Connect with us

News

Nine Hellish Reasons to be Excited About the Spawn Reboot

Published

on

Cosmic powers are gathering on the edges of eternity as dark forces conspire in secret; the immortal war between Heaven and Hell is imminent. Trumpets will be sounded and seals will be shattered as Armageddon dawns bleakly against a blood-red horizon. The general of the Devil’s armies is summoned back into action as we await the highly anticipated Spawn reboot. That’s right, Spawn is coming back with a vengeance!

image via criticalhit

Spawn promises to be much darker and more violent – just as he always was meant to be. The damned are not permitted even a moment’s relief and there is no rest for the wicked, especially among the Devil’s elect.

During this year’s Comic Con, Todd McFarlane broke the silence and assured fans there would be a reboot to his legendary comic-book demon. For more information on the initial announcement please click here.

Over the years we heard rumors of a new Spawn movie brewing in the blackest pits of Hollywood, but year after year they remained nothing beyond that – just rumors. It’s so good to say those rumors are finally coming true and our faith in Spawn is being rewarded.

image via Comic Vine

Sadly for many modern audiences when they think of Spawn they can’t rid their minds of the 90’s film and all that god-awful CG puking across the screen. I am first to admit we really deserved something much better, but also I can’t deny the movie holds special place in my heart.

image via traileraddict

But there is so much more to the Hellspawn, Al Simmons. So sit back and get ready for another dark adventure. It’s time we explored the humid depths of Rat City once again and discover why we should be out of our minds over the upcoming Spawn reboot. So buckle up, readers. Your good ol’ pal Manic is taking you straight to Hell as we look at nine reasons to be excited about a new Spawn film!

9 -Todd McFarlane

The fact that he’s excited over this project should satisfy fans. He was never happy with the ultimate outcome of his anti-hero’s film endeavors in the first place. He always preferred the HBO animated films over the big-budget motion picture. McFarlane has said that he always wanted Spawn to be R-rated and done right.

As of now Spawn is slated for an R-rating, so we should all be expecting some of the comic’s more violent encounters to burst across theaters.

image via Aficionados

Todd McFarlane was the name that sold comics in the 90’s. His vision was much darker and his art was far more stylized than anything else seen at the time. His work at Marvel gave the company a much needed boost in sales during that decade. To this day McFarlane’s Spider-Man is my favorite take on the web-head. If you’ve not read Spider-Man Torment I strongly recommend it!

image via ComicsAlliance

McFarlane was highly responsible for the character Venom, who became an immediate fan favorite among readers. McFarlane is also a reason why I’m not entirely impressed with the current Marvel movie franchise. He gave us a gritty and savage New York where Spidey had to battle the forces of tremendous evil! Peter Parker was allowed to grow up – he had a wife and the American dream to worry about. And leeching into that tranquil dream, McFarlane introduced drooling and feral beasts all hell-bent on destroying everything Spider-Man loved. McFarlane dominated the comic book industry and we couldn’t get enough!

image via dailypop

Unhappy with Marvel, McFarlane finally left to open his own company. Together with fellow artists – Jim Lee being among them – Image Comics was formed, and out of Image rose a hero straight from Hell! Spawn crushed its sales and became the most prominent independent comic book of the day!

Already proving himself to be a creative genius and an unequaled artist, if given creative freedom to launch the kind of movie he would want, McFarlane could create the new standard for dark-comic cinema through Spawn.

8 – The Global Market

Not at all content to remain frozen on the comic pages, McFarlane always knew his character would be huge. And so he was. McFarlane Toys allowed fans to bring home characters from the comics and place them on their shelves to show off. McFarlane Toys would also produce its impressive Movie Maniacs line giving fans a chance to bring home Freddy, Jason, and Jaws to name just a few! A new criteria of figurines was established thanks to McFarlane’s entrepreneur vision.

As already mentioned, Spawn has been both a feature-film as well as an animated trilogy thanks to HBO. The animated features are the best way to become acquainted with the series and to familiarize yourself with the epic saga if you’re not already a fan.

image via Movie Pilot

And just in case you’re a fellow metal-head you can’t go wrong with the masterful concept album Dark Saga! Released by ICED EARTH, Dark Saga tells the story of Spawn as a dark metal epic. ICED EARTH being one of my top 3 favorite Metal bands out there, Dark Saga is my favorite album they’ve released.

7 – Sam and Twitch

I love these guys. They are the Laurel and Hardy of the comics. The thin man and the fat guy, the loud mouth and the quiet fella. They are perfectly miss-matched and add to the best part – the human part – of the dark lore.

image via GeekTyrant

Sam and Twitch are two detectives investigating the odd murders in and around Rat City – the inner alleyways of New York. Through these two guys we gradually learn of a massive cabal across the globe, one that conspires against the good of humanity and is in league with the Devil himself.

image via Comic Vine

Sam and Twitch are in way over their heads and if it were not for Spawn, their heads would both have ended up on a silver platter no doubt. From mafia connections to sickening cover-ups of child murder, these two pals uncover what no one wanted to be revealed. The world is corrupt, and it’s a corruption that starts in their own house – the NYPD. Their chief is into some bad stuff with friends in all the wrong (or right) places. It’s a detective story straight out of the Inferno and I hope to see these fellas in the new movie!

6 – The Devil Malebolgia

The biggest injustice made in the 90’s movie was the portrayal of the Devil. Malebolgia is the puppet master, the cruel overlord who hoards his treasure of souls until the day he can unleash them against the Gates of Heaven.

image via Alchertron

He is a fleshy monstrosity. A deviant manipulator who double-crosses any and all in order to further his own Stygian agendas. When souls are sold for offerings of wealth and promises of power, he is the Devil who you would bargain with.

image via Comic Vine

He has mastered the craft of half-truths, and when Al Simmons newly landed in the shallows of the Abyss, Malebolgia greeted him and played upon Simmons’s fragile humanity. “Serve me, and I will allow you to see your wife again,” the forked tongue slurred. Al agreed, thus becoming the newest Hellspawn. And true to his word, the Devil let Spawn return back to Earth to see his wife again. Only thing was, five years had passed and Wanda had remarried herself to Spawn’s old best friend, thus breaking whatever hope he still clung to.

5 – Clown/The Violator

Already covering him in my Clowns article, there is still plenty to say about this filthy mess of existence. Short, fat, and reveling in putrescence, this is the demon known most commonly as Clown.

image via comicvine

He kicks puppies when he feels good. He violates and destroys all he touches. Violence is not mandatory for him, it’s just good-old fashioned fun. And no one is safe from his carnage.

He is Hellborn and feels like he should be the rightful general of Malebolgia’s armies. He is one of five demon brothers – Phlebiac Brothers – and even they found him too despicable to put up with. So they kicked him out of Hell.

When you’re such a bastard that you get yourself kicked out of Hell, you know you have issues. This is Clown.

image via Reddit

Though he is fat and short, these are only a façade to his true persona. When vexed enough, Clown sheds his mortal disguise and reveals the grotesque beast he truly is underneath – The Violator.

A demonic power almost too much for even Spawn to contend with.

4 – Angela

Oh sure! As though fighting the Devil and demons were not enough, Heaven has to send down their very best as well. Heaven’s best would be Angela, the beautiful angelic spawn-slayer. She has one purpose – kill each and every Hellspawn in existence.

What I love about her and Spawn’s interactions is the gradual trust that eventually develops between them. Some may call it romance, and I like that. But I see it more as a mutual respect between two lost souls – two struggling warriors – both caught betwixt infinite powers that are pulling the fabrics of Creation apart. These two start off by battling each other to shreds, but then become allies in hopes of saving the World from falling apart.

image via Image Comics Database

Due to her alliance with Spawn – one that takes her down into the steaming pits of Hell to battle the ancient Devil himself – she is cast off from her brethren who see her as a whore of the demon. She becomes a renegade angel and is looked down upon among her own kind.

Spawn tells Heaven she was too good for any of them and no one dares challenge him. Angela was the only being able to hold her own against Simmons.

3 – Kid Killer Kincaid

Without a doubt ,his is the darkest addition to the Spawn legacy. He is not a devil, and neither is he a hell-spawned demon. He is a sick fuck who drives around in an ice cream truck and lures little children into his wagon of torture and death.

image via Comic Vine

He proves that the most disgusting monsters among us are the human variant. He is a disgusting and deplorable character (rightly so too!!!) but he is oddly necessary to the lore. It also drives home a philosophy I love so much from a masterfully told story. One that reminds us that perhaps not all demons are bad, not every angel wears a straight halo, and people can just be terrible.

Kincaid adds a far more frightening tone to a well-told horror story.

2 – It’s a Love Story

Yup, that’s right. It’s a romance that just happens to have Hell and a lot (and I mean A LOT) of violence in it.

Al Simmons just wanted to be with the woman he loved. That’s all. He didn’t lose his soul. He sold it. And he didn’t sell it for wealth, power, or an hour of Hollywood fame. He sold his soul to see her face again.

image via Image Comics Database

That’s beautiful!

1 – Finally, Spawn Kicked Satan’s Ass

In the SATAN SAGA WARS we get to finally see Spawn go to the core of Hell and challenge Satan right from his infernal throne.

And it’s just as awesome as it should be!

image via comicbooksrealm

Hell screwed up when they orchestrated Wanda’s untimely death. She was killed by a rioting mob, and that would be a mistake Satan would soon come to regret once Simmons got word of it. But by this time in the comics, Al Simmons was no longer Spawn – that power had been handed over to another, and Simmons had crucified himself hoping to be forgotten for the rest of time.

In his isolation though, God appeared to Simmons in the form of a dog and told Al that Wanda had been killed and was now held prisoner by Satan. To say Simmons was pissed is an understatement. Simmons wasn’t having any of that. He resumed the Spawn mantle and took up a divine sword then stormed down the infernal reaches of the Abyss, into the reeking depths of the lowest regions in Hell just to kick Satan’s red ass once and for all.

No demon and no devil was safe from him. In one instance Spawn confronts a whole region of demons who block his way from their Dark Master. As it’s written in the story: “Before he’s finished one of them…and only one of them…will deliver his final message. A single, simple sentence that will make Satan shudder upon hearing it.”

image via view-comic

What then follows is nothing short of 17 pages of ectoplasmic gore being sprayed and splattered in every way you can imagine as Spawn slashes his way through the demonic hordes until only one demon remains – true to his promise. And what’s the message this lone survivor is to deliver to the Prince of Darkness?

“Tell Satan I’m here!”

image via Image Comics

The actual fight between Spawn and Satan is great. I can’t give too much of it away, because it’s very much worth your time to read.

Whether we will see any of these elements in the upcoming reboot is still to be discovered. In the meantime it’s not a bad idea to brush up on some Spawn comics as we wait.

Hope you’ve enjoyed this countdown of reasons why we’re excited to know a new Spawn movie is in the works. What are your favorite aspects of the demonic saga? Let us know in the comments below.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

News

‘Strange Darling’ Featuring Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald Lands Nationwide Release [Watch Clip]

Published

on

Strange Darling Kyle Gallner

‘Strange Darling,’ a standout film featuring Kyle Gallner, who is nominated for an iHorror award for his performance in ‘The Passenger,’ and Willa Fitzgerald, has been acquired for a wide theatrical release in the United States by Magenta Light Studios, a new enterprise from veteran producer Bob Yari. This announcement, brought to us by Variety, follows the film’s successful premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2023, where it was universally praised for its creative storytelling and compelling performances, achieving a perfect score of 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes from 14 reviews.

Strange Darling – Movie Clip

Directed by JT Mollner, ‘Strange Darling‘ is a thrilling narrative of a spontaneous hookup that takes an unexpected and terrifying turn. The film is notable for its innovative narrative structure and the exceptional acting of its leads. Mollner, known for his 2016 Sundance entry “Outlaws and Angels,” has once again employed 35mm for this project, cementing his reputation as a filmmaker with a distinct visual and narrative style. He is currently involved in adapting Stephen King’s novel “The Long Walk” in collaboration with director Francis Lawrence.

Bob Yari expressed his enthusiasm for the film’s upcoming release, scheduled for August 23rd, highlighting the unique qualities that make ‘Strange Darling’ a significant addition to the horror genre. “We are thrilled to be bringing nationwide theatrical audiences this unique and exceptional film with terrific performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. This second feature from talented writer-director JT Mollner is destined to become a cult classic that defies conventional storytelling,” Yari told Variety.

Variety’s review of the film from Fantastic Fest lauds Mollner’s approach, saying, “Mollner shows himself to be more forward-thinking than most of his genre peers. He’s clearly a student of the game, one who studied his forebears’ lessons with adroitness to better prepare himself to put his own mark on them.” This praise underlines Mollner’s deliberate and thoughtful engagement with the genre, promising audiences a film that is both reflective and innovative.

Strange Darling

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

News

Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Barbarella’ Revival Forges Ahead

Published

on

Sydney Sweeney Barbarella

Sydney Sweeney has confirmed the ongoing progress of the much-anticipated reboot of Barbarella. The project, which sees Sweeney not only starring but also executive producing, aims to breathe new life into the iconic character that first captured audiences’ imaginations in the 1960s. However, amid speculation, Sweeney remains tight-lipped about the possible involvement of celebrated director Edgar Wright in the project.

During her appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Sweeney shared her enthusiasm for the project and the character of Barbarella, stating, “It is. I mean, Barbarella is just such a fun character to explore. She really just embraces her femininity and her sexuality, and I love that. She uses sex as a weapon and I think it’s such an interesting way into a sci-fi world. I’ve always wanted to do sci-fi. So we’ll see what happens.“

Sydney Sweeney confirms her Barbarella reboot is still in the works

Barbarella, originally a creation of Jean-Claude Forest for V Magazine in 1962, was transformed into a cinematic icon by Jane Fonda under the direction of Roger Vardim in 1968. Despite a sequel, Barbarella Goes Down, never seeing the light of day, the character has remained a symbol of sci-fi allure and adventurous spirit.

Over the decades, several high-profile names including Rose McGowan, Halle Berry, and Kate Beckinsale were floated as potential leads for a reboot, with directors Robert Rodriguez and Robert Luketic, and writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade previously attached to revive the franchise. Unfortunately, none of these iterations made it past the conceptual stage.

Barbarella

The film’s progress took a promising turn approximately eighteen months ago when Sony Pictures announced its decision to cast Sydney Sweeney in the titular role, a move that Sweeney herself has suggested was facilitated by her involvement in Madame Web, also under Sony’s banner. This strategic decision was aimed at fostering a beneficial relationship with the studio, specifically with the Barbarella reboot in mind.

When probed about Edgar Wright’s potential directorial role, Sweeney adeptly sidestepped, merely noting that Wright has become an acquaintance. This has left fans and industry watchers speculating about the extent of his involvement, if any, in the project.

Barbarella is known for its adventurous tales of a young woman traversing the galaxy, engaging in escapades that often incorporate elements of sexuality—a theme Sweeney seems eager to explore. Her commitment to reimagining Barbarella for a new generation, while staying true to the character’s original essence, sounds like the making of a great reboot.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

News

‘The First Omen’ Almost Received an NC-17 Rating

Published

on

the first omen trailer

Set for an April 5 theater release, ‘The First Omen’ carries an R-rating, a classification that was almost not achieved. Arkasha Stevenson, in her inaugural feature film directorial role, faced a formidable challenge in securing this rating for the prequel to the esteemed franchise. It seems the filmmakers had to contend with the ratings board to prevent the film from being saddled with an NC-17 rating. In a revealing conversation with Fangoria, Stevenson described the ordeal as ‘a long battle’, one not waged over traditional concerns such as gore. Instead, the crux of the controversy centered around the depiction of the female anatomy.

Stevenson’s vision for “The First Omen” delves deep into the theme of dehumanization, particularly through the lens of forced birthing. “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is”, Stevenson explains, emphasizing the significance of presenting the female body in a non-sexualized light to address themes of forced reproduction authentically. This commitment to realism nearly landed the film an NC-17 rating, sparking a prolonged negotiation with the MPA. “This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film. It’s the female body being violated from the inside outwards”, she states, highlighting the importance of the scene to the film’s core message.

The First Omen Movie Poster – by Creepy Duck Design

Producers David Goyer and Keith Levine supported Stevenson’s battle, encountering what they perceived as a double standard in the ratings process. Levine reveals, “We had to go back and forth with the ratings board five times. Weirdly, avoiding the NC-17 made it more intense”, pointing out how the struggle with the ratings board inadvertently intensified the final product. Goyer adds, “There is more permissiveness when dealing with male protagonists, particularly in body horror”, suggesting a gender bias in how body horror is evaluated.

The film’s bold approach to challenging viewers’ perceptions extends beyond the ratings controversy. Co-writer Tim Smith notes the intention to subvert expectations traditionally associated with The Omen franchise, aiming to surprise audiences with a fresh narrative focus. “One of the big things we were excited to do was to kind of pull the rug out from under people’s expectations”, Smith says, underscoring the creative team’s desire to explore new thematic ground.

Nell Tiger Free, known for her role in “Servant”, leads the cast of “The First Omen”, set for release by 20th Century Studios on April 5. The movie follows a young American woman dispatched to Rome for church service, where she stumbles upon a sinister force that shakes her faith to its core and reveals a chilling plot aimed at summoning evil incarnate.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

Embed Gif with Clickable Title