Why Jamie Foxx will make the perfect Spawn

Blumhouse is producing an adaptation of the hit 90s comic Spawn starring Jamie Foxx as the titular antihero. Here’s why he’s the perfect choice for the role.

Deadline announced Tuesday, Blumhouse is bankrolling a new Spawn film directed by the author of the original comic books, Todd McFarlane, starring Jamie Foxx as the CIA black ops agent turned demonic creature from Hell. Living up to both the HBO animated series and the 1997 film adaptation won’t be easy, but I believe the team of Blumhouse, McFarlane, and Foxx is more than up for the challenge.

Blumhouse Productions, founded by Jason Blum, is best known for producing micro-budget horror flicks like Paranormal Activity, M. Night Shyamalan’s psychological thriller Split, and Jordan Peele’s Oscar winning Get Out. In a statement given to Deadline, Blum revealed how he’s feeling about the upcoming adaptation.

More from Movies

• The story of a French emperor: Here’s where Napoleon will stream after theaters
• The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes honors its origins and far surpasses them
• Thanksgiving movie death toll: Why [SPOILER] is still alive
• No, Thanksgiving is not streaming yet (But here’s where it’ll land)
• Trolls Band Together soundtrack guide: Which songs play in the movie?

Foxx, who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in 2004’s Ray, is truly a world-class performer. From dramatic turns in films like The Soloist or Django Unchained to laugh-out-loud roles in comedies like Horrible Bosses, Foxx has been underutilized in the film industry for years, and its about time he heads a comic book adaptation. And with his vast background in action flicks like The Kingdom, White House Down, and Baby Driver, we know Foxx will be able to perform. Based on his portrayal of Electro in 2014’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2 alone, I believe Foxx will not only succeed in bringing out the humanity within Spawn, but he will also show a darker side that he’s never tapped into before.

"“With the depth of talent Jamie can commit to the role and Todd at the helm bringing the world of Spawn to life, we could not be more excited for this film.”"

Spawn‘s greatest hope lies in its director, Todd McFarlane, who has been determined to spearhead an adaptation of his own work for years. Unlike the ’97 version, the upcoming Blumhouse production won’t play out like a standard summer blockbuster. During a 2016 interview with ComicBook.com, McFarlane said he’d “put it more into horror/suspense/supernatural genre.” Speaking with Deadline, McFarlane revealed Foxx had approached him in 2013 about one day putting his own spin on the Spawn character. Ever since that encounter MacFarlane had his eye set on making it happen.

"“I never forgot him, and when I was writing this script, you sort of plug people in, and he was my visual guy and I never let go of him. “"

With a budget set for anywhere between $10-$12 million, it’s going to be interesting to see what this genrified retelling of Spawn is going to look like. History shows us magic can be made when a comic creator adapts their own work to film with Frank Miller’s Sin City being a prime example. Allowing McFarlane full creative control over how he crafts the mood and universe of Spawn should result in a film well worth the wait. Let’s just hope this foray into the comic book world goes better for Foxx than that ill-fated Spider-Man sequel.

Next: In Darkness review: A stylized, engaging thriller

What do you think about another Spawn movie? What about Jamie Foxx landing the lead role? Share your thoughts in the comments below.