Jamie Foxx Takes the Title Role in ‘Spawn’ Reboot

Arguably one of the worst superhero movies of the 90s, Spawn was one of those properties that deserved better than it got. Granted, it's not the most original story in the world, but it's above average for a comic book property and could make a similarly above average film under the right circumstances.

A lot of factors have to come together to produce such a film, and the ones being assembled for a reboot of Spawn are a touch dubious. According to Deadline Hollywood, Blumhouse—the horror studio behind last year's Oscar winning film Get Out—is in charge of the new film and Oscar winner Jamie Foxx is their new star.

Foxx steps into the role of Al Simmons—previously played on the big screen by Black Dynamite star Michael Jai White—a black ops soldier who makes a deal with the devil after being betrayed and murdered by his platoon. The smaller-than-your-average-comic-book-movie-budget provided by Blumhouse will allow them to make it a hard-R rated dark and violent picture.

Honestly, there are two things I'm apprehensive about here. First, the last time Jamie Foxx did a comic book movie, he was hammy as hell. Hopefully he can dial that back a bit. Second, and more concerning, is the fact that Todd McFarlane, the creator of Spawn, is making his directorial debut with this film. A good cinematographer can help overcompensate for a novice director, so hopefully they're able to score someone good in that department.

Spawn is set to be released in the back half of 2019.