It's beginning to feel like Todd McFarlane's Spawn movie is trapped in development hell. The comic book writer and artist has frequently promised news is coming, and with Spider-Man: No Way Home star Jamie Foxx still attached to play the title character, it feels like it could happen...eventually.
Last year's WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes did little to help matters, of course, but with those in the rearview, Scott Silver (Joker), Malcolm Spellman (The Falcon and The Winter Soldier), and Matthew Mixon's (Yesterday Was Everything) screenplay has surely started taking shape.
Talking to ComicBook.com, McFarlane confirmed the project still falls under the Blumhouse Productions banner and that he'll get his hands on the script imminently.
"Jason Blum is one of the better ones at getting things done," he explained. "They tell me I get to read the script this month. The email is going out this week to remind them that they promised me that."
"Something's gotta happen. Something's gonna happen," McFarlane continued. "I just know myself, something's gonna happen 'cause if I can't figure it out inside [the Hollywood system], I'll figure it out [independently]. I just know myself. But hopefully we can figure out a deal that keeps all the parties that have been involved over the years involved."
He'd add that he remains convinced Spawn could still be released in 2025 as planned, though it's clear the Venom creator is losing patience with Blumhouse and the sheer amount of time it's taking to get this thing off the ground. That may well be down to the "Hollywood system" he mentions, of course, hence why he's considering taking it down the independent route.
In 2021, we spoke to original Spawn star Michael Jai White and asked for his thoughts on this planned reboot.
"I haven't spoken...I feel like Todd has been talking about a reboot for, I don't know, what, 23 years now? So, it seems to be a talking point [Laughs], but that's all I know. I don't have any control over that, but if I was asked [to cameo], out of sheer respect of me playing Spawn, I would do what I can as thanks to the fans. I don't tend to register Spawn talk any more after hearing it for 23 years!"
Spawn remains the most successful independent comic book ever published and the character previously starred in a 1997 movie starring White and John Leguizamo. However, it was a critical and commercial disappointment.
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