Spawn 2: The Devil’s Due

For nearly 30 years, fans of the hellspawn antihero have been waiting for a proper follow-up to the 1997 cult classic. After countless false starts, studio changes, and promises that never materialized, Todd McFarlane’s Spawn 2 (or the Spawn reboot, depending on who you ask) finally appears to be gaining real momentum.

The 1997 film starring Michael Jai White was a modest success, grossing $87.8millionworldwideona$40 million budget . But its sequel — originally planned for the early 2000s — fell into development hell, where it has remained for over two decades. Now, with Blumhouse Productions attached and a new vision in place, Spawn may finally return to the screen.

The Confusing History: What Is Spawn 2?

The short answer: There is no single “Spawn 2.” There are multiple versions, false starts, and competing timelines.

The 1998 Animated Sequel

Many fans are unaware that a direct-to-video animated sequel actually exists. Todd McFarlane’s Spawn 2, an animated film, was released on August 25, 1998 — just one year after the live-action original . Clocking in at 144 minutes, the film continues Al Simmons’ story as he protects his former love Wanda and her new family from the arms dealer Jason Wynn . Keith David reprised his voice role as Spawn, a role he also played in the acclaimed HBO animated series .

But for live-action fans, the wait has been far longer.

The Lost Live-Action Sequel (2000s)

In the early 2000s, Columbia Pictures acquired distribution rights for a live-action sequel . Producer Don Murphy (Transformers, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) was attached, and Hans Rodionoff was hired to write the script. Murphy described the vision as “smaller and perhaps even cooler and scarier,” with supporting characters Sam and Twitch playing prominent roles .

By 2006, however, the project was stuck in development hell, with McFarlane citing Murphy’s busy schedule as a factor. McFarlane pivoted to a new plan: financing, writing, producing, and directing a low-budget (under $10 million), R-rated Spawn film inspired by Crash, which he hoped to release by 2007 . That film never materialized.

The Blumhouse Reboot

The most promising — and persistent — iteration emerged in the late 2010s. Todd McFarlane partnered with Blumhouse Productions, the studio behind Get Out, The Purge, and Halloween, to produce a horror-focused reboot . The vision was drastically different: the film would not be a superhero spectacle but a low-budget, gritty horror-thriller centered on the detective duo Sam and Twitch, with Spawn appearing as a terrifying, almost mythic presence in the shadows .

The Dream Cast: Jamie Foxx as Spawn

For years, the name attached to the role has been Jamie Foxx. As early as 2013, Foxx revealed he was “aggressively pursuing” the lead role of Al Simmons . By 2018, it was confirmed that Foxx would play Spawn in McFarlane’s reboot, with Jeremy Renner (Avengers) attached to play a key role — likely Detective Twitch Williams .

Foxx’s passion for the project has remained consistent, though his casting has never been officially finalized as the film continues to inch forward.

The Michael Jai White Question

What about the original Al Simmons? Michael Jai White, who portrayed Spawn in the 1997 film, has addressed the possibility of returning. In a 2024 interview, White said he doesn’t “think much about the sequel” but would consider it if invited. However, he acknowledged that McFarlane has “been leading that conversation” for a very long time .

The Current Status

In March 2016 — nine years ago — McFarlane announced that he was finishing a script draft and expected to “hook at least two actors” soon . That timeline proved overly optimistic, and the project has remained in a holding pattern ever since.

The Concept: A Horror-Thriller, Not a Superhero Film

What makes the Blumhouse iteration unique is its refusal to be a traditional superhero movie. McFarlane has repeatedly emphasized that the reboot will be horror-first, focusing on the psychological terror of Spawn’s existence rather than CGI-heavy action sequences.

The film is said to follow Sam and Twitch — the homicide detectives who operate in the shadow of Spawn’s vigilante justice — as they investigate a series of supernatural murders. Spawn himself is a creature of the background, glimpsed in fleeting, terrifying moments. In many ways, this vision echoes Jaws or Alien, where the monster’s power comes from what you don’t see.

What We Want to See

If the reboot finally escapes development hell, here’s what fans are hoping for:

• R-Rated Horror: Spawn is not a hero for children. His world is one of body horror, Faustian bargains, and moral ambiguity. The film must embrace its mature rating.

• Practical Effects: The 1997 film’s CGI has aged poorly. A return to practical makeup, animatronics, and suit work would honor the character’s comic book roots.

• Faithful Costume: The hellspawn suit — with its living chains, spikes, and flowing cape — is iconic. It deserves a screen adaptation that does it justice.