SPAWN Director Todd McFarlane Cites Creative Differences As Reason For The Adaptation's Long Development

SPAWN Director Todd McFarlane Cites Creative Differences As Reason For The Adaptation's Long Development

While the news regarding Todd McFarlane's Spawn has been received well by fans, it has been a while since we've had any updates on the project from Blumhouse. This is leaving many to wonder why . . .

News
By Dragonsfoe - Jul 24, 2019 05:07 AM EST
Filed Under: Spawn
Source: Comic Book
In 1997, Spawn, starring Michael Jai White, disturbed creator Todd McFarlane to the extent that he had to tackle the next live-action interpretation himself. With the script now finished, and an exciting cast already set for shooting, it seems as though creative differences are preventing the film from heading into principal photography.

Jason Blum and Blumhouse, the studio behind Halloween, have had problems coming to an agreement behind the scenes. While many Blumhouse productions are quick to develop, Spawn has proved itself to be a harder property to adapt altogether.

Here's what director McFarlane had to say about its development thus far, and while coming to terms is very possible, fans will just have to wait it out:

The money's sitting on the sidelines ready to go. I just need to get everyone that wants to put in money to shake their heads to the same script. As you can imagine, everyone has a slightly different version of it in their head. You just go and trying to appease a handful of people while not giving in to what it is that I'm trying to do myself. Because if I have to change it too much, I'll just walk away from it all.

Are you looking forward to the Jamie Foxx and Jeremy Renner-starring adaptation of Spawn?
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SpideyPuffsMJ
SpideyPuffsMJ - 7/24/2019, 6:21 AM
Also he's never made a movie before
mastakilla39
mastakilla39 - 7/24/2019, 7:15 AM
@SpideyPuffsMJ - My thoughts exactly. Have people forgot how Frank Miller [frick]ed up "The Spirit" with a promising cast? That movie is [frick]ing terrible and makes little to no sense.
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 7/24/2019, 10:21 AM
@SpideyPuffsMJ - Todd loves to burn Spawn fans out. Everytime he announces a project it never happens. And then he blames everyone else but himself because he wants 100% control over the film. No movie studio is going to hand over a non movie director $15 million to make a movie on wishful thinking.
knocturnalzen10
knocturnalzen10 - 7/24/2019, 6:30 AM
i remember meeting him at comic con before it was mainstream and popular showing him my work , him being pretty impressed and then giving me a card for the toy line run to interests .... but how he did it was so prickish, i was like mannnnn i'm good ....
AwesomePromoz
AwesomePromoz - 7/24/2019, 7:25 AM
@knocturnalzen10 - He has a very big ego but he is also very smart in business and an exacting perfectionist. I encourage many people to watch this:
knocturnalzen10
knocturnalzen10 - 7/24/2019, 7:43 AM
@TheFamousJMC - will do thank you good sir
BigMikeReviews
BigMikeReviews - 7/24/2019, 6:30 AM
It seems to me from what Todd McFarlane is saying is that Todd Macfarlane is the one preventing this film from getting made
RolandD
RolandD - 7/24/2019, 9:29 AM
@BigMikeReviews - That’s my first reaction.
Lol
OptimusGrime
OptimusGrime - 7/24/2019, 6:48 AM
A great man once said:

“Compromise where you can. Where you can't, don't. Even if everyone is telling you that something wrong is something right. Even if the whole world is telling you to move, it is your duty to plant yourself like a tree, look them in the eye, and say 'No, you move'.”

#captainmycaptain
GhostDog
GhostDog - 7/24/2019, 6:56 AM
LOL he seems like his own obstacle in this circumstance
knocturnalzen10
knocturnalzen10 - 7/24/2019, 7:02 AM
@BlackBeltJones - he seriously is , not taking away from his amazing talent but from the very small interaction i had with him .... he has a God complex :/ ..... example look at how he writes certain characters ....
GhostDog
GhostDog - 7/24/2019, 8:15 AM
@knocturnalzen10 - I’ve heard from a few folks who’ve met him at cons as well. BIIIIIIG EGO it seems
PsychoticSpaceRaccoon
PsychoticSpaceRaccoon - 7/24/2019, 7:03 AM
Blumhouse normally offers vast creative freedom because the films are so low-budget.

If they are having doubts it means the script is probably THAT terrible.
Comicbookart
Comicbookart - 7/24/2019, 8:24 AM
@PsychoticSpaceRaccoon -

Script must be really terrible. This is the studio that greenlit paranormal activity and viral.
manofillintent1
manofillintent1 - 7/24/2019, 7:03 AM
I read his plan is to ask 20 million people for a dollar in order to get this made
WruceBayne
WruceBayne - 7/24/2019, 9:30 AM
@manofillintent1 - I’d give him a dollar.
Mrcool210
Mrcool210 - 7/24/2019, 7:25 AM
Good. I'd rather he walk away. Considering Spawn is literally only good whenever Macfarlane isn't writing him. (Minus issue 1). So much of the series is confused and stupid. Read so much of it and been watching through this series..



I would highly reccomend it to everyone. It's really good, but helped show me how stupid Spawn can be.
pclark
pclark - 7/24/2019, 7:40 AM
Yeah, creative differences... He wants to do it his way or the highway and Blumhouse wants something that could actually stand a chance of turning a profit. This is not showcharity, it is showbusiness. If a studio doesn't think it can turn a profit on a comic book movie with a 20 million dollar budget, the script must be the biggest stinking pile of crap ever put on paper. McFarlane needs to check his ego at the door and let someone who actually knows what they are doing write and direct this film.
IronGenesis
IronGenesis - 7/24/2019, 7:45 AM
I could see

Investor #1 - Wants SPAWN front and center.
Investor #2 - Spawn in the shadows ala Jaws
Investor #3 - Focus on the two cops
Investor #4 - Focus on a new female rookie cop
Investor #5 - Focus on a kid who befriends Spawn
Comicbookart
Comicbookart - 7/24/2019, 7:58 AM
@IronGenesis - You used a lot of words to avoid saying that Todd McFarlane doesn't have a clue.
IronGenesis
IronGenesis - 7/24/2019, 8:35 AM
@Comicbookart - lol! Not at all. McFarlane has always had a clear, bold and striking vision.

It just takes courage from the part of the money men. Who apparently aren’t keen on a Film Called Spawn with very little Spawn. And a star like Jamie Foxx whom you never see.

But that’s the right choice. To keep Spawn in the shadows (like Bruce the Shark).

You’d get a better film...but probably torpedo you chances of making huge profits.

Hope McFarlane doesn’t compromise too much.
Comicbookart
Comicbookart - 7/24/2019, 8:40 AM
@IronGenesis - He's talented and Spawn is a great and enduring character.

But McFarlane is also egotistical.

Blumhouse is one of the easiest studios to work with. They greenlight almost anything.

I usually am on the siden of the creators but in thia case it looks like he is at fault.
Reeds2Much
Reeds2Much - 7/24/2019, 8:54 AM
@Comicbookart - But McFarlane is also egotistical.

After the whole Neil Gaiman incident I'd argue he's just a self-centered asshole.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 7/24/2019, 7:49 AM
Well imagine that. People don't want to pay to make a Spawn movie that only has Spawn in the background as a type of shadow/boogeyman character that the other characters talk about as if he doesn't really exist.

I'm [frick]ing shocked....
RolandD
RolandD - 7/24/2019, 9:30 AM
@CorndogBurglar - That’s what he wants to make? Really?
WruceBayne
WruceBayne - 7/24/2019, 9:34 AM
@CorndogBurglar - “Spawn isn’t going to be a man in a costume but more of a force of nature. He’ll show up, frick things up and he’s out of a window just as fast as he showed up”.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 7/25/2019, 8:55 AM
@RolandD - Yeah, that's what he's been pitching for the past decade or more.

He wants the film to center around Sam and Twitch (the two detectives) and it would be a crime film with Spawn only appearing very quickly in the background. Like a shadow. And some characters might mention him, but no one knows if he's real.

Some of that may have changed more recently. But even when they cast Jaime Fox as Spawn it was mentioned that Spawn would barely even be in the movie.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 7/25/2019, 8:59 AM
@WruceBayne - "I keep wanting to maybe be a little too cute with how I introduce Spawn," the writer/artist tells SYFY WIRE during a phone chat. "A lot of people reading [the script] go, ‘I need to see more of him.’ I keep saying, ‘He’s just my boogeyman in this movie, and then once we get to Part II, then he’ll come full flight into the afternoon light. But [in] the first one, he’s hiding in the shadows until it’s the right time to come out.’"

This quote was as recent as May, 2019...
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 7/25/2019, 9:06 AM
@RolandD - https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.syfy.com/syfywire/todd-mcfarlane-spawn-movie-update-may-2019%3famp

He also mentions that the whole "boogey man" thing would only be in the first movie. Then sequels would have him come out full force. But the thing is, if he makes the first movie like that, then no one will even care or want to see a sequel.
RolandD
RolandD - 7/25/2019, 2:11 PM
@CorndogBurglar - Thanks! Now that you’ve written these posts, I do remember hearing about this a while back ago although I did not know his plan for sequels to include Spawn as the main character. I also think you’re right about how this will end up if it ever happens. Sometimes the creator is not the best person to make the movie.
WruceBayne
WruceBayne - 7/25/2019, 11:44 PM
@CorndogBurglar - and that quote is why this movie is in trouble.
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