Back in 1997 - before X-Men changed how superhero movies were made - there was a comic book movie called Spawn. It was about a cult favorite character who was a reluctant soldier for the demons of hell and the movie was really, really bad. Fans have been clamoring for a do-over ever since, and now (thanks to the modern superhero boom) Spawn is finally getting a second chance. To prepare for that, check out this modern edit of Spawn's trailer that will get you psyched for the reboot.
Well, that's better in just about every way, isn't it? The trailer comes from the YouTube account of Tim Gonzales, who was a big fan of Spawn while growing up. He admits that the movie hasn't aged very well, but wanted to re-cut the trailer in honor of creator Todd McFarlane's appearance on AMC's Geeking Out. Using modern techniques, Gonzales re-cut the trailer for the 1997 film. He certainly succeeded in making the movie seem cooler (though those visual effects haven't aged well at all) and if someone didn't know any better, it could make them watch the film.
The trailer lays out the basic plot of Spawn and what audiences are in for. He was a not so nice special forces guy (Michael Jai White) who was murdered by his boss (Martin Sheen) and sent to Hell. Then he strikes a deal that allows him to return to Earth, but as the anti-hero Spawn, and seeks vengeance on those that betrayed him. There's also a demon clown man played by John Leguizamo. The trailer teases just enough bits of action and includes a hero shot of Spawn looking over the city. There's even a stinger to the trailer that ends on a joke, which is in just about every trailer for a superhero movie these days.
For a better comparison here's the original 1997 trailer for Spawn. It does nothing to explain who he is, what he wants, or what's happening in the least. Enjoy!
There's long been talk of a Spawn sequel or reboot, which recently started gaining more steam. Spawn creator Todd McFarlane has been teasing the project for a while, and recently spoke about how it will completely ignore the 1997 film and take the franchise in a new direction. A script for the film is apparently almost complete and has been described as being brutal, dark, and scary, effectively worthy of an R-rating.
While the 1997 version has earned a sort of charm for its B-movie campiness, fans of the character will no doubt be happy to learn that the new Spawn will be a closer adaptation of the source material, written by the creator of said source material. There's no official release date for the reboot, but CinemaBlend will be sure to keep you updated with new information as it becomes available.
