Spawn Reboot Isn't an Origin Story

CBR

Spawn Reboot Definitely Isn't an Origin Story, McFarlane Says

By Tom Chapman

Published Jun 3, 2018

Spawn creator Todd McFarlane promises that Blumhouse's reboot movie won't be a superhero origin story and will pick up with a fully-formed antihero.

Spawn creator Todd McFarlane is teasing something different from the upcoming reboot movie, insisting that it won't be another superhero origin story. With Jamie Foxx cast as a resurrected Al Simmons, more details about McFarlane and Blumhouse's movie are coming to light.

First creating the character back in 1992, McFarlane's work previously came to life in Mark A.Z. Dippé's maligned Spawn in 1997, which starred Michael Jai White as the lead and frequently makes the list of "worst superhero movies ever." This time, instead of again going over how Simmons become the demonic antihero, horror legends Blumhouse will be taking Spawn somewhere new.

When asked whether audiences would get to see Foxx's dramatic transformation from CIA agent to masked vigilante, McFarlane told Comic Book, "Nope. Nope. Nope. I’m not interested in the origin story." Continuing about why he isn't keen to explain how the latest iteration of the character took on the Spawn mantle, McFarlane explained, "I can’t do it. I can’t do it. I’ve seen too many movies that spend way too much time for the set up."

Able to write and direct the upcoming movie, McFarlane has a much tighter control on Spawn and it was one of the only reasons he allowed a reboot in the first place. Comparing Blumhouse's Spawn to John Krasinski's recent A Quiet Place, McFarlane praised the movie's model of starting in the middle of the story.

“Given A Quiet Place came out and it starts with day 89, I love it. I love it,” he said. “It didn’t go in any depth what happened in those first 88 days. I love it. So either you just go for the ride, or you don’t.”

Introduced in 1992 by McFarlane, Spawn was wildly popular throughout much of the decade, inspiring spinoff comic books, a live-action 1997 movie and an HBO animated series. McFarlane has kept fans updated on the film’s development, discussing inspirations, thoughts on casting and plans for a new animated series. The project began casting in January.