Spawn (1997 film)#Soundtrack

U.S. Marine Corps Force Recon Lieutenant Colonel and CIA operative Al Simmons is assigned by his superior, Jason Wynn, to infiltrate a biochemical weapons plant in North Korea, despite Simmons' growing moral qualms with the nature of his work. Unknown to Simmons, Wynn has ordered his top assassin Jessica Priest to murder him while he is on the mission. Before Simmons dies, he is set on fire by Wynn and the flames cause the plant to explode. Simmons arrives in Hell, where one of the rulers of Hell - Malebolgia - offers him a Faustian deal: if Simmons becomes his eternal servant and leader of his army in Armageddon, he will be able to return to Earth to see his wife, Wanda Blake. Simmons accepts the offer and returns to Earth.

Upon his return as Spawn, he learns that five years have passed since his death. Wanda is now married to his best friend Terry Fitzgerald, who is living as the stepfather to his daughter Cyan. Spawn encounters a clown-like demon named Violator, sent by Malebolgia, who acts as his guide down the path to evil. Spawn also meets and befriends a young homeless boy named Zack and a mysterious old man named Cogliostro, a fellow Hellspawn who has successfully freed his soul and now fights for Heaven. Spawn learns that Wynn is now a weapons dealer and has developed a biological weapon called Heat 16. During a reception, Spawn attacks Wynn, kills Jessica, and escapes with the help of his necroplasm armor.

Following the attack by Spawn, Violator convinces Wynn to have a device attached to his heart that will release Heat 16 worldwide if his vital signs flatline as a deterrent against assassination attempts. Malebolgia wants Simmons to kill Wynn and initiate the apocalypse. Spawn confronts Violator, who turns into his demonic form and beats him down. Cogliostro rescues him and teaches him how to use his necroplasm armor with Zack. Spawn learns that Violator and Wynn are going to kill Terry, Cyan, and Wanda.

Terry sends an email incriminating Wynn to a fellow newsman. Just as the email is sent, Cyan and Wynn enter the room. Wynn destroys Terry's computer and takes the family hostage. Spawn, Cogliostro and Zack arrive and nearly kill Wynn, but Spawn extracts the device from Wynn's body instead and destroys it. With his plan foiled, Violator sends Spawn and Cogliostro to Hell, where they both battle the demon before subduing him. Spawn is then confronted by Malebolgia, and tells the demon that he will never lead Hell's army. Spawn escapes with Cogliostro just before they are overwhelmed by Malebolgia's forces. Violator, having recovered, follows them. A final battle ensues, ending with Spawn decapitating the demon with his chains. Violator's head taunts the group and threatens his return before melting and returning to Hell. Wynn is arrested by two detectives, and Spawn, realizing there is no place for him in Wanda's world anymore, dedicates himself to justice rather than succumbing to his lust for vengeance and returns to the streets with Cogliostro and Zack.

File:Michael Jai White FD 2012 Shankbone.JPG

{{Cast listing|

• Michael Jai White as CIA Agent Al Simmons / Spawn
• Nicol Williamson as Sir John of York / Cogliostro
• John Leguizamo as Violator / Clown
• Martin Sheen as CIA Director Jason Wynn
• Melinda Clarke as CIA Agent Jessica Priest
• Theresa Randle as Wanda Blake
• D. B. Sweeney as CIA Agent Terry Fitzgerald
• Sydni Beaudoin as Cyan Simmons-Fitzgerald
• Miko Hughes as Zack
• Michael Papajohn as Glen, Zack's Father
• Frank Welker as The Voice of Malebolgia

}}

Spawn creator Todd McFarlane makes a cameo appearance as a homeless man. The characters of Sam and Twitch appear in silent cameo appearances, portrayed by uncredited stand-ins.

Columbia Pictures showed interest in making a film adaptation of Spawn when the comic book was launched in 1992. Negotiations fell through as Todd McFarlane felt that the studio was not giving him enough creative control.{{cite web |date= January 12, 1997 |last = Coker |first = Cheo Hodari |title= As Once-Dead Heroes Go, He's Tough to Beat | url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-01-12-ca-17749-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140826120328/http://articles.latimes.com/1997-01-12/entertainment/ca-17749_1_comic-book | archive-date = 2014-08-26 | url-status = live |access-date= August 18, 2019 }} He eventually sold the film rights to New Line Cinema for $1 in exchange for creative input and merchandising rights.{{cite news | date = August 6, 1997 | last = Matzer | first = Marla | title = 'Spawn' of a New Era: Studios Turning to Mix of Houses for Modest-Budget Effects Films | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-aug-06-fi-19784-story.html | website = Los Angeles Times | pages = 2 | access-date = October 5, 2018 | archive-date = April 2, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150402232918/http://articles.latimes.com/1997/aug/06/business/fi-19784 | url-status = live }} New Line president Michael De Luca, a comic book collector himself, expressed interest in having "a character that has as established an audience as Spawn", while declaring that success hinged on an adaptation that "maintains a PG-13 rating but retains its darkness."

As visual effects were an important production concern, the film was to be produced by Pull Down Your Pants Pictures, a company formed by former Industrial Light & Magic artists Mark A.Z. Dippé, Clint Goldman, and Steve 'Spaz' Williams. Dippé was slated to direct the film, with Goldman as producer, and Williams as second unit director and visual effects supervisor.{{cite web |date= August 3, 1997 |last= Wolf |first= Jean |title= Bringing The Dark Comic 'Spawn' To The Screen |url= http://articles.philly.com/1997-08-03/entertainment/25568828_1_ilm-computer-clint-goldman |website= Philly.com |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150402090645/http://articles.philly.com/1997-08-03/entertainment/25568828_1_ilm-computer-clint-goldman |archive-date= April 2, 2015 |url-status= dead |access-date= October 5, 2018 }} Dippé and Williams, who at the time was the only one of the three still attached to ILM, called the film opportunity "our ticket out of the company".{{cite web|first1=Edward|last1=Guthmann|url=http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/The-Spaz-Who-Spawned-His-Own-Style-Computer-2815826.php |title=The 'Spaz' Who Spawned His Own Style / Computer animator Steve Williams doesn't look or think like a typical designer |website=SFGate |date=July 27, 1997 |access-date=May 1, 2015 |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402145556/http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/The-Spaz-Who-Spawned-His-Own-Style-Computer-2815826.php |url-status=live }} The script would be written by Alan B. McElroy, who, along with writing the Spawn comic book, also wrote many episodes of the Todd McFarlane's Spawn animated series.

{{Anchor|Costumes}}

Michael Jai White found Al Simmons' character appealing; he described Spawn as "the most tragic character I've encountered in any cinematic production." He says it was a challenge to make audiences sympathize with a government assassin who comes back from hell. White had to endure two to four hours of make-up work, including a full glued-on bodysuit, yellow contact lenses that irritated his eyes, and a mask that restricted his breathing.{{cite journal |date= September 1997 |last= O. Thompson |first= Andrew |title= Spotlight |journal= Vibe |volume=5 |issue=7 |page=216 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Xi0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA216 |access-date= May 1, 2015 }} He said that his long-time experience with martial arts helped him to endure the uncomfortable prosthetics, giving him "strong will and unbreakable concentration." The makeup for John Leguizamo as Clown took eight hours to apply at first, but they later got the process down to about four hours. It left him with blisters and callouses on his face and neck. Leguizamo found the heavy prosthetics of his costume for the Clown to be claustrophobic, and the costume lacked any kind of a cooling system so he would sweat excessively. He compared the situation to wearing a full body condom.{{cite web |date=1 September 2020 |first=Patrick |last= Gomez |title=Random Roles: John Leguizamo on Moulin Rouge, Romeo + Juliet, Ice Age |url=https://www.avclub.com/john-leguizamo-on-wearing-heels-singing-on-his-knees-1844887405 |website=The A.V. Club }}{{cite web |title=10 actors in unrecognisable film roles |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/10-actors-in-unrecognisable-film-roles/ |website=Den of Geek |date=5 January 2012 |access-date=September 4, 2020 |archive-date=February 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228133244/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/10-actors-in-unrecognisable-film-roles/ |url-status=live }}

{{Anchor|Effects|Visual Effects}}

Spawn was originally green-lit with a budget of $20 million. The scale of the visual effects led New Line to continually increase the project's budget, which grew to $40–45 million — a third of which was spent on the effects. The shooting schedule was only 63 days. To cut production time by a week, Goldman lent $1 million to engage John Grower's Santa Barbara Studios to develop the digitally produced Hell sequences. The visual effects shot count increased from 77 to over 400, created by 22 companies in the United States, Canada and Japan, requiring 70 people and nearly 11 months to complete. Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) did most of the work, creating 85 shots at a cost of $8.5 million. More than half of the final effects shots were delivered two weeks before the film's debut.

The most difficult sequences to render in the film included the Violator, Spawn's digital cape, and some of Spawn's transformations. Visual effects supervisor 'Spaz' Williams, with his previous experience of creating the T. Rex in Jurassic Park, was responsible for realizing the reptilian Violator. Working with KNB EFX Group over several months they created a small 24-inch reference model, as well as a full size 11-foot model for use in some of the practical shots. The small model was cut up and laser scanned, the data was then used by a team at ILM to create a digital armature of the creature, and to paint and give texture to the digital model. Only then could the character be animated, after which the work had to be converted to regular film stock. Further work was needed to integrate the footage with the rest of the scene, such as matching the lighting and grain of the other footage. The final shot of The Violator was delivered on July 21, 1997. A team at ILM supervised by Christopher Hery and Habib Zargarpour modelled, animated and rendered realistic looking robes, glass elements and a computer generated Spawn. Originally intended as one long shot, the scene was later recut and extended.{{cite web | url = http://www.vfxhq.com/1997/spawn.html |title=SPAWN |website=VFX HQ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/19980110133606/http://www.vfxhq.com/1997/spawn.html | archive-date = 1998-01-10 | url-status = live |quote = late additions is a film that contains some brilliant visual effects, alongside shots that make audiences cringe |access-date=October 5, 2018 }}

Terry Fitzgerald, Al Simmons' best friend before his death, is black in the comics. In the film, he is white, portrayed by D. B. Sweeney. Todd McFarlane explained that this change was made by the studio to avoid having too many black leads, as they believed this would give the false impression that film's target audience was the African American demographic.{{cite news | date = February 18, 2018 | first= Scott |last= Manning | title = Spawn's Whitewashed Cast in the Black Panther Age | url= https://scottmanning.com/content/spawns-whitewashed-cast-in-the-black-panther-age/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180219090347/https://scottmanning.com/content/spawns-whitewashed-cast-in-the-black-panther-age/ | archive-date = 2018-02-19 | url-status = live | work = ScottManning.com }}{{cite comic | date = March 1997 | title = Spawn | issue = 59 | writer = Todd McFarlane | inker = Todd McFarlane | penciller = Greg Capullo | url = | publisher= Image Comics | quote = }}{{cite comic | date = June 1997 | title = Spawn | issue = 62 | writer = Todd McFarlane | inker = Todd McFarlane | penciller = Greg Capullo | url = | publisher= Image Comics | quote = }}

In the comics, Al Simmons' murderer is Chapel, a character created by Rob Liefeld for the comic Youngblood. Jessica Priest, a character created for the film, took Chapel's place in the movie.{{cite magazine |last= Beatty |first= Scott |title= Spawn: The Movie Figures |magazine= Wizard |date= August 1997 |issue= 72 |page= 86 }} The comic book's storyline was later retconned so that original character, Jessica Priest, would take his place while Al's killer was Jason Wynn. Chapel's involvement was forgotten.{{cite web | date = 2013-02-03 | first= Brian |last= Cronin | title = The Abandoned An' Forsaked - So Who Killed Spawn? | work = Comic Book Resources | url = https://www.cbr.com/the-abandoned-an-forsaked-so-who-killed-spawn/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170117184619/https://www.cbr.com/the-abandoned-an-forsaked-so-who-killed-spawn/ | archive-date = 2017-01-17 | url-status = live |quote=McFarlane adapted that change into the comics themselves | access-date = 2021-09-01 }}

The original cut of Spawn earned an R rating from the Motion Picture Association of America resulting in the producers toning down the violence in the film to get a PG-13 rating.

The film was released on VHS on May 5, 1998 in a PG-13 version and an R-rated Director's Cut version, a "Making of Spawn" featurette, and an interview with Todd MacFarlane.{{cite magazine |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Elleen |title=Shelf Talk |magazine=Billboard |date=April 4, 1998 |volume=110 |issue=14 |page=63 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ug4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA63 |access-date=May 30, 2015 }} The Director's Cut version was released on DVD on January 9, 1998{{cite web |date=20 January 2000 |author=IGN Staff |title=Spawn - DVD|url= https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/01/20/spawn-3 |website=IGN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171218125112/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/01/20/spawn-3 |archive-date=2017-12-18 |url-status=live }} and on Blu-ray on July 10, 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Spawn-Blu-ray/40875/ |title=Spawn Blu-ray: Director's Cut |website=Blu-ray.com |access-date=May 1, 2015 |archive-date=May 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502224429/http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Spawn-Blu-ray/40875/ |url-status=live }}

Spawn was released on August 1, 1997. It grossed $19,738,749 that opening weekend, ranking it second behind Air Force One. For its second weekend, the film dropped to number three in the box office, reflecting a decreased earnings of 54.7% and a gross of $8,949,953.{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=spawn.htm |title=Spawn (1997) - Weekend Box Office Results |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=May 1, 2015 |archive-date=September 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921210259/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=spawn.htm |url-status=live }} The film grossed $54.9 million in the United States and Canada and $32.9 million internationally, grossing $87.9 million worldwide against a production budget between $40–45 million.{{cite Box Office Mojo|id=0120177 |title=Spawn (1997)|access-date=September 15, 2023}}

On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 17% based on 47 reviews, with an average rating of 3.9/10. The website's critics consensus states: "Spawn is an overbearing, over-violent film that adds little to the comic book adaptation genre."{{cite web | url = https://rottentomatoes.com/m/spawn/ | title = Spawn (1997) | publisher = Fandango Media | work = Rotten Tomatoes | access-date = August 28, 2020 | archive-date = August 3, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200803184847/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/spawn | url-status = live }} On Metacritic it has a weighted average score of 34 out of 100 based on 17 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".{{cite web |url=https://metacritic.com/movie/spawn/critic-reviews |title=Critic Reviews for Spawn |publisher=CBS Interactive |work=Metacritic |access-date=October 5, 2018 |archive-date=August 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830212145/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/spawn/critic-reviews |url-status=live }} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "C+" on an A+ to F scale.{{cite web |url= https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |title= SPAWN (1997) C+ |work= CinemaScore |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |archive-date= 2018-12-20 }}

One of the few positive reviews was from Roger Ebert of The Chicago Sun-Times, who awarded the film 3½ out of 4 stars. He wrote that the film's plot was "sappy" and little more than a set-up for some of the most innovative effects of the era, so much that Spawn verged on surrealistic art film. Ebert ended his review with, "As a visual experience, Spawn is unforgettable."{{cite web |date= August 1, 1997 |last= Ebert |first= Roger | author-link = Roger Ebert |title= Spawn Movie Review & Film Summary (1997) |url= https://rogerebert.com/reviews/spawn-1997 |website= Chicago Sun-Times | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140205074912/https://rogerebert.com/reviews/spawn-1997 | archive-date = 2014-02-05 | url-status = live |access-date=October 18, 2017}} Gene Siskel, his At the Movies co-host disagreed, and said the film lost him a mere two minutes after its introduction. Ebert praised the hellscape imagery and accused Siskel of being dismissive because of the genre, but having liked Batman, Siskel was unconvinced.Siskel & Ebert At the movies Season 11, Episode 47, Week of August 2, 1997 David Kaplan of Newsweek called the film "the summer's most spectacular concoction of visual effects and color" but said that those unfamiliar with the comics might find the story difficult to follow.{{cite web |date= August 4, 1997 |last= Kaplan |first= David |title= Movies |url= https://msnbc.com/m/nw/a/m/mv_s.asp#Spawn |website= MSNBC.com |publisher= MSN |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20000824070725/https://msnbc.com/m/nw/a/m/mv_s.asp#Spawn |archive-date= August 24, 2000 | url-status = dead |access-date= October 5, 2018 }}

Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle criticized the weak story, and called the film a visual assault, "is all about style, which will appeal to some viewers and overwhelm most others". Of the cast LaSalle says only John Leguizamo stands out, his "zaniness seems in tune with the action" and he is "lucky enough to have a flashy part".{{cite news | date = August 1, 1997 | first= Mick |last= LaSalle |author-link=Mick LaSalle | newspaper = San Francisco Chronicle | title = YAWN / In 'Spawn,' numbing special effects obliterate weak story | url = https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/YAWN-In-Spawn-numbing-special-effects-2831497.php | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121107215414/https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/YAWN-In-Spawn-numbing-special-effects-2831497.php | archive-date = 2012-11-07 | url-status = live }}

Rita Kempley of The Washington Post calls the film a "muddled revenge fantasy" and criticizes the "nonsensical screenplay" and complains about the "thicket of narrative, punctuated by repetitive action sequences."{{cite news | date = August 1, 1997 | first= Rita |last= Kempley | newspaper = The Washington Post | title = 'Spawn': Murky Depths | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/review97/spawnkemp.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/19970810124521/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/review97/spawnkemp.htm | archive-date = 1997-08-10 | url-status = live }} Todd McCarthy writing for Variety magazine criticized the film for its over-reliance on special effects. He called it "narratively knuckleheaded", and disliked the scatological humor, and found the action sequences numbingly repetitive with "no compensatory narrative or thematic balance". McCarthy expected the younger male target-audience would enjoy the film, but that as the film is "loaded with effects at the expense of character or narrative coherence" it would be a turn-off for other viewers.{{cite web | date = July 30, 1997 | first= Todd |last= McCarthy | author-link = Todd McCarthy | title = Spawn | url = https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/spawn-1117341216/ | work = Variety | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140812223240/https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/spawn-1117341216/ | archive-date = 2014-08-12 | url-status = live | access-date = 2018-10-05 }}

Laura Miller of Salon.com called Spawn "a witless exercise in reheating leftovers". Miller called the comic character "a rehash of Spiderman {{sic}}" and the film a poor man's Batman. She declares "This movie sucks" and criticizes the special effects, compounded by the film taking itself too seriously. She is critical of the lack of dramatic structure, calling Spawn "a film helmed by technicians" and concludes that it is a film by "smart people pretending to be stupid".{{cite web | date = September 1, 1997 |first= Laura |last= Miller | title = Spawn | work = Salon.com | url = https://www.salon.com/1997/09/01/spawn/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181005153124/https://www.salon.com/1997/09/01/spawn/ | archive-date = 2018-10-05 | url-status = live | access-date = October 5, 2018 }}

Michael Jai White is not a fan of the film: "There is no footage of me ever saying that I liked Spawn. I have never said that I thought that was a good movie".{{cite web |date= July 16, 2018 |last= Parker |first= Ryan |title= Michael Jai White Explains Gambol's Bizarre Death Scene in 'The Dark Knight' |url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dark-knight-michael-jai-white-explains-gambols-death-scene-1125924 |website= The Hollywood Reporter |access-date= December 6, 2018 |archive-date= December 6, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181206145552/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dark-knight-michael-jai-white-explains-gambols-death-scene-1125924 |url-status= live }} John Leguizamo commented on the film: "The thing that Todd McFarlane brought to the comic book industry, which he saved in the early 1990s, was the edge. The darkness, the vulgarity, the violence. I think the movie would have profited for more violence, more vulgarity and being darker. Let it be truer to the comics."{{cite web |date= October 23, 2018 |first= Martin |last= Lis |title= Exclusive: John Leguizamo On What Went Wrong With 1997's 'Spawn' Movie |url= https://www.screengeek.net/2018/10/23/spawn-movie-john-leguizamo/ |website= ScreenGeek |access-date= December 6, 2018 |archive-date= December 6, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181206145654/https://www.screengeek.net/2018/10/23/spawn-movie-john-leguizamo/ |url-status= live }}

At the Saturn Awards, Spawn was nominated for Best Make-up. The film was also nominated for three Blockbuster Entertainment Awards for Favorite Male Newcomer (Michael Jai White), Favorite Horror Supporting Actor (John Leguizamo) and Favorite Horror Supporting Actress (Theresa Randle).{{cite press release | title = Blockbuster Entertainment Awards Nominees Announced | url = http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blockbuster-entertainment-awards-nominees-announced-77915327.html | website = prnewswire.com | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150214050940/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blockbuster-entertainment-awards-nominees-announced-77915327.html | archive-date = 2015-02-14 | url-status = dead | access-date = 5 October 2018 }} At the Sitges - Catalan International Film Festival, Spawn was nominated for Best Film; the film was also nominated for & won the Best Special Effects award.{{cite web|title=30ed. Festival Internacional de Cinema de Catalunya (9/10 - 19/10)|url=http://sitgesfilmfestival.com/eng/arxiu/1997/palmares|website=Sitges|access-date=July 6, 2016|archive-date=August 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817200657/http://sitgesfilmfestival.com/eng/arxiu/1997/palmares|url-status=live}}

In January 2018, Complex magazine listed Spawn at number 2 out of 22, on its list of "The Best Black Superheroes In Movies".{{cite web | date = January 26, 2018 | author1 = Victoria Johnson | author2 = Frazier Tharpe | title = The Best Black Superheroes In Movies | url = https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/best-black-superheroes-in-movies/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180131083208/https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/best-black-superheroes-in-movies/ | archive-date = 2018-01-31 | url-status = live | work = Complex }}

{{Anchor|Sequel|Sequels|Cancelled sequel and reboot}}

A sequel, tentatively titled Spawn 2, has been in development hell since 1998.{{cite web |last=Head |first=Steve |title=Michael Jai White Gives IGN FilmForce the Latest on Spawn 2 |url=https://ign.com/articles/2001/03/12/michael-jai-white-gives-ign-filmforce-the-latest-on-spawn-2 |website=IGN |access-date=March 21, 2007 |date=March 12, 2001 |archive-date=February 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219212353/http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/03/12/michael-jai-white-gives-ign-filmforce-the-latest-on-spawn-2 |url-status=live }} Producer Don Murphy maintained that he was part of the project in 2001.{{cite web |last= Murphy |first= Don |title= Who Might Direct Transformers? |url= https://ign.com/articles/2003/07/10/who-might-direct-transformers |website= IGN |access-date= March 21, 2007 |date= July 10, 2003 |archive-date= August 8, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140808144205/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/07/10/who-might-direct-transformers |url-status= live }} McFarlane stated that the film would have centered primarily on the detective characters Sam and Twitch, with Spawn only as a background character.{{cite book | date = 31 October 2012 | last = Hughes | first = David | title = Comic Book Movies - Virgin Film | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=v3vSSClbsrQC&pg=PT201 | publisher = Ebury Publishing | isbn = 978-1-4481-3279-9 | page = 201 }}

In 2007, McFarlane Funding announced development of a new feature film adaptation of the character, titled Spawn, scheduled for release in 2008.{{cite web | url = https://rottentomatoes.com/news/1648901/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070819133958/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/news/1648901/ | archive-date = 2007-08-19 | url-status = dead | first = Scott | last = Weinberg | date = June 4, 2007 | title = Todd McFarlane Funding a New "Spawn" Movie? | work = Rotten Tomatoes | access-date = September 4, 2018 }}{{cite web |title= Todd McFarlane Begins Work on New 'Spawn' Film | url= https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/8990 | website= Bloody Disgusting |access-date=December 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014022928/https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/8990|archive-date=October 14, 2007|date=October 26, 2007}} During an interview on the Scott Ferrall show on Sirius radio, McFarlane said: "It's coming out no matter what. Even if I have to produce, direct and finance it myself, it's going to come out."{{cite web |last1=Amaya |first1=Erik |title=Todd McFarlane Promises A Dark Spawn Movie ... Again |url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/09/16/todd-mcfarlane-promises-a-dark-spawn-movie-again/ |website=Bleeding Cool |access-date=August 30, 2018 |date=September 16, 2016 |archive-date=August 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830174248/https://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/09/16/todd-mcfarlane-promises-a-dark-spawn-movie-again/ |url-status=live }}

On August 23, 2009, McFarlane announced that he had begun writing the screenplay for a new movie based on the character, saying that "The story has been in my head for 7 or 8 years", that "The movie idea is neither a recap or continuation. It is a standalone story that will be R-rated. Creepy and scary", and that "the tone of this Spawn movie will be for a more older audience. Like the film The Departed."{{cite web|author=Coming Soon|title=McFarlane Starts Writing New Spawn Movie|url=http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=58290|website=ComingSoon.net|access-date=May 1, 2015|date=August 23, 2009|archive-date=July 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704172745/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=58290|url-status=live}} In July 2011, Michael Jai White said that he was interested in returning to the role, expressing his support for McFarlane's film.{{cite web |last= Kendrick |first= Ben |title= Michael Jai White Wants to Return for a Hard-R Rated 'Spawn' Movie |url= http://screenrant.com/spawn-movie-michael-jai-white-r-rated-benk-124820/ |website= Screen Rant |access-date= May 1, 2015 |date= July 21, 2011 |archive-date= April 17, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150417090525/http://screenrant.com/spawn-movie-michael-jai-white-r-rated-benk-124820/ |url-status= live }} In July 2013, Jamie Foxx said he was "aggressively pursuing" the Spawn reboot.{{cite web |last= Davis |first= Erik |title= Comic-Con Interview: Jamie Foxx on Spider-Man, 'Annie,' Sinister Six and... a 'Booty Call' Sequel? |url= http://movies.com/movie-news/jamie-foxx-comic-con-interview/12932|website=Movies.com|via= Wayback Machine |access-date= July 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130808031540/http://movies.com/movie-news/jamie-foxx-comic-con-interview/12932|archive-date=August 8, 2013 |date= July 19, 2013 |url-status= live }} In August 2013, McFarlane discussed his progress with the script, stating that the film would be "more of a horror movie and a thriller movie, not a superhero one".{{cite web |last= McMillan |first= Graeme|title=Todd McFarlane Suggests 'Spawn' Remake Could Shoot Next Year|url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/todd-mcfarlane-suggests-spawn-remake-614522|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=October 18, 2017|date=August 26, 2013|archive-date=February 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206221944/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/todd-mcfarlane-suggests-spawn-remake-614522 | url-status = live }}

In February 2016, McFarlane announced he had completed the film's script.{{cite web |author=Lucas Siegel |url=https://comicbook.com/2016/02/14/exclusive-todd-mcfarlane-is-finished-with-new-spawn-movie-script/ |title=Exclusive: Todd McFarlane Is Finished with New Spawn Movie Script |website=Comicbook.com |date=February 14, 2016 |access-date=February 15, 2016 |archive-date=February 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215055216/http://comicbook.com/2016/02/14/exclusive-todd-mcfarlane-is-finished-with-new-spawn-movie-script/ |url-status=live }} In July 2017, Blumhouse Productions confirmed their involvement with the film, while announcing that McFarlane had also signed on to direct the project.{{cite news|url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/new-spawn-movie-works-todd-mcfarlane-blumhouse-1023407| title=New 'Spawn' Movie in the Works From Todd McFarlane, Blumhouse|work=The Hollywood Reporter| date=July 21, 2017 |first=Borys |last=Kit|access-date=February 10, 2018|archive-date=February 10, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180210205348/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/new-spawn-movie-works-todd-mcfarlane-blumhouse-1023407}} The movie was expected to begin production by February 2018.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/10/todd-mcfarlane-february-production-spawn-pledges-facebook-updates-1202182430/|title=Todd McFarlane Confirms February Start For 'Dark, R-Rated' 'Spawn'; Pledges Daily Facebook Updates – Comic Con|first=Greg|last=Evans|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=October 5, 2017|access-date=February 10, 2018|archive-date=February 10, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180210210520/http://deadline.com/2017/10/todd-mcfarlane-february-production-spawn-pledges-facebook-updates-1202182430/| url-status = live |df=mdy-all}} In May 2018, it was announced that Jamie Foxx would portray the titular character.{{cite web|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|title=Jamie Foxx Set For 'Spawn,' Creator Todd McFarlane's Dark Blumhouse Adaptation|url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/spawn-jamie-foxx-todd-mcfarlane-jason-blum-blumhouse-movie-1202399090/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=May 29, 2018|date=May 29, 2018|archive-date=May 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180530001000/http://deadline.com/2018/05/spawn-jamie-foxx-todd-mcfarlane-jason-blum-blumhouse-movie-1202399090/|url-status=live}} In July 2018, it was reported that Jeremy Renner would be starring alongside Foxx as Detective Twitch.{{cite web |last=Ramée |first=Jordan |title=Jeremy Renner Set To Star In Spawn Movie Alongside Jamie Foxx |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/jeremy-renner-set-to-star-in-spawn-movie-alongside/1100-6460275/ |website=GameSpot |access-date=July 11, 2018 |date=July 9, 2018 |archive-date=July 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711152002/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/jeremy-renner-set-to-star-in-spawn-movie-alongside/1100-6460275/ |url-status=live }} On October 25, 2018, the filming start date was delayed to June 2019.{{cite web |date= October 25, 2018 |last= Scott |first= Ryan |title= Spawn Shoot Has Been Delayed Until Summer 2019 |url= https://movieweb.com/spawn-movie-reboot-production-start-summer-2019/ |website= MovieWeb |access-date= October 26, 2018 |archive-date= October 25, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181025222601/https://movieweb.com/spawn-movie-reboot-production-start-summer-2019/ |url-status= live }} The film ended up missing its start date. In November 2019, the film restarted development due to the financial success of the R-rated comic book film Joker.{{cite web|url=https://theplaylist.net/todd-mcfarlane-joker-spawn-reboot-20191101/|title=Todd McFarlane Says 'Joker' Has Created More Interest From Hollywood In His R-Rated 'Spawn' Reboot|website=The Playlist|first=Charles|last=Barfield|date=November 1, 2019|access-date=January 14, 2020|archive-date=November 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102170044/https://theplaylist.net/todd-mcfarlane-joker-spawn-reboot-20191101/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://movieweb.com/spawn-remake-movie-happening-joker-box-office-success/|title=Spawn Reboot May Finally Get Going Thanks to Joker Success|website=MovieWeb|last=Scott|first=Ryan|date=October 31, 2019|access-date=January 14, 2020|archive-date=December 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215081730/https://movieweb.com/spawn-remake-movie-happening-joker-box-office-success/|url-status=live}} In December 2019, McFarlane hired an additional writer to help polish the script, before presenting it to a major Hollywood studio.{{cite web|url=https://www.joblo.com/movie-news/mcfarlanes-says-spawn-reboot-still-happening-after-script-revisions|title=Todd McFarlan's New 'Spawn' Film Getting Cleaned Up By A Second Filmmaker|website=JoBlo.com|first=Steve|last=Seigh|date=December 2, 2019|access-date=January 14, 2020|archive-date=January 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114193246/https://www.joblo.com/movie-news/mcfarlanes-says-spawn-reboot-still-happening-after-script-revisions|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://movieweb.com/spawn-movie-remake-script-update-todd-mcfarlane/|title='Spawn' Reboot Script Is Getting Polished, Todd McFarlane Promises It's Still Coming|website=MovieWeb|last=Scott|first=Ryan|date=December 2, 2019|access-date=January 14, 2020|archive-date=January 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114193415/https://movieweb.com/spawn-movie-remake-script-update-todd-mcfarlane/|url-status=live}} In March 2020, McFarlane stated Spawn will go into production sometime in 2020 with the intention for him to direct and Jamie Foxx still attached for the lead role.{{cite web |last=Sprague |first=Mike |title=Todd McFarlane says R-rated Spawn reboot happening this year! |url=https://www.joblo.com/horror-movies/news/todd-mcfarlane-says-r-rated-spawn-reboot-happening-this-year |website=JoBlo.com |access-date=5 March 2020 |date=3 March 2020 |archive-date=March 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327215518/https://www.joblo.com/horror-movies/news/todd-mcfarlane-says-r-rated-spawn-reboot-happening-this-year |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Scott |first1=Ryan |title='Spawn' Reboot Will Shoot This Year Thanks to the Success of 'Joker' |url=https://movieweb.com/spawn-movie-remake-production-start-2020-todd-mcfarlane/ |website=MovieWeb |access-date=5 March 2020 |date=3 March 2020 |archive-date=March 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304000525/https://movieweb.com/spawn-movie-remake-production-start-2020-todd-mcfarlane/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author1=Austin "Lazybones2020" Roney |title=Shoryuken interview: Spawn Creator Todd McFarlane talks Mortal Kombat 11, SoulCalibur II, and defending the right to expression |url=http://shoryuken.com/2020/03/07/shoryuken-interview-spawn-creator-todd-mcfarlane-talks-mortal-kombat-11-soulcalibur-ii-and-defending-the-right-to-expression/ |website=Shoryuken |access-date=March 10, 2020 |date=March 7, 2020 |archive-date=March 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200310165948/http://shoryuken.com/2020/03/07/shoryuken-interview-spawn-creator-todd-mcfarlane-talks-mortal-kombat-11-soulcalibur-ii-and-defending-the-right-to-expression/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Cavanaugh |first=Patrick |title=Jamie Foxx Still Attached to Spawn Movie, Despite Reports |url=https://comicbook.com/movies/2020/03/10/spawn-movie-jamie-foxx-attached-starring-todd-mcfarlane-reports/ |website=ComicBook.com |access-date=March 10, 2020 |date=March 9, 2020 |archive-date=March 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200310160212/https://comicbook.com/movies/2020/03/10/spawn-movie-jamie-foxx-attached-starring-todd-mcfarlane-reports/ |url-status=live }} In May 2020, producer Jason Blum stated that "There has been an enormous amount of activity on Spawn......But, suffice to say, it is a very active development."{{cite web |last=Cavanaugh |first=Patrick |title=Spawn Producer Jason Blum Teases "Seismic Event" for Production (Exclusive) |url=https://comicbook.com/movies/news/spawn-movie-update-jason-blum-todd-mcfarlane-details/ |website=ComicBook.com |access-date=23 May 2020 |date=22 May 2020 |archive-date=June 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601025133/https://comicbook.com/movies/news/spawn-movie-update-jason-blum-todd-mcfarlane-details/ |url-status=live }} In August 2021, it was revealed that Broken City screenwriter Brian Tucker had been hired to rewrite McFarlane's screenplay.{{Cite web|last=Kit|first=Borys|date=August 13, 2021|title='Spawn' Movie Gets 'Broken City' Scribe as New Writer (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/spawn-movie-gets-broken-city-scribe-as-new-writer-1234997780/|access-date=August 13, 2021|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US|archive-date=August 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813225611/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/spawn-movie-gets-broken-city-scribe-as-new-writer-1234997780/|url-status=live}} In October 2022, Scott Silver, Malcolm Spellman, and Matthew Mixon had been hired to rewrite the screenplay.{{Cite web |last=Couch |first=Aaron |date=2022-10-05 |title='Spawn' Movie Finds New Writers with 'Joker,' 'Captain America 4' Scribes (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/spawn-movie-finds-new-writers-jamie-foxx-1235232458/ |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=October 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005181248/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/spawn-movie-finds-new-writers-jamie-foxx-1235232458/ |url-status=live }}

{{Infobox album

| name = Spawn: The Album

| type = soundtrack

| artist = various artists

| cover =

| caption =

| alt =

| released = July 29, 1997

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = {{flatlist|

• Electronic rock
• industrial rock
• industrial metal
• nu metal

}}

| length = 62:11

| label = {{hlist|Sony|Immortal|Epic}}

| producer = {{hlist|Happy Walters|various}}

| prev_title = Judgment Night

| prev_year = 1993

| next_title = Immortal Electros

| next_year = 2002

| chronology = Immortal Records soundtrack series

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Spawn: The Album

| type = Soundtrack

| single1 = Long Hard Road Out of Hell

| single1date = July 22, 1997

| single2 = (Can't You) Trip Like I Do

| single2date = October 7, 1997

}}

}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r308554|pure_url=yes}}|title=Spawn: The Album - Original Soundtrack|website=AllMusic}}

| rev2 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev2score = (A) August 8, 1997

| rev3 = Rolling Stone

| rev3score = {{Rating|3|5}} August 21, 1997

}}

Spawn: The Album was released in July 1997 and featured popular rock and metal group of bands at the time including: Metallica, Korn, Slayer, Marilyn Manson, Stabbing Westward, Filter, Soul Coughing, Silverchair and Mansun in collaborations with well-known electronica / techno producers such as The Crystal Method, Roni Size, The Prodigy, DJ Greyboy, Atari Teenage Riot, Moby, Orbital and 808 State. A similar concept was previously implemented on the rock/hip hop-infused Judgment Night soundtrack,{{cite news |title=Like its inspiration, Spawn's soundtrack cobbled together coolness |first=A. A. |last=Ward |url=http://www.avclub.com/article/its-inspiration-spawns-soundtrack-cobbled-together-244694 |newspaper=The A.V. Club |publisher=The Onion |date=October 26, 2016 |access-date=October 5, 2018 |archive-date=February 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201053612/http://www.avclub.com/article/its-inspiration-spawns-soundtrack-cobbled-together-244694 |url-status=live }}{{cite web | date = 1997-06-17 | author = MTV News Staff | title = Spawn Soundtrack of Odd Rock-Electronica Combos | website = MTV | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/280/spawn-soundtrack-of-odd-rock-electronica-combos/ | access-date = October 14, 2018 | archive-date = October 15, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181015003000/http://www.mtv.com/news/280/spawn-soundtrack-of-odd-rock-electronica-combos/ | url-status = dead }} and later, on the Blade II soundtrack, forming a trilogy of genre-blending soundtrack collections produced by Happy Walters.{{cite magazine |author=Weingarten, Christopher R. |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/judgment-night-soundtrack-oral-history-1993-rap-rock-summit-722094/ |title=Oral History of the 'Judgment Night' Soundtrack: 1993's Rap-Rock Utopia |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=September 13, 2018 |access-date=August 14, 2023}}

The album debuted at #7 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and stayed on the chart for 25 weeks. The album is certified Gold in the United States, Australia and New Zealand, as well as Platinum in Canada.

The American version of the album features different cover art and the bonus track "This Is Not a Dream" by Morphine and Apollo 440. {{Citation needed|date=November 2015}} The Australian and Japanese versions, besides the bonus track, feature cover art based on images in Spawn #39 and a marquee of Spawn: In the Demon's Hand.{{cite web |title=Spawn:The Album |url=https://www.amazon.com/Spawn-Various-Artists/dp/B000002C4M |website=Amazon.com |publisher=Epic/Sony |access-date=October 14, 2018 |date=November 25, 1997 |archive-date=April 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110401202259/http://www.amazon.com/Spawn-Various-Artists/dp/B000002C4M |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Spawn:The Album |url=https://www.amazon.com/Spawn-Japanese-Release-extra-tracks/dp/B000007VWZ |website=Amazon.com |publisher=Epic/Sony |access-date=October 9, 2018 |date=January 1, 1997}} The Japanese version contains a third disk with three remixes. The McFarlane Collector's Club made an LP release available to its members, featuring the standard album art and a translucent red vinyl disc. In 2017 a 20th Anniversary edition was released with a translucent blue vinyl disc.{{cite web |title=Spawn The Album |url=https://www.amazon.com/Spawn-Album-Ltd-Transparent-Vinyl/dp/B01MTEQRZA |website=Amazon.com |publisher=Music On Vinyl |access-date=October 9, 2018}}

"It was a bit rushed," declared The Prodigy's Liam Howlett of their collaboration with Rage Against the Machine. "I did it in three days when I usually need a week."{{cite magazine|first=Paul|last=Elliott|title=Their year: The Prodigy|magazine=Q #137|date=February 1998|page=94}} In addition, Moby was originally slated to collaborate with industrial rock band Gravity Kills (titled "Suffocating"). Although he only contributed some samples and keyboard lines to the track, ultimately, he instead chose the final track with Butthole Surfers.{{cite web |url=http://grantb.net/gk/archives/arch2002.html |title=Gravity Kills' News Archive |date=2002 |access-date=June 26, 2020 |archive-date=June 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625175409/http://grantb.net/gk/archives/arch2002.html |url-status=live }} The Gravity Kills track would later be leaked online.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

{{track listing

| extra_column = Performers/Artists

| title1 = (Can't You) Trip Like I Do

| extra1 = The Crystal Method & Filter

| length1 = 4:30

| title2 = Long Hard Road Out of Hell

| extra2 = Marilyn Manson & Sneaker Pimps

| length2 = 4:21

| title3 = Satan

| extra3 = Orbital with Kirk Hammett

| length3 = 3:45

| title4 = Kick The P.A.

| extra4 = Korn & The Dust Brothers

| length4 = 3:21

| title5 = Tiny Rubberband

| extra5 = Butthole Surfers & Moby

| length5 = 4:12

| title6 = For Whom the Bell Tolls (The Irony of It All)

| extra6 = Metallica & DJ Spooky

| length6 = 4:39

| title7 = Torn Apart

| extra7 = Stabbing Westward & Josh Wink

| length7 = 4:53

| title8 = Skin Up Pin Up

| extra8 = Mansun & 808 State

| length8 = 5:27

| title9 = One Man Army

| extra9 = The Prodigy with Tom Morello

| length9 = 4:14

| title10 = Spawn

| extra10 = Silverchair & Vitro

| length10 = 4:28

| title11 = T-4 Strain

| extra11 = Henry Rollins & Goldie

| length11 = 5:19

| title12 = Familiar

| extra12 = Incubus & DJ Greyboy

| length12 = 3:22

| title13 = No Remorse (I Wanna Die)

| extra13 = Slayer & Atari Teenage Riot

| length13 = 4:16

| title14 = A Plane Scraped Its Belly on a Sooty Yellow Moon

| extra14 = Soul Coughing & Roni Size

| length14 = 5:26

| title15 = This Is Not A Dream

| note15 = The UK "Mix"

| extra15 = Morphine & Apollo 440

| length15 = 5:20

| total_length = 67:33

}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Spawn|artist=Various Artists|type=album|relyear=1997|certyear=1997|region=Australia|award=Gold|access-date=28 November 2021|refname="ARIA"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Spawn The Album - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack|artist=Various Artists|type=album|relyear=1997|certyear=1997|region=Canada|award=Platinum|access-date=29 June 2023|refname="MC"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Spawn The Album - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack|artist=Various Artists|type=album|relyear=1997|certyear=1998|region=New Zealand|award=Gold|id=1998-01-16|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|refname="RMNZ"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Spawn|artist=Soundtrack|type=album|relyear=1997|certyear=1998|region=United States|award=Gold|access-date=29 June 2023|refname="RIAA"}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

{{col-end}}

Spawn is one of the first films to feature an African American actor portraying a major comic book superhero.{{cite news | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=szsDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA35 | title = Michael Jai White is first Black comic superhero to star on the movie screen in 'Spawn.' | date = September 22, 1997 | work = Jet magazine | publisher = Johnson Publishing Company | access-date = September 28, 2015 }}{{cite web | date = February 7, 2018 | author = Chauncey Alcorn | title = 'Spawn' star Michael Jai White talks 'Black Panther' and the legacy of black superheroes in movies | url = https://mic.com/articles/187703/spawn-star-michael-jai-white-talks-black-panther-and-the-legacy-of-black-superheroes-in-movies | quote = Yet it was White's groundbreaking role in Spawn in 1997 that will go down in history as the first portrayal of a major black comic book superhero on the big screen. | archive-url = https://archive.today/20180209002318/https://mic.com/articles/187703/spawn-star-michael-jai-white-talks-black-panther-and-the-legacy-of-black-superheroes-in-movies | archive-date = 2018-02-09 }}{{cite web | date = July 30, 2017 | author = Jamie Lovett | title = Spawn Creator Todd McFarlane Takes Photo With Original Spawn Actor At Comic-Con | url = https://comicbook.com/movies/2017/07/30/spawn-todd-mcfarlane-michael-jai-white/ | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170730201750/https://comicbook.com/movies/2017/07/30/spawn-todd-mcfarlane-michael-jai-white/ | archive-date = 2017-07-30 | url-status = live | quote = The Spawn movie is notable for being the first major comic book superhero movie to feature an African American in the lead role. | access-date = 2018-10-05 }}

Although preceded by other black superhero films such as The Meteor Man (1993), Spawn was the first to be based on a major comic book. Steel, starring basketball player Shaquille O'Neal based on a DC character, was also released later in the same month as Spawn. Writing in 2018, Barry Hertz of The Globe and Mail was critical of the fact that Michael Jai White was barely seen, and his face hidden by a mask or prosthetics.{{cite web | date = February 14, 2018 | author = Barry Hertz | title = Seven black superheroes who came before Black Panther | url = https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/seven-black-superheroes-who-came-before-blackpanther/article37982804/ | work = The Globe and Mail | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180214220417/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/seven-black-superheroes-who-came-before-blackpanther/article37982804/ | archive-date = 2018-02-14 | url-status = live }}

Unlike Blade (1998) which came later and was promoted based on the popularity of action star Wesley Snipes and happened to be based on a comic, Spawn was promoted based on the popularity of the McFarlane comic. Film critic Scott Mendelson says that Spawn and other films not only paved the way for films such as Black Panther but that success of Black Panther represents a return to the status quo.{{cite web | date = February 1, 2018 | author = Scott Mendelson | author-link = Scott Mendelson | title = How 'Blade' And 'Spawn' Paved The Way For 'Black Panther' | url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2018/02/01/blade-black-panther-spawn-comics-superhero-movie-marvel/ | work = Forbes magazine | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180201182022/https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2018/02/01/blade-black-panther-spawn-comics-superhero-movie-marvel/ | archive-date = 2018-02-01 | access-date = 2018-09-02 | url-status = live }}

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