Character

Spawn is a 1997 American superhero film based on the Image Comics character of the same name. Directed by Mark A.Z. Dippé from a script by Alan B. McElroy, the film stars Michael Jai White as the titular character, alongside John Leguizamo, Martin Sheen, Theresa Randle, D. B. Sweeney and Nicol Williamson in his final film role. Spawn is one of the first films to feature an African-American actor portraying a major comic book superhero. The film depicts the character's origin story as a murdered US Marine who returns from Hell as its army's reluctant leader. Spawn was released in the United States on August 1, 1997. It received generally negative reviews but was a box office success, grossing $87.9 million worldwide against a production budget between $40–45 million. A reboot, entitled King Spawn, is in development.