Todd McFarlane Says New R-Rated 'Spawn' Movie In The Works

It’s been nearly twenty years since “Spawn” opened in cinemas, and the film is mostly remembered as a bungled opportunity to adapt Todd McFarlane‘s cult favorite comic. And ever since, he’s promised that a new version would be on the way: in 2009, he stated he was negotiating to write and direct the effort himself. None of this has come to pass, but ever the optimist, McFarlane still insists a new rendition of “Spawn” will happen. Yet you have to wonder if there’s even an audience for the property, which is one of the signature characters to come out from Image Comics, the ’90s-era independent company that inspired massive, record-breaking sales in the comic book industry and gave Marvel and DC a run for their money.

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Guesting recently on AMC‘s “Geeking Out,” the comic creator stated that an all new film of “Spawn” is coming, and it’s going to match the adult-oriented nature of the source material. “It’s not going to be a continuation. It’s not going to be a sequel. Scrub the first movie,” he said. “It’s going to be a dark, R-rated, scary, badass sort of script. It’s not a nice, polite PG-13.”

There’s no word yet if a studio has bitten on the project (even in light of the success of “Deadpool,” an R-rated “Spawn” would be a tough sell), who might be directing or any details beyond McFarlane’s claim that the project is in play. But he seems enthusiastic, and if he brings that spirit into studio meetings, anything can happen, even if his pitch suggests that the titular character will be mostly unseen, like the shark in “Jaws.” [Comic Book]