USA: NEWCOMER MICHAEL JAI WHITE TEAMS UP WITH MARTIN SHEEN, THERESA RANDLE AND JOHN LEGUIZAMO FOR THE BIG BUDGET SCI-FI FILM "SPAWN"

Record ID: 387093

  • Title: USA: NEWCOMER MICHAEL JAI WHITE TEAMS UP WITH MARTIN SHEEN, THERESA RANDLE AND JOHN LEGUIZAMO FOR THE BIG BUDGET SCI-FI FILM "SPAWN"
  • Date: 25th July 1997
  • Summary: VARIOUS FILM lOCATIONS (VNR-NEW LINE CINEMA) VARIOUS BEHIND-THE-SCENES ON SET SHOTS
  • Embargoed: 9th August 1997 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES AND FILM lOCATIONS
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA6VUNE71Y57FNPCQ7IU17H95E8
  • Story Text: Yet another blockbuster comic book is coming to the big screen. Hot on the heels of "Batman and Robin" and "Men In Black" comes "Spawn," the story of a scarred warrior who literally goes to Hell and back to become a superhero.

    Newcomer Michael Jai White plays the lead role of Spawn and his alter ego, Al Simmons, an assassin for a secretive government agency run by the duplicitous Jason Wynn, played by veteran actor Martin Sheen.

    Five years after Wynn double-crosses and murders Simmons, the now-dead warrior makes a deal with the devil so that he can be resurrected to see his beloved wife Wanda, played by Theresa Randle. In exchange for his return to Earth, Simmons agrees to lead Hell's Army in the destruction of mankind.

    Before he was assassinated, Simmons was a one-man army and the ultimate operative. But nothing compares to the chameleon-like powers given to him by his new malevolent master. As he begins to discover and exercise his new strengths, he is approached by two mysterious figures who direct him to use his talents to serve two very different agendas. Nicol Williamson plays Cogliostro, who encourages Spawn to fight the devil and reign as a true champion for humankind, while John Leguizamo plays Clown, a corpulent waddling character with an outrageous sense of humor who prods Spawn to honor his deal with the devil and lead the Armageddon.

    Directed by first-time filmmaker Mark Dippe, "Spawn" is based on the #1 best-selling comic book created by maverick artist Todd McFarlane. The film uses the latest achievements in special effects wizardry from the Oscar-winning team at George Lucas' company Industrial Light and Magic. It contains more than 400 visual effects shots and employed 21 companies worldwide to complete its ambitious post production schedule.

    "Spawn" the comic book is just about as hot as comics come now-a-days. It's currently the best-selling comic in the United States, regularly out-selling such veterans as "Batman," "Spiderman" and "Superman." More than 80 million copies of "Spawn" have been sold worldwide in 34 countries and in 13 languages.

    Besides the computer effects, the cast and crew also had to deal with a series of intricate physical effects on the set as well. Michael Jai White and John Leguizamo spent several hours each day sitting quietly while creature effects technicians dusted, lacquered, painted and glued carefully sculpted latex pieces on the faces, heads and necks.

    While Michael Jai White spent many days and nights on set in a full latex suit, sweltering under hot lights and enduring endless questions about how uncomfortable he was and what exactly he did when he itched, John Leguizamo became a completely different being before the eyes of the cast and crew.

    With his hair slicked down, a latex cowl glued over his head, his face painted and airbrushed, Leguizamo was then dumped into a 20-pound fat suit with foam latex hands, rendering the comedian virtually unrecognizable.

    Michael Jai White first caught audiences' attention with his portrayal of controversial boxing giant Michael Tyson in the HBO cable special "Tyson." With more than 18 years of experience as a a martial artist, he holds a black belt in six Karate syles and over 26 titles.

    The world premiere of "Spawn" was held at Mann's Chinese Theater in downtown Hollywood on Monday, July 28th. The film opens throughout the United States on Friday, August 1st.
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