Spawn (film)

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Spawn
Directed by	Mark A.Z. Dippé
Produced by	Clint Goldman Associate Producer: Terry Fitzgerald Executive Producer: Todd McFarlane Alan C. Blomquist Co-Executive Producer: Adrianna Cohen Brian Witten
Written by	Screenplay: Alan B. McElroy Story: Alan B. McElroy Mark A.Z. Dippé Comic Book: Todd McFarlane
Starring	John Leguizamo Michael Jai White Martin Sheen Theresa Randle Melinda Clarke Miko Hughes Sydni Beaudoin with Nicol Williamson and D. B. Sweeney
Music by	Graeme Revell
Cinematography	Guillermo Navarro
Editing by	Michael N. Knue Todd Busch
Distributed by	New Line Cinema
Release date(s)	August 1, 1997
Running time	92 min. (94 min. Director's Cut)
Language	English
Budget	$40,000,000
Gross revenue	$87,840,042

Spawn is a film adaptation of the comic book of the same name, Todd McFarlane's creator-owned comic, published by Image Comics. It was released in the United States on August 1, 1997. The film was directed and co-written by Mark A. Z. Dippé (a former animator at Industrial Light & Magic) and executive produced by McFarlane and Alan Blomquist. The movie starred Michael Jai White as Al Simmons/Spawn, John Leguizamo as Al's demonic guide and antagonist Clown/The Violator, Melinda Clarke as the assassin Jessica Priest, Nicol Williamson as Al's mentor Cogliostro, Theresa Randle as Al's widow Wanda Blake, D.B. Sweeney as Wanda's husband Terry Fitzgerald, Martin Sheen as Al's former government employee Jason Wynn, and veteran voice actor Frank Welker as the voice of Malebolgia.

Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Cameos 4 Difference from comic 5 Reception 6 DVD release 7 Sequel 8 Soundtrack 8.1 Track listing 9 References 10 External links

[edit] Plot

The premise of the movie is similar to the initial storyline of the original comics. Al Simmons, a military soldier/assassin, has been betrayed by a covert government agency head named Jason Wynn. Wynn orders his top assassin, Jessica Priest, to assassinate him. After Simmons dies, he is immediately transported to Hell, where Malebolgia, The Devil of the various realms, 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 Gazer to see his beloved fiancee, Wanda Blake. Simmons accepts the offer and is transformed into a Hellspawn, which is a servant of Malebolgia in a necroplasm suit that is not only a living, breathing creature, but is also his only protection in the world.

Once he returns to the land of the living, Simmons learns that five years had passed. Wanda is now remarried to his best friend Terry and living the life he had always longed for, including the daughter he never knew, Cyan. Along his journey in this new life, he encounters a strange clown-like demon called Violator, who acts as a guide to put "Crispy" (as Violator calls Spawn) on the path to evil, and a mysterious old man named Cogliostro, who, as a fellow Hellspawn, teaches Al how to control his energy, which is very sparse. Jason Wynn is now a high-class weapons dealer rather than a government bureaucrat. He is also the ultimate target of the Spawn.

After Spawn killed Jessica Priest, Clown told Jason Wynn to go under a surgery where a device that will be attached to Wynn's heart will trigger the worldwide release of a deadly virus, should his heart stop beating. Spawn confronts Clown (who turns into Violator) and ends up battling him where he loses. Cogliostro manages to help him recover. Spawn learns that Clown and Jason are heading over to Terry's house.

Meanwhile, Terry has just finished an online communication with a fellow newsman that he has sent evidence that will expose Jason Wynn. After the transmission, Cyan enters the room with Jason right behind her. He destroys his computer and holds the family hostage as Clown arrives. When Spawn arrives, he ends up in a fight with Jason Wynn. Spawn doesn't realize that by killing Jason, he will activate the signal that will launch Armageddon. After not killing Wynn and extracting the device, a final battle ensues between Spawn and a transformed Violator, ending with the villain going back to Hell and his reputation is ruined. Spawn's identity is now known to Terry, Wanda, and Cyan. Jason Wynn ends up arrested, and Spawn dedicates himself to justice rather than vengeance.

[edit] Cast

• Michael Jai White as Al Simmons/Spawn
• John Leguizamo as Clown/Violator
• Martin Sheen as Jason Wynn
• Nicol Williamson as Cogliostro
• Melinda Clarke as Jessica Priest
• D.B. Sweeney as Terry Fitzgerald
• Theresa Randle as Wanda Blake-Fitzgerald
• Frank Welker as Malebolgia (voice)
• Sydni Beaudoin as Cyan Fitzgerald
• Miko Hughes as Zack

[edit] Cameos

At the government-hosted gala, a red-headed sexy woman with the typical Spawn symbol on her earrings . This cameo, albeit brief, is generally considered to be a nod to the angelic Spawn-hunter Angela. Despite her popularity in the comic series, she may have been absent from the film because of ongoing legal disputes between Spawn creator Todd McFarlane and Neil Gaiman, who was hired as a guest writer for Angela's debut issue, Spawn #9. Also, two detectives resembling Sam and Twitch arrest Jason Wynn towards the end of the film.

McFarlane himself makes a cameo appearance as one of the bums running away during the alley fight between Spawn and the Violator.

[edit] Difference from comic

Although the film was based on the comic book series, some details were changed for the theatrical version of Spawn. Terry Fitzgerald, Al Simmons' best friend in his former life, a black man in the comic, was played by D. B. Sweeney, a white man, in the film. McFarlane has explained that this was done by the studio to avoid having too many black leads and creating a perception the film was aimed at just a black target audience.^{[citation needed]} Also, in the comics Cyan is clearly Terry's daughter, introduced in the third issue as being roughly a year and a half old. As Al was in hell for five years, it is impossible for him to be Cyan's father. In the movie it is implied that the reverse is true. Lastly the comic had Al striking Wanda, however the movie did not.

It is also revealed in the film that Jessica Priest was Al Simmons' murderer. In the comic book series, however, Al Simmons' murderer was originally Chapel, character originally created by Rob Liefeld for the comic Youngblood. However, due to the eventual severing of professional ties between Liefeld and McFarlane, the story may have been altered for the purposes of the film. Chapel remained in the Spawn television series, which premiered on HBO months before the film was released. Additionally, it was later revealed in the comic book series, in a case of questionable retcon, that Jessica Priest was indeed Al Simmons' murderer after all. Also in the film, Simmons worked for an agency called A6, while in the comic book he worked for the CIA.

The nature of Spawn's powers and allies are also different. Cogliostro, for example, while revealed to be Cain in the comics, is here portrayed as an assassin for the church in the fifteenth century, who has forsaken most of his Spawn-based powers apart from a blade that comes from his right wrist and is his favored weapon in battle. Also, while Cogliostro does warn Spawn that he will die if his powers are drained, no reference is ever made to Spawn possessing a 'counter' like in the comics, which makes the precise limits of Spawn's powers unclear.

[edit] Reception

Roger Ebert praised the film, awarding it 3½ out of 4 stars, ending his review with, "As a visual experience, Spawn is unforgettable."^[1] However, on television, his co-host (at the time), Gene Siskel, said the film lost him a mere 2 minutes after its introduction. The two had a rather heated debate over the film on screen.

According to Rotten Tomatoes, the film is rated at 21% on the Tomatometer, based on 33 reviews.^[2]

Spawn featured, for its time, impressive special effects courtesy of Industrial Light and Magic. Though it received mixed reviews, it was considered a modest box-office success, earning $54.9 million domestically, a little over $87 million worldwide.

[edit] DVD release

There are two versions of the film, the PG-13 version and the R-rated Director's Cut.

[edit] Sequel

A sequel, tentatively titled Spawn 2, has been in development hell since 1998.^[3][4][5] Michael Jai White confirmed himself to be a part of the project in 2001, as did producer Don Murphy,^[6][7] though their current involvement has not been confirmed. McFarlane has stated that the film will be primarily centered around the detective characters Sam and Twitch, leaving Spawn without a speaking part.^[4][5] During a FanboyRadio.com interview, Todd McFarlane confirmed that the sequel is a franchise reboot - not a direct sequel - similar to Batman Begins and both the 2004 version of The Punisher and 2008's Punisher: War Zone.^[8] In 2007 plans were made for Todd McFarlane Funding to make a new Spawn movie, scheduled for release in 2008.^[9] The movie may simply be called Spawn, according to Home Media Magazine.^[10] While a guest on the Scott Ferrall show on Sirius radio, a caller asked if he had any plans to do the sequel. He 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."

It was announced in August 2009 that Todd McFarlane had 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 The Departed."^[11]

[edit] Soundtrack

Spawn: The Album
Soundtrack by Various
Released	29 July 1997
Genre	Various
Label	Sony
Producer	Various
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Entertainment Weekly (A) 08/08/1997 Rolling Stone 08/21/1997

Spawn: The Album was released in July 1997 and brought together popular rock bands at the time including Metallica, Korn, Slayer, Marilyn Manson and Silverchair with well known DJs and electronic producers such as The Crystal Method, Roni Size, and Atari Teenage Riot. A similar concept was previously implemented on the rock/hip-hop fused Judgment Night soundtrack. The album debuted at #7 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and stayed in the chart for 25 weeks. The album is certified Gold for selling over 500,000 copies in America.^{[citation needed]}

There are several limited editions of the soundtrack.^{[citation needed]} A US version featuring different cover artwork, an Australian version featuring yet another cover (with the same image as on Spawn #39) plus a bonus track "This Is Not A Dream (UK Mix)" by Apollo 440 & Morphine; and a Japanese version with identical cover as the Australian, including a bonus disc containing three remixes and the bonus track from Australian version. The McFarlane Collector's Club also made an LP release available to members featuring the standard album art and translucent red discs.

[edit] Track listing

1. "(Can't You) Trip Like I Do" - Filter & The Crystal Method – 4:28
2. "Long Hard Road out of Hell" - Marilyn Manson & Sneaker Pimps – 4:21
3. "Satan" - Orbital with Kirk Hammett of Metallica – 3:45
4. "Kick the P.A." - KoЯn & The Dust Brothers – 3:21
5. "Tiny Rubberband" - Butthole Surfers & Moby – 4:12
6. "For Whom the Bell Tolls (The Irony of it All)" - Metallica & DJ Spooky – 4:39
7. "Torn Apart" - Stabbing Westward & Wink – 4:53
8. "Skin Up Pin Up" - Mansun & 808 State – 5:27
9. "One Man Army" - The Prodigy & Tom Morello/Rage Against the Machine – 4:14
10. "Spawn" - Silverchair & Vitro – 4:28
11. "T-4 Strain" - Henry Rollins & Goldie – 5:19
12. "Familiar" - Incubus & DJ Greyboy – 3:22
13. "No Remorse (I Wanna Die)" - Slayer & Atari Teenage Riot – 4:16
14. "A Plane Scraped Its Belly On A Sooty Yellow Moon" - Soul Coughing & Roni Size – 5:26

Bonus tracks

15. "This Is Not a Dream" (UK Mix) - Apollo 440 & Morphine

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Spawn at the Internet Movie Database
• Spawn at Allmovie
• Spawn at Rotten Tomatoes
• Spawn at Box Office Mojo
• Todd McFarlane wants to "Write, Produce AND Direct" Spawn 2 -- Maxim.com: JULY 2008

v • d • e Spawn Protagonists Spawn • Cogliostro • Nyx • Man of Miracles • The Legion Heaven God • Angela • Zera • The Disciple • The Redeemer Hell Satan • Mammon • Violator • Malebolgia • Phlegethonyarre • Billy Kincaid • Thamuz • Hellspawn Other characters Sam and Twitch • Terry Fitzgerald • Wanda Blake • Chapel • Jason Wynn • Jessica Priest • Overt-Kill Writers and artists Todd McFarlane • Brian Holguin • David Hine • Greg Capullo • Angel Medina • Philip Tan • Jay Anacleto • Brian Haberlin Spin-offs Angela • Curse of the Spawn • Hellspawn • Sam and Twitch • Shadows of Spawn • The Adventures of Spawn • Spawn: Godslayer Movies and television Spawn (1997) • Todd McFarlane's Spawn (1997-1999) • Spawn: The Animation (TBA) Video games Todd McFarlane's Spawn: The Video Game (1995) • Spawn: The Eternal (1997) • Spawn: In the Demon's Hand (2000) • Spawn: Armageddon (2003) • Soulcalibur II (2003) Related articles Neil Gaiman • Alan Moore • Image Comics • McFarlane Toys • Spawn villains • Necroplasm • Spawn/Batman