Spawn
Short description
Al Simmons is a government operative killed on the orders of Jason Wynn, the corrupt superior who betrays him. He ends up in Hell, where he strikes a bargain with a demonic lord: in return for another chance to see his wife, Wanda, he will return to Earth and serve as a warrior in the coming war against humanity. Reborn with a scarred face, supernatural strength and living armour, he takes the name Spawn. Once free, he wants nothing to do with the role he agreed to and turns on the forces that brought him back, putting him at odds with both Wynn and Hell itself. The film adapts Todd McFarlane's comic book character, and Todd McFarlane Entertainment is among its production companies.
Mark A.Z. Dippé directed the film, his first feature, from a screenplay by Alan B. McElroy. Michael Jai White plays Al Simmons and Spawn, with Martin Sheen as Wynn, John Leguizamo as the clownish Violator, Theresa Randle as Wanda and Nicol Williamson as Cogliostro. Around thirty actors and roughly 156 crew members are credited.
Released on July 31, 1997, the film runs 96 minutes. Against a budget of about 40 million dollars it took in roughly 88 million worldwide, a solid return at the box office. Audience scores are modest: on IMDb it holds 5.2 out of 10 from about 76,000 votes, and on TMDB 5.5 out of 10 from some 1,500 votes, while the critics' rating is lower at 4.3 out of 10 from 46 reviews. Dippé went on to direct Pixel Perfect, Halloweentown High and Frankenfish, among other films.
What's left behind the scenes
- Cagliostro appears in this film as a mentor to Spawn. In reality, he was an 18th-century occultist and charlatan who, after being imprisoned in the Bastille, was exiled from France, then tried in Rome for heresy, magic, witchcraft, and Freemasonry. He died in solitary confinement at the San Leo castle in 1795.
- Columbia Pictures was interested in a film adaptation of “Spawn” after the comic book was released. However, negotiations fell through because Todd McFarlane felt that the studio would not give him enough creative freedom. Eventually, McFarlane sold the film rights to New Line Cinema for $1 in exchange for creative input and merchandising rights.
- It was initially intended that Tim Burton would direct the film.
- Martin Sheen agreed to the role because he had always wanted to appear in a comic book movie.
- An adaptation of the eponymous comic book by Todd McFarlane.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
