The Spawn movie has assembled a writing team that includes one of the minds behind Joker and another penning the upcoming Captain America: New World Order. Created by Todd McFarlane, Spawn has a gruesome origin story, having been burned to death in a betrayal by his special agent comrades. Real name Albert Francis Simmons, he was offered a chance to return to Earth but at the expense of his memories, body, and five years' time. Spawn, with his demonic look, has extensive superhuman powers bestowed to him from Hell, and his work as an assassin prior to his "death" made him a skilled marksman. Spawn ran first as a comic book before being adapted as a feature film in 1997 and an Emmy-winning animated series from 1997 to 1999.
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A reboot film for Spawn has been in the works for several years. Jamie Foxx, a seasoned player when it comes to superheroes, having appeared as Electro twice in the Spider-Man franchise, will be in the lead role. McFarlane has been heavily involved in the film's development process, including writing a script for the project.
Now, per THR, Scott Silver, one half of the Oscar-nominated writing team behind Joker and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier creator Malcolm Spellman, who is also co-writing Captain America: New World Order, have been brought on to pen a new script. They'll be joined by newcomer Matt Mixon, known for his work in documentaries. Though McFarlane was considering directing the film, he's now less sure. Of the latest development, McFarlane said, “If we’ve got an A-list actor, A-list producers, A-list writers, then do you want to shoot for A-list directors, A-list cinematographers? The answer is, ‘Of course.’ Let’s keep the momentum going.” Meanwhile, Spellman explained that he's honored to get the Spawn assignment. Read his comments below:
I grew up in Berkeley, which is a comic book city. 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.
How Can This Spawn Movie Differ From The Original
The original Spawn hit the screen well before the anti-hero craze that took off after Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool went nuclear both with critics and audiences. In the decades since the '90s, CGI work has dramatically improved, and viewers' appetites for heroes without morals has changed as comic book hits make up four of the top ten most profitable R-rated movies of all time. While the original film was rated PG-13, McFarlane has made it clear he'd like the Spawn reboot to be rated R, which seems more likely with Silver's involvement.
The addition of the new writing team means that the Spawn reboot is likely closer to being made than ever before. Silver, Spellman, and Mixon are an exciting combination, and each brings something different to the table. Spellman knows how to craft a successful superhero project with wide appeal, as well as how to create a star vehicle for a beloved but perhaps lesser-known character. Silver is similarly experienced in the comic book world, with his work on Joker showing how adept he is at adapting a character with villainous tendencies. Meanwhile, Mixon is an exciting new voice who will bring a fresh perspective completely different from the other two writers. While there's still no guarantee the Spawn reboot will be made, it appears more likely now than it has in a long time.