THE CROW Creator Compares Reboot To Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver

Last month at Wizard World Richmond, Sean CW Korsgaard had the pleasure of interviewing James O'Barr, the creator of The Crow. Many topics were discussed but let's just focus on the reboot. Years back, when there was talking of remaking The Crow O'Barr was vocally opposed, but all of that changed when Spanish director Javier Guiterrez flew out to visit O'Barr and explained that he wouldn't be remaking Alex Proyas' The Crow, but actually adapting O'Barr's original graphic novel. O'Barr found this new approach intriguing as the 1994 film that starred Brandon Lee only covered about "40% of the book" - leaving out many of the "darker or stranger elements of the comic."

After O'Barr decided to trust Guiterrez's vision he later met with Luke Evans ("Dracula Untold"), who wanted the creators blessing before taking on the lead role. O'Barr was impressed with Evans as well and all three decided to move forward with the reboot. O'Barr did have a few demands, "I said if you want me involved, this is what I need, I want control of the soundtrack, like with the first one, I want a voice on all the casting, and I want to be able to give my two cents on the script and the characters, and they agreed to everything."
 

Korsgaard: So they’re giving you a great deal of creative control over the film?

O’Barr: Very much so. Like with the soundtrack for example, which was so crucial to the first film, we’re including some music I’d wanted to originally, but just couldn’t get the rights to, some actual Joy Division songs, some vintage Cure songs – I’m still pretty active in the music industry, and there is a lot of neo-goth bands out there, that have that same sound, and I’ve talked to some of them about contributing, and they’re very excited about it.

Korsgaard: So am I by the sound of that soundtrack. There are still no doubt a lot of nervous Crow fans who think Eric Draven died with Brandon Lee, and no one else should play the role many feel is Lee’s legacy. What would you tell them?

O’Barr: That no one understands that fear more than me. Brandon Lee was a friend, and I’d never do anything to hurt his legacy.

I’d also remind them that Eric Draven was a creation of the movie – if you read the comic, Eric and Shelley never have their last names revealed. Hopefully, this is one area the new movie being more faithful to the comic will come into play, and Eric won’t be going by Eric Draven in the new film. Luke Evens may play Eric, but Brandon Lee will forever be Eric Draven.

Lastly, we’re not remaking the movie, we’re readapting the book. My metaphor is that there is a Bela Lugosi Dracula and there’s a Francis Ford Coppola Dracula, they use the same material, but you still got two entirely different films. This one’s going to be closer to Taxi Driver or a John Woo film, and I think there’s room for both of them – part of the appeal of the Crow comics after all is that they can tell very different stories after all.

Catch the explosive, action-packed hit that thrilled moviegoers and dazzled critics everywhere! Brandon Lee (RAPID FIRE) plays Eric Draven, a young rock guitarist who, along with his fiancee, is brutally killed by a ruthless gang of criminals. Exactly one year after his death, Eric returns -- watched over by a hypnotic crow -- to seek revenge, battling the evil crime lord and his band of urban thugs, who must answer for their crimes. Loaded with intense, nonstop action and a hot #1 hit soundtrack, THE CROW delivers exhilarating, fast-paced entertainment!