For years now, Todd McFarlane has been talking up the prospect of Jamie Foxx taking on the title role in his Spawn reboot, if and when it ever saw the light of day. Well, having secured financing from Blumhouse Productions, the Spawn movie will indeed see the light of day, and now comes word from Deadline that Foxx has officially signed on to play Al Simmons.
If you’re unfamiliar with Spawn, Simmons is a member of a CIA black ops team who – after being betrayed by his partner – is sent to Hell, where he makes a deal to become a Hellspawn in exchange for being able to reunite with his wife. However, when he returns to the human world he finds that his wife has moved on and, transformed into a demonic creature, he sets out to battle evil.
“Jamie came to my office five years ago, and he had an idea about Spawn and we talked about it,” McFarlane tells Deadline. “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. When I got done and my agents and everybody was talking about what actor, I said, I’m going to Jamie first and until he says no I don’t want to think about anyone else because I’ve never had anyone else in my head. Luckily, he hadn’t forgotten either. I said, ‘Hey, I’m back to talk about Spawn again, and he was like, let’s do it.’”
SEE ALSO: The Spawn film will be more R-Rated than Deadpool, according to Todd McFarlane
“A few years back I flew out to Arizona to meet the man behind one of the most incredible comic book characters in the universe… Todd McFarlane,” added Foxx. “He was taken aback when I told him with the enthusiasm of a young child that more than anything I wanted to put my name in the hat to embody his beloved characterSpawn…. I told him no one would work harder than me if given the opportunity… well… the opportunity is here!! I’m humbled and ready to transform… and to top things off the young Jason Blum is lending his brilliance to the project! Time to be great!!!! #Spawn.”
Foxx becomes the first addition to the cast of the R-rated film, which is reportedly gearing up to go into production this summer. Let us know what you make of his casting in the comments below…
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