Todd McFarlane Updates on New "Spawn" Movie

[JamesG]

McFarlane Starts Writing New Spawn Movie
Source: Josh
August 23, 2009

"Spawn" creator Todd McFarlane has announced that he has officially begun writing the screenplay for a new movie based on the character.

"The story has been in my head for 7 or 8 years," McFarlane said. "The movie idea is neither a recap or continuation. It is a standalone story that will be R-rated. Creepy and scary."

He added that "the tone of this 'Spawn' movie will be for a more older audience. Like the film 'Departed.'"


In August of 1997, New Line released a Spawn movie that grossed $87.8 million worldwide. It starred Michael Jai White, John Leguizamo and Martin Sheen.

http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/topnews.php?id=11489

[JamesG]

Todd McFarlane Taking Indie Route for Spawn Sequel?
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
By: MrDisgusting


While Kevin Smith begs studios and ponders the thought of asking fans for money to make Red State, comic book artist turned toy warlord Todd McFarlane is headed in the opposite direction.

The creator of the Spawn franchise was on hand at the New York Toy Fair promoting his new toy lines where he explained that the Spawn sequel is coming along, and could end up being independently produced (using his own money).



"I’ve had the idea in my head for over 10 years," McFarlane told Newsarama, "and I want to write, produce and direct it and just go, ‘ here it is.’"


While it would be nice to think it would go, let's say, tomorrow, McFarlane is still working on the script.

"I’m 80% through the script, I did my due diligence, went around Hollywood," McFarlane said, "...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," he continues. "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."



But unlike Mr. Smith, McFarlane could end up just financing it out of his cool millions.

"Another option is me just financing it myself," McFarlane pointed out. "That way I can just ... I own all of it."

http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/19344

[TJL]

I was never much of a fan of Spawn, although the HBO animated series was watchable.

The Spawn movie was terrible. It was a watered down PG-13 mess.

There's no way any studio is going to want to make an R Rated "comic book" movie, after Watchmen did so poorly. Looks like Todd is going to have to pay for this movie out of his own pocket.

[Torgo]

There's no way any studio is going to want to make an R Rated "comic book" movie, after Watchmen did so poorly. Looks like Todd is going to have to pay for this movie out of his own pocket.

Maybe he can get Dimension Films to do it since they did Sin City.

[JamesG]

The Facts, Status on New Spawn Movie
Thursday, March 31, 2011
By: MrDisgusting


Website My DVD Insider caught up with comic artists legend Todd McFarlane, who was very open when talking about his plans for an R-rated Spawn reboot.

After jokingly acknowledging that Spawn fans of the '90s are now old enough to see an R-rated film, he updated the status of the screenplay:


"I'm three quarters through it," he explains.

"I'll finish it and put it on a shelf for about a week. What usually happens is, I come back to it so I can see all the flaws. I do a rewrite and there's a first draft at that point."





Speaking on studio interest, McFarlane is iron first on his demands: he will only make it if he can write, produce, direct again.

"A few studios have phoned me to talk about the project and when I walk into these pitch meetings, I go here's the story. I give them the broad strokes. Then I go, here's the non-negotiable part: I write, produce, direct. That's it," he states adding that it WILL be low budget.





Lastly, on the plot: "In this new version, there are no supervillains, archenemies or any of that. It's just a spook movie, something scary going bump in the night."

http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/24022