Todd McFarlane is (yet again) talking up the possibility of a Spawn reboot but this time he’s aiming to secure what every high-action, special effect-driven comic book film needs – a small independent studio.
We previously reported on McFarlane’s interest in keeping Spawn within his creative grasp, and at that time we voiced our concerns about taking the project to a small indie studio. We were genuinely hoping that he’d base the film at a larger studio and give the character the special effects bonanza he deserves.
However, it seems as though McFarlane was serious about keeping the film small.
The Spawn creator spoke with MTV at last month’s Toy Fair International convention, clarifying his plans for the film:
“I’ve done my due diligence. I’ve gone to the big studios, I’ve heard their pitch, [and] I’ve heard what they can offer. I’ve talked to the smaller guys and I’ve given what I want, and I just don’t think I can be satisfied with something at the big boys. [Large studios] can offer a big budget, big stars, and probably make a lot more money, but I just think that story-wise I’m going to be a little dissatisfied.”
While I definitely respect McFarlane for wanting to protect the story, few fans are looking for a small-budget movie adaptation of Spawn. Isn’t that one reason why they produced the Emmy-winning animated series – to provide a solid focus on story without the mess of an inflated budget?
Fans of super hero films expect awe-inspiring action scenes with set-pieces that continuously raise the bar. Spawn, more than almost any other franchise (with all its imaginative visuals), has the potential for really cool and innovative effects – and aren’t we still thirsting for a “real” fight between Spawn and Violator, instead of the tease we got in the first film?
So what’s McFarlane’s proposed budget for the Spawn reboot?
“I keep telling them I can make it for $10 million. I believe I can make this movie for $10 million. You just have to be smart visually and have a solid story behind it. So I’m going, ‘Let’s just do it the way I’ve been envisioning it for 10 years, and I’ll take my lumps if it doesn’t work.’”
Hopefully, McFarlane uses a portion of the budget for one of those suits from The Hurt Locker because it’s hard to imagine even long-term fans of the series getting excited about a Spawn film produced on that kind of budget – not to mention the general movie going public.
When trailers for Marvel’s Avengers movie are showcasing amazing set pieces and mucho action, the indie Spawn trailer will do what to compete? Showcase McFarlane with a megaphone, taking his message to the street a la Michael Moore, reminding people what a great story his film will have?
The Spawn story isn’t the deepest narrative ever written, though it is essential to a good Spawn film – it’s difficult to imagine that big studios wouldn’t be able to find a healthy compromise somewhere in the middle. A compromise that would ultimately produce a much better film.
Maybe McFarlane is just talking up his distaste for the “big boy” studio system because none of them are actually interested in Spawn. The property isn’t the powerhouse it was in the 90s – of course it could be again, if it had a big-budget action film to reinvigorate the franchise.
What would you like to see in the next Spawn movie? Do you think taking the property to an indie studio is a good move on McFarlane’s part?
Source: MTV
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Frank Miller for the win!
yea id like to see WB and zach snyder handle this but its gotta be R rated for sure and a budget around 75million could do the trick.
This man knows what he is talking about. Zack Snyder is perfect for a spawn film, and if he would not do it Quintin Tarantino would be more then happy to. In my opinion.
10 million budget = EPIC FAIL
HBO's Spawn was perfect. Just needs to be made into a live action horror film on the level of Ninja Assassins.
Todd Mcfarlane is a joke anymore. The man was once good, so now he is trying to come back on top again and all he is doing is hurting himself even more. Opinion
i dont know a thing about movie budgets, but i appreciate mcfarlane trying to keep the good story, but considering the visuals of the comics things like the cape, the chains, and most of spawn's villians (though chapel could be easy) need awesome effects that movies are now capable of producing
all in all, i really want to see more spawn
I think he can do enough with that budget to make a good and profitable Spawn movie. This is what I'd do:
1.No CGI for the costume. Spawn didn't learn his costume was alive till later in the story. It doesn't need to move like its alive throughout the entire movie.
2.Initially Spawn doesn't understand his new power and often relies on his old skills with weapons. Guns and knives are cheaper then CGI green energy blasts.
3.Stop motion animate Violator. Go ahead, cringe, but if it was done right, it could still be pretty damn cool.
4.Don't build sets. Off the top of my head, the most common settings in early Spawn books, in priority order, were New York City style alley ways, apartments, buildings, and suburbs. Sounds cheap and easy to me.
If you can't imagine a good Spawn movie being made within those limitations, then in my opinion, you're not much of a Spawn fan.
I really hope he's just baiting a good company and budget, cuz a movie that has the fires of hell at it's base is gonna need a bigger budget.
I've been a fan, and I personally wanted a movie that the cartoon was capable of doin: bringing fantasy and reality into one fine combo. What Mcfarlane is proposing is that the main character is gonna be a background? No. I respect the source material way too much to see this.
I was a fan of the comics and HBO series. The live action movie rubbed me wrong. Then McFarlane went off the deep end, pretty much since that hockey player sued him. But, I'd wouldn't mind seeing another attempt at a live movie regardless of budget. I'd much rather see some straight to DVD animated features. IMO, I don't think any movie will get made due to the fact that McFarlane is certifiably nutty anymore.
Forget Spawn. It's time for a Savage Dragon movie. Get Erik Larsen on the phone…
Only time will tell when we start to see how Spawn actually looks.
I would like to see McFarlane dump the live action angle on Spawn and produce a film in the style of the HBO series. Good fire effects cost money. The cape and suit, when he learns to use them, cost money to make them look really good. Shall we even talk using Violator in the film if it is on a shoe string budget?
I like what he said about a solid script but Spawn definitely needs a budget of at least 50 to 75 million to be done right.
I love the Spawn character and the animated series was a winner too for me. But the movie truly failed to deliver on this bigger than life character. Spawns' costuming and the transitions it undergoes deserve the best movie making has to offer. The characters' backstory is also compelling and I don't think McFarlane should have to worry about that getting lost. He has several good directors and production companys' to choose from right? I respect and appreciate his concerns – but I am worried that a smaller production company will produce much the same lackluster results as before. Careful what you ask for Todd……….
I love the Spawn character and the animated series was a winner too for me. But the movie truly failed to deliver on this bigger than life character. Spawns' costuming and the transitions it undergoes deserve the best movie making has to offer. The characters' backstory is also compelling and I don't think McFarlane should have to worry about that getting lost. He has several good directors and production companys' to choose from right? I respect and appreciate his concerns – but I am worried that a smaller production company will produce much the same lackluster results as before. Careful what you ask for Todd……….
I think this movie will be great its not how much money u got but how he puts the movie togher he can make a good movie if u stick to the hole store line and make lots of action moments
I want someone else to play Spawn. I want him to fight the violater and his brother.
The last HBO animated series was kick-ass, the movie well ,more like it got its ass kicked. Todd, buddy there’s NO WAY a $10million dollar budget is going to make SPAWN look good nor have movie-goers coming to see the movie where the MAIN CHARACTER takes a backseat to their namesake movie. I say spend a little more money, keep it dark and grittier like in the style of The Dark Knight and have some action that’s going to work, possibly Violator, Overtkill, even Chapel for crying out loud this time. Go that route and SPAWN may come out as a big box office contender. OH and this time how about some believable actors. Cuz with Thor, Captain America coming to town SPAWN’s gotta bring in the big guns.
Todd a 10 million is possible and probable for box office but you should go higher and think big because Spawn is big and believe it or not he’s the only black comic character that’s highly respected. But if you do go 10mill, there’s companies who are dependable especially internationally like those guys who did Ong Bak 2 and Ip Man and The Rebel and Bay Rong and even Flash Point if you want it to be off the wall and indie dark like a combo or Dark Knight and Ninja Assassins. But if you go big look up those action directors and choregraphers from those movies I mentioned earlier and go for director Zack Snyder I mean if he could do Watchmen and 300 right, best believe he will make sure Spawn will be right and won’t be a big hype fluke like Clash of Titanets. But please let Michael J. White play Spawn, I mean no offence who else can play Spawn like him and he no martial arts, can choregraph good, and does his OWN stunts. But companies like the ones who did 300 and Ninja Assassins will do great for a big budget but don’t trust the american independent films, go international and go for the ones that make small look like a 100mill.
I’ve read enough things about spawn and what not. But i truly think that making this movie with a low budget is highly impossible. To make such great effects and details, its going to cost a good amount of money. I know he wants to keep everything on the low and not waste a lot of money but, hey, things have changed since the 90′s. To make a real good decent movie now and days it takes a lot of effects and programmings all that stuff, which clear aint cheap. Now imagine if he changed his mind; and decided to go spend any money necessary. You know how much more money he’d make when the movie come out?! Picture the movie in 3-d rated R, with a lot of action and horror into it, he could take spawn into a whole other level…He can make spawn catch everyone’s attention, he can make it possible. Now why he doesn’t is another story. its a shame how all these people with so much power do so little. (opinion)
For all of us who are fans of the comics and of the cartoon series we realize that in the Spawn universe there is a dualistic dependance on visual style and the story.
The most important thing is for McFarlane to maintain (absolute) creative control of the project and NOT allow a repeat of the first live action Spawn. THAT is more important than whether the budget is big or small.
Secondly it must be a 2hr+ R-Rated film akin to the storylines of the animated films. Tell the story with no limitations.
Thirdly but perhaps tied with second is that the visual style must be perfect. Spawn can spend much time in shadows as he does in the comics and remain a sort of monstrous ghostlike apparition. And for those of us who love the comics and cartoons we realize that Spawn is much more dependant on atmosphere than action.
i think that McFarlane is sorta making an mistake on his indie movie idea. yes he can stay true to the story and idea of spawn, but like they said spawn is not as big a franchise or as famous as it used to be. he would do good to let a big production company take over on this one. i know dont comment this saying oh thats stupid and stuff just let me explain.
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first of all if he did the indie idea there is a chance that the movie might not even come to theaters. but if he goes with a high rolling company, the movie would most likely come to theaters therefore getting alot of old fans that liked the first movie and has been waiting for a new one like myself. and would bring in a whole new crowd of younger teens who are emo (which is just about every one now, including myself)
so it would be very smart for him to go with the big boys on this one and then make a possible sequel to it on his own terms. trust me dudes, if he goes with the nice affects, great fighting scenes, and awesome graphics and a very cool spawn costume. not to mention great actors staring in the movie. it would reach many young kids and adult fans of the first movie and comics, it could become a great marketing idea for toys, clothing, and a great many other things they can think of. well this is just my opinion on the matter listen or don’t doesn’t really make a difference. well see ya!!!
I want someone else to play Spawn in the Spawn reboot movie. I also want him to be all Black.
I would actually prefer a small budget with unknown actors. I find comic book movies are way better that way. And even if it doesn’t make theaters because its a small budget movie im sure it will still do just fine. Boondock Saints 2 only went to select theaters and it did fine.
The reboot would be badass if turns out like the hbo series
This man is a fool does he understand how much money that this movie would rake in, this movie has been long awaited by many fans for several years if he would just loosen up just a little and take it to a bigger studio this man could make serious history in the movie industry i believe this movie could make close to 600 million and over if he plays his cards right.The hbo series is cool but fans want a MOVIE!!!!!
The next spawn movie should feature Nyx(spawns female partner) i think it would make a good story, make it feel like the comic but also keep it original.