Todd McFarlane is talking about Spawn 2 (again) and if you’re a Spawn fan and have been waiting for a sequel or a proper feature film remake for the character, you probably know that there’s been lots of discussion about this project from McFarlane for years.
Now however, it looks like the comic book legend and toy creator is at the boiling point and ready to push this project into motion, even if he has to do it himself. Who better to take full control of the property than its true creator? Well, I’ll address this a little later.
Speaking to Newsarama, Todd McFarlane talked about the status of the next Spawn movie and what his plans are for it.
“I’ve had the idea in my head for over 10 years… and I want to write, produce and direct it and just go, ‘ here it is.’”
“I’m 80% through the script, I did my due diligence, went around Hollywood… 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.”
In August, we reported that McFarlane had seemingly settled on the decision to make the next Spawn movie a much more adult, scary and realistic film. It also seemed (for a long time now) the comic creator was leaning towards going with a smaller indie studio to have more creative freedom over the project and keep it truer to not only the source, but from the mind of the source creator himself. That still seems to be the case but I don’t know how a movie based on Spawn can be made for so little.
At the premiere for X-Men Origins: Wolverine last spring, he said he had offers from five big studios but he’s continued to emphasize that he wants creative freedom to make the movie right in his vision and not like the 1997 version.
“All the small guys go ‘that thing [1997’s “Spawn”] opened up to $20 million last time!’ We could do a talking head [indie movie] for 8-9 million bucks or we can add an extra million to the budget and make a Spawn movie? Rock and Roll!”
“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.”
I don’t know if he actually had five interested studios or if he was just talking up the project. I also am unsure as to how to bring Spawn to life for such a low budget and have it marketed properly for a wide theatrical release (assuming that’s the objective). McFarlane continued to say that his other option is to finance it himself which is, needless to say, incredibly risky. Although, Kick-Ass was independently financed and look at the hype it’s receiving.
I do applaud his passion and desire to bring the character back and with him having more control, I think that can allow for a better film for the hardcore fans. If it comes down to him directing and writing, controlling the full creative process though, this is very worrisome. He has no major behind-the-camera experience and for regular moviegoers, a character like Spawn may be a more difficult sell, especially if it’s coming from a much smaller budget and hence, likely with no A-list star like Leonardo Dicaprio who McFarlane was name-dropping last summer.
We still have no time frame or confirmation that the Spawn remake is happening and same goes for the Spawn animated TV series that McFarlane was confident about in the fall. Is this all talk or are we finally going to see movement on Spawn sequel or remake soon?
Source: Newsarama
Art by Erik Von Lehmann
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A small budget is possible if the story is focused on Sam & Twitch as opposed to being focused on Spawn's hell powers. Spawn's origin story could be revealed to the audience in bits and pieces as S&T investigate some series of gruesome murders (perhaps Spawn killing other killers or people he may blame for his betrayal) and find evidence of weapons that only Jason Winn's mercenarys have access to, eventually leading them to Wanda and Terry. I'm not saying this angle is my preference, but if his budget is low, I'd still enjoy this idea.
Love todds work in the early 90's. Hope he comes up with a good script.
So let me get this straight. You (Todd) are going to take your most well-known character who you should be basing the movie on, and put him in the shadows as a “boogey-man type” character and focus the movie around Sam & Twitch?
Epic FAIL.
I loved Todd's art but his writing was always middle-road. I can't imagine the script being any better. Unless he hires someone to polish it. Just do a film revolving around the first 12 issues of Spawn. Make it just like the HBO animated series anbd it will be a hit.
I'm so glad to hear some news about this. Spawn is a great character. Superhero meets supernatural being…combining the two hottest properties in Hollywood nowadays. I'd like to see a live-action movie done well this time, but I'd much rather see a return of the animated series. Marvel and DC both do pretty well with their straight to DVD animated features. I don't see why McFarlane couldn't do the same. By making a little money with animated DVDs that would start generating even more interest in his property, he could do a live-action film later on with a bigger budget.
I use to love spawn. He use to be my favorite comic character back in the 90's. But as the story lost interest I lost interest. If he focus it around the first few issue of the comic and stay true to that it will be a hit.
Financing the movie is a big risk though. And I doubt he can get MJW to do it again with such a low budget..
Todd's writing was always weak. I followed Spawn for years until I couldn't take it anymore, I always had the feeling the storyline was spinning it's wheels for the most part with no direction. In fact some of the best issues were when guest writers would take over. He may have a good idea of what he wants in a movie but doesn't have the writing skill to translate it on the page, no way it would translate even moderately well on the big screen. If he does maintain control throughout the whole process, it's money down the drain for him and a film as enjoyable as The Spirit for us. Too bad…..I was a huge fan of Spawn and the promise it had all those years ago….
ya for those who know. todd is a douche hes ALL talk and for him to take this small budget and him direct is a major major mistake. i know for a fact david goyer could write a spawn script that would CRAP on todds writing through and through. and what better way to hint at the batman/spawn comics then to have the writer of the dark knight write this after blade 4 but i wouldnt think it would be bad if he Co directed like frank miller in sin city make Todd mcfalanes spawn with a proper director
I think Guillermo del Toro would do marvelous things with SPawn as well.
Yawn… He has been saying the same thing for over a decade now and it has become pathetic. At least this time there was no photo of him dressed like a 12 year old attempting to look cool and hip.
Spawn…..Yawn…..McFarlane lost me when he crapped on us with the movie Spawn……..I can see the Mystery Science Theater 3000 guys roasting that bantha dung…..
FIrst Spawn was not bad. Not great but def not bad. Todd is a joke. He thinks he knows what he is doing, but doesnt. He is a joke anymore in the toy industry, comic wrtiting. His drawings are kinda cool, but he is a little off his rocker with this one.
From the above article…
“In August, we reported that McFarlane had seemingly settled on the decision to make the next Spawn movie a much more adult, scary and realistic film. It also seemed (for a long time now) the comic creator was leaning towards going with a smaller indie studio to have more creative freedom over the project and keep it truer to not only the source, but from the mind of the source creator himself. That still seems to be the case but I don’t know how a movie based on Spawn can be made for so little.”
“At the premiere for X-Men Origins: Wolverine last spring, he said he had offers from five big studios but he’s continued to emphasize that he wants creative freedom to make the movie right in his vision and not like the 1997 version.”
EXACTLY! I didn't read the whole piece because these two paragraphs (paragraphs 3 and 4) really caught my eye. Therefore, my take is that Mcfarlane was probably waiting for the rights of his character, as a result of the 1997 movie, to expire right back into his possession, which would explain his eagerness and forwardness to make another movie, where he–the sole creator of the character–has total control over the film.
He goes on to say (in paragraph 3, line 2) he wants to make a more adult and realistic version of the character, because he wants to “make the movie right in his vision and not like the 1997 version” (paragraph 4, line 3).
This is what needs to be done to the X-Men, and any movie solely based on Wolverine. Marvel seriously needs to get back all the rights to their characters.
GOYER SUCKS. He can't write his way out of a paper bag. His directing is even worse. GUILLERMO SUCKS. Have you seen what he did to Hellboy?
Does anyone even care? I sure as hell don't.
A spawn remake in 2011 would be hugely popular. Mchael Jai white is still in awesome shape (hell hes in his mid to late 30's) and he was great as Spawn…so i would definetly bring him back…or get someone like Terry crewes to play the part…no need for CGI muscles that dude is built like a greek god.
When Todd McFarlane speaks, Todd McFarlane listens.
Middle of the road? More like it sucks.
McFarlane couldn't write his way out of a wet paper bag.He ruined the comic because he wrote himself into a corner.
Spawn is pretty interesting at it's core,but it's the details that make it mediocre.McFarlane is such an egomaniac that he can't even see that,so if this project continues on the same path,I really don't see any evidence for me to think that this one will be significantly better that it's predecessor.
I'm going to remake the X-Men movies for you.
I just need Fox Studios to pass me their support and $90 million dollars
I'm going to remake the X-Men movies for you.
I just need Fox Studios to pass me their support and $90 million dollars
no more al simmons his story is know and its old. either do the armegeddon story arc. or base it on the new spawn Jim Downing
An-ge-la! An-ge-la!!!
Hmmm, I'd like to see a decent rendering of Spawn.
Maybe it'll work this time.
We won't know until we go see it, will we?
Insider
why comment if you don't care?
Take a hike idiot.
I think Todd McFarlane should let someone else do the script, someone who could make sense of all the plot holes in his universe.
The most compelling character in his universe as a boogeyman character spells epic fail. It ain't Spawn unless Spawn is the featured character.
I don't put much stock into anything that has Fox's hands on it, Rob, when it comes to Marvel characters. But thanks for trying.
He would make an excellent Isaiah Bradley (Black Captain America).
McFarlane should go back to owning the hockey team and let Neil Gaiman and Alan Moore write his scripts. Oh he already did that and completely crapped on them.
You aren't alone in feeling that way. The first two X-movies were good. What they do next will truely determine whether or not they can make a good Marvel movie.
p.s. Try what?
your attempt at making a good quality movie with Fox's support. I'm not sure if any marvel movie they have made so far is even up to the stadards of being good.
I think Todd McFarlane should let someone else do the script, someone who could make sense of all the plot holes in his universe.
The most compelling character in his universe as a boogeyman character spells epic fail. It ain't Spawn unless Spawn is the featured character.