Todd McFarlane’s Spawn may be getting its own reboot, as the artist, cartoonist, writer and toy designer has recently claimed that an Oscar winning actor is eagerly awaiting for a finished script via MTV.
Spawn originally hit the big screen in 1997, starring John Leguizamo, Michael Jai White and even Martin Sheen. The film grossed over $54 million on a $40 million budget, but the film is still seen as an inaccurate adaptation to a gripping and engaging storyline. While Leguizamo put on arguably the best performance of his career — the young actor actually ate maggots in clown regalia — Spawn still stands as a mark in the comic book world for how not to adapt a beloved franchise.
Todd McFarlane, however, stated at the TIA Toy Fair this week that a live-action reboot is currently gaining steam. Not only does McFarlane claim that a script is nearly completed, but that an Academy Award-winning actor is ready and willing to take a Spawn reboot to greatest of heights:
“I continue to write a page here and there. As I’ve said before, I’ve got a guy waiting on the sidelines who’s an Academy Award-winning actor who phones every three weeks going, ‘Todd, where’s the script? Where’s the script?’ He came out to the office he gave me his pitch, I gave him my pitch, and he’s like ‘Fine let’s do your gig.’ The pitch I gave him was that we could then do, like ten of these for the next ten years, and he wouldn’t have to be 22 for the rest of his life.”
If the hypothetical Spawn reboot were to stay true to the comic, it would mean the comic’s hero, Albert “Al” Simmons, is a young African-American male — and an Academy Award-winner. In turn, that would limit McFarlane’s supposed collaborator to either Jamie Foxx, Cuba Gooding Jr. or Forest Whitaker. A tough one to call indeed, but we have our money on Jamie Foxx.
While Todd McFarlane wishes to write, direct and produce an R-rated Spawn film himself, it’s not at all outside the realm of possibility given the current climate of film production. Comic book adaptations are killing box offices left and right, and there’s even rumor of an R-rated Deadpool film in the works. Still, we recommend Spawn fans try not to hold their breath, as no substantial evidence has been produced by, well, anyone at all. Let us know what you think and check back for updates.
