The project, which still has Jamie Foxx slated to star, is getting a new script from Scott Silver, Malcolm Spellman, and up-and-coming screenwriter Matt Mixon. With the addition of a trio of writers, Blumhouse's picture, which is based on a comic book character created by Todd McFarlane, is receiving a fresh burst of creative energy.
A new script for the movie, which has been in development at Blumhouse since 2017, is being written by Joker's Scott Silver, Falcon and the Winter Soldier's Malcolm Spellman, and up-and-coming writer Matthew Mixom. The anti-hero, who made his comic book debut in 1992, will continue to be portrayed by Jamie Foxx, with McFarlane serving as one of the movie's producers.
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McFarlane created an earlier draught of the script and had his eye on the director's chair. But given that some of the most well-known authors in the comic book movie industry are engaged, the comic book writer and illustrator admits he might not be the best choice to direct.
"If we've got an A-list actor, A-list producers, A-list writers, then do you want to shoot for A-list directors, A-list cinematographers?" According to McFarlane, The Hollywood Reporter. "Of course," was the reply. Let's keep the momentum going.
Spellman says he has a special place in his heart for Spawn.
STAY TUNED for 12 PM ET. #SpawnMovie @Q1043 pic.twitter.com/nP6oIlz3Rm
— Todd McFarlane (@Todd_McFarlane) October 5, 2022
"I grew up in Berkeley, which is a comic book city. Todd McFarlane's SPAWN character was always one of my favorites - a Black superhero that was no bullshit, he was cool and dealt with modern issues," in a statement, Spellman. "Myself, Matt Mixon, and Scott Silver are pledged to honoring what Todd started and what SPAWN is at its core, delivering something that's relevant and edgy and unlike any other superhero movie out there."
Both Silver and Spellman have left their distinct imprints on the world of comic books. Joker surpassed expectations in 2019 by grossing more than $1 billion globally, earning Joaquin Phoenix the best actor Oscar, and earning Todd Phillips and Joel Silver nominations for best adapted screenplay. A sequel to Joker is now being written by Phillips and Silver, who was previously nominated for an Oscar for writing The Fighter. CAA represents him.
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The Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, starring Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan, was created by Spellman. The show received plaudits for addressing societal concerns including institutional racism in a level that had never been done in a comic book adaptation before. Currently, he is penning the prestigious Captain America: New World Order screenplay for Marvel Studios, which will star Mackie. CAA and Industry Entertainment represent him.
The 2017 music documentary Yesterday Was Everything, about the hard-core band Misery Signals reforming ten years after their debut album, was directed by Mixom, a rising star in the documentary field. Manager Heller High Water represents the author.
Spawn served as the debut title for Image Comics, the publisher founded by an artist and home to series like The Walking Dead, whose CEO, McFarlane, continues to serve. The first issue of Spawn sold 1.7 million copies, and games, an HBO animated series, and a 1997 New Line film starring Michael Jai White all featured the titular character. At Image, McFarlane has continued to make the character a priority by releasing a number of comics over the past year.
In the comic books, Spawn is a former member of the black operations who, after being betrayed and executed, strikes a bargain with a demon. The devil permits him to go back to Earth, but by the time he does, five years have gone, his wife has moved on, and he is now a deformed spawn of hell roaming the planet.
Jeremy Renner, who was previously attached, may or may not be involved in the project, depending on how the new draught plays out. Foxx is still set to star. According to McFarlane, who is looking for a studio partner with the team and originally wrote the script for a low-budget picture, the new Spawn may receive a somewhat larger budget. Regarding the most recent version of Spawn, McFarlane attributes a turning point to viewing the R-rated Joker in 2019 and asking, "Why not just go for the person who created the movie?" It came as a nice surprise to him when Silver said yes, and the other writers soon joined in.
McFarlane claims: "It was a complete hail marry. Sometimes timing is everything."