not developed far enough in 1997 to make Spawn's unique visuals a reality. Now with the advances in technology it could be done in a heartbeat. Having Todd McFarlane directing doesn't guarantee any success but it would be perhaps better for the film if he did have some involvement. I'm a bit hesitant because Spawn is to a certain extent unfilmable but it CAN be achieved. His character and universe are also somewhat stuck in the 90's and would need to be renewed fresh. Overall this is intersting and I hope it does come to life.
Greedo the Rodian

I think McFarlane lost his roots ever since he created "Family Guy."
S

#32 . . . Dude, did you really just write that?!
lando

That Spawn Movie SUCKED giant exxagerated animal sex organs!!!!!!! why this guy cant realize the difference between comics and movies baffles me just like Frank Millers lack of understanding! you can make great comics all day long till the cows come home, that doesnt mean you can make a great movie!!! hire someone with the skill already!
http://handfulofwires.blogspot.com DCompose

Anyone who says Spawn "looked right" in the movie is an asshole.
aaron

I really hope they make this. The first Spawn was kinda cool, but could have been so much better imo. The HBO series was awesome though.
spawn fan

make a new spawn movie right now!!! but make it more hardcore with blood n stuff!
spawn fan

ya whatever slashbeast #31 said about new technology.he knows
Someonereadyforanewspawn

I'm glad someone else thought the first movie was good I personal liked it also, I mean damn,it had great CGI for the time it came out,it is just about time for them just to quit playing around with it and just make it rated R.Spawn is a balls to the wall kind of story not a date night let's take my kids to go see so we can laugh and have fun.I mean heaven and hell battles must be good for some people.Just look at:Supernatural still has hundreds of fans and growing.