Despite being one of Image Comic’s most recognizable characters, Todd McFarlane’s Spawn has struggled to gain mainstream recognition. Attempts to adapt the character have been rather mixed, ranging from the critically acclaimed 1997 HBO animated series to the critically panned live action film released that same year. However, with popularity of both the superhero genre and anti-hero archetype at a record high, perhaps the upcoming Spawn remake starring Jamie Foxx is just what this character needs to retake the spotlight.

Alongside Foxx, Spawn has recently cast Jeremy Renner in the role of “Twitch” Williams, an NYPD homicide detective who aligns himself with Spawn to take down street corruption. McFarlane, who will  be making his directorial debut with Spawn, spoke to Deadline about selecting Renner, citing his role in The Hurt Locker as a template for Twitch’s behavior. “There was a sense of melancholy to that character that is important,” said McFarlane, “and that was a movie also made by a first time director, but one who wrote the thing and so wasn’t nervous about trying to get what you want.”

Blumhouse Pictures (Get Out, Spilt) will be producing Spawn, but McFarlane is currently looking for a distributor to finance the film on a $10 million-$12 million budget with an R rating. No theatrical release date has been announced as of yet.