Todd McFarlane’s upcoming Spawn movie seems to have been in development for awhile now. The project looked to finally get off the ground when Blumhouse announced they would produce McFarlane’s passion project. In fact, McFarlane is expected to write and direct the upcoming film which he previously promised at Emerald City Con it would be dark and nasty with a R-rating.
McFarlane created Spawn when he co-founded Image Comics in 1992 after his epic runs on The Amazing Spider-Man which included the creation of the now infamous Spider-Man villain Venom.
We hadn’t heard much about the Spawn project since Emerald City Con. However, McFarlane spoke to AZCentral to give us an update on the movie. Not only did he give an update as to where the movie is production wise, but he also said that Spawn won’t be a superhero movie. Instead he refers to it as a “supernatural thriller.”
We just signed off on the script, and are going into budgeting. We’re also having our casting meeting…It will be dark and heavy, serious, R-rated. It won’t be a superhero movie. I don’t think most people would categorize it as that. It will be a supernatural thriller, like a lot of good creep movies. The only thing in the movie that’s fantastic is Spawn, and anything else is otherwise normal.
McFarlane then details how the movie will be different from the original Spawn movie which debuted all the way back in 1997.
We don’t want to muddy the waters. It’s R-rated. Not like “Deadpool,” where there was just a couple F-bombs and a naked butt. Not like “Logan” either…We’re talking trauma, true trauma, as serious as possible.
Maybe the most interesting details are how Spawn will be portrayed in the movie. He even compared the film to Jaws, which he previously said was his inspiration for the film.
I like to explain that it’s my “Jaws.” Spawn doesn’t say a word the entire movie, and it’s the same way with “Jaws.” It’s about the sheriff and the people, chasing the ghost. That’s it…The lead role isn’t Spawn, the lead role is a cop, like Sheriff Brody from “Jaws.” I think we can hook a fairly significant actor that we want. Unlike a superhero movie, we wouldn’t need an actor to put on prosthetic (makeup) or go to the gym. We just need him to act.
McFarlane did indicate he’s not nervous going into directing his first feature film.
Intellectually should I be? Yes. Am I? No. I’m not 24. I’m in my 50s. I’ll get good people surrounding me. I’ve had this idea in my brain for a decade, and I’ve directed it a thousand times and have clarity on what I want to do…And storyboard wise, I’m here and will draw it for you. If I can’t see it, I can draw it.
I’m definitely looking forward to seeing this come to life especially with Blumhouse Productions’ string of successful horror films such as Get Out, Insidious, The Purge, Split, Paranormal Activity, Creep, Sinister, and The Gift.