Todd McFarlane, the creator of the Spawn comics, has confirmed that work continues on the long-anticipated film adaptation first announced in 2017. According to McFarlane, the team is actively developing the script, but full production remains on hold because he is unhappy with the story options presented so far.
McFarlane said he understands fans' frustration and shares it, but stressed he will not approve a screenplay that departs from his creative vision. He also rejected the idea of confining the movie to the material from the earliest Spawn issues, noting the character's development spans 380 issues and that the antihero's personality unfolds over time.
Given budget realities, McFarlane expressed a preference for a darker, horror-leaning tone for the film. He argued that a horror approach fits the project better than another conventional superhero blockbuster—especially since the production will not have a roughly $200 million budget typical of major franchise releases. He pointed to films such as "Possession" and "Behind the Reality" as examples of movies that indicate audiences are receptive to that kind of material.