In the darkness, the crow casts its cry for more…

In the darkness, the crow casts its cry for more…

As the curtain closed, the coffin lowered… but even he knew, that the show must go on.

Editorial Opinion
By Shaman - Dec 24, 2008 12:12 AM EST
Filed Under: The Crow



This is probably one of the most “sensitive” projects I will ever have to cast however, the wheel is already turning and there is no stopping time itself. And so I will respectfully cast the successor, of the ever so inspirational character that was to grace the fan-favourite medium, which was brilliantly portrayed by the unforgettably talented Brandon Lee.

There has been much debate over the idea of “re-making” this cult classic that obviously never needed to be remade. Most of the arguments have been in the light of the new director that made public his intention of adding his “touch” to the already sterling adaptation of the popular comic book by James O’Barr. Him being blamed for the disgrace that was made of Allan Moore’s masterpiece of literature named “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”. Stephen Norrington’s vision of the League however distorted it might have been from the original seems to have blinded the masses from his brilliant interpretation of the Vampire Hunter: Blade. His gritty, serious yet realistic take on society’s secret underground life made Blade’s world appear to be our own and in the end made us connect on a much deeper level with the character, something even the very talented Guillermo Del Toro, hasn’t been able to execute with as much ease on his version of the character as well as his cherished projects of the Hellboy adaptations. And this “vision” is just what Norrington wants to bring to The Crow’s atmosphere. If there ever was a reason to remake this movie, I ultimately believe that “he” has the talent required for the task as he has proven in the past.

But putting the director aside, there are some rather large “shoes” to fill if not monumental. Brandon Lee’s performance is what made this movie the cult classic it is today. However, even though I believe his performance to be “unmatchable”, a fresh new take can be brought to this mesmerizing personality provided the successor be as talented as his predecessor, as was proven not too long ago by a gentleman named Heath Ledger. His performance as the antagonist named “The Joker” was renowned through out the world even though, had already been astonishingly portrayed by none other than Jack Nicholson. Ledger’s fresh new take on the character, as “jaw-dropping” it might have been, will never be able to totally “eclipse” Jack’s interpretation, as it will forever remain a comfort classic in our hearts. Now the gentlemen I’m thinking of as replacement certainly has more than enough talent to fill the boots so to speak as he has demonstrated in the very “League” that Norrington has directed as well as his own version of “The Vampire: Lestat”. Having already worked with Norrington can only aid to the accomplishment of this hefty task. And so without further adieu, I give you… Stuart Townsend as Eric Draven (The Crow).



The “Shaman” has spoken!


CANDYMAN And THE CROW Actor Tony Todd Has Passed Away At The Age Of 69
Related:

CANDYMAN And THE CROW Actor Tony Todd Has Passed Away At The Age Of 69

THE CROW Is Now Available On Home Video And We're Celebrating With A Giveaway
Recommended For You:

THE CROW Is Now Available On Home Video And We're Celebrating With A Giveaway

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

1 2
wadewilson1
wadewilson1 - 12/24/2008, 3:13 PM
wtf they are going to f'up the only good one if they are going to remake the crow remake the other 4 movies that sucked. And for Stuart Townsend his proformance as “The Vampire: Lestat" was god awful if he was going to do lestat he should have watch interview with the vampire. in my opinion if it ain't broke don't f*#k with it.
LastSon1027
LastSon1027 - 12/24/2008, 4:52 PM
You know Shaman I've never actually seen a Stuart Townsend movie but I definitely think he looks the part. I do however know that Stuart Townsend was originally cast as Aragorn. Although in that case I think Viggo was a good choice, even though he was an understudy. But I think that Stuart Townsend looks the part of the Crow for sure.
Shaman
Shaman - 12/24/2008, 5:16 PM
Well wade, could it be that you are biased in no matter who someone picks, that they'll never be as good as Brandon Lee...hmmm??? Just the thought of remaking the movie got you climing curtains! And as for his performance in "Queen of the damned", you think he was god awfull but he was merely different than Tom Cruise's take on him. Yes the movie sucked compared to "interview with a vampire" but Townsend's performance was pretty good. People in general were up and arms about not taking Cruise for the sequel that no matter how good Stuart was, he was already doomed to begin with. In this case, it would be slightly different. And who would you pick then wade?

I didn't know that Son, Viggo was amazing though, i don't think Townsend would have done better. But as for the crow, he seems to have the vibe for it. Of course, you're more than welcome to chose another for the role.
LastSon1027
LastSon1027 - 12/24/2008, 8:32 PM
I think you got a stellar pick on this one Shaman.
Joslezio85
Joslezio85 - 12/24/2008, 9:34 PM
i concur with shaman, this is, and most likely will be for a long time. the only actor with enough potential to take on Draven.
Shaman
Shaman - 12/25/2008, 8:34 AM
Of course i thought of two others that would do a great job like Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp but in the end, i feel that Townsend will have the inate ability to take the character somewhere it's never been portrayed before. And i really appreciate your compliments guys but if there are a few that disagree with me on this, make your voices heard but please bring constructive criticism. There's no stopping Norrington of making this movie, might as well give him something to work with that the fans actually want to see. So bring on your picks!
Joslezio85
Joslezio85 - 12/25/2008, 10:34 PM
when you going to do your next identity pick? you should do something like the x force or x-calibur. i don't think they get enough recognition, they have some really cool characters. i mean come on, wolfsbane was freakin' sweet
wadewilson1
wadewilson1 - 12/26/2008, 12:06 AM
i was probably being to hard on Stuart Townsend he did the best with what he had on queen of the damned. i have seen him do good work on other movies. i think they are pissing in the wind with this remake the crow was before it's time i think sense dark is the thing now i just don't think it can be done better or in a differant way without f-ing it up. after actor like brandon lee pass's and leaves a damn near perfect proformance it will be a touchy project and ever one will compair it to joker but nicolson's joker was good and ledger's was as good if not better but it was darker and so much differant. the crow was dark to begin with but if it has to be made Stuart Townsend is as good of a chose as anyone else. so +1 townsend
lara99
lara99 - 12/26/2008, 1:22 PM
Thanks for saying this wadewilson. I posted on another thread last night..I gave up years of my own work on Lara Croft the moment I saw Stuart act..in person..at that moment.. i said to myself.."I am on the wrong side of the camera..I am shit compared to him...etc" I was glad to transfere my website to make him one of the first websites on the www. and it's still there..Stuart has a magic and yes QOTD was only a 20 mil budget..I could go on.. he is magnetic in real life he has this warm passion (his planets are all in scorpio..sexy~!) oops I am going on... lets hope if this happens that the Direction is goooood. www.stuarttownsend.org
Shaman
Shaman - 12/27/2008, 9:47 AM
Well Jos, i very much like your requests and might get to work on one of them this week. It will all depend on how the holidays pan out for me.

I totally agree with you Wade, this movie doesn't need to be remade and there are more chances of tarnishing this already perfect vision than bettering it. but thanks for comming on board the Townsend boat!

Wow Lara, you met him? That is very cool and i appreciate you agreeing with me :) You totally have my permission to post up my editorial on your web site provided my name as writer and the link to my fansite be a part of it along with a breif explanation from your part as to how you found my article. Because right now, you posted it as your own. It would be cool if together our efforts would push Norrington or Townsend to meet together to talk about this futur project! What do you say?!
lara99
lara99 - 12/27/2008, 11:07 AM
Shaman.. I would even like to send what you say to Stuart's people~! help me..i am new on this site.. still navagiting around and learning..you write? I have myspace..but dont use it much.. i love all these comic people...I never realized I could relate so much.. forgot how hard i worked to be Lara Croft..and mind you animated Lara~! Thanks so much.. where else can i find your work? sorry so new here.. learning.. woo hoo email me if you want.. [email protected]
Shaman
Shaman - 12/28/2008, 8:01 AM
Well thank you for adjusting your fansite Lara, i very much appreciate it :)

And yes i believe i can help you a bit, right now you are in a fansite that is part of the community of "www.comicbookmovie.com". My fansite is called "My Secret Identity Picks" and it's purpose is to tell the fans which actor i find would be best for the role of a superhero in his adaptation to the big screen. It's second purpose is to have all the comicbook and comicbook movie fans voice they're opinions on not only the actor i chose but also to bring their own ideas so that we can debate on who would be "the perfect pick". And it's third purpose is to this day only a hope that high placed people in the movie industry will come to learn of this fansite and come here to get inspiration from the very people that count the most, the fans.

And all that i write is on this fansite. So you can always check out my other editorials by going to the home page of my fansite. Go to the top of the page, you'll see a thin long rectangular black bar that has the links in it "Home : News : Videos : Pictures : Contact : Editor's Tools ". Click on "home" to go to the home page to read my past articles as well as check regularly for new ones. I should get cracking on new articles soon, after the holidays. To contact me, at the top of the page, on the left hand side, you can see my "avatar" which also says "contact me". That link is tied to my work address and i believe you already have my home address from the e-mail i sent you.

You are always more than welcome to show my articles just as you are doing right now with this one by giving them the link to were you found it and you can always tell them with your own words who i am and what my fansite is for. Since you are from the industry, it would be cool for the fans to have their voices heard. So to send this to Stuart's people would be amazing! Thank you very much Lara and let's keep this partnership going shall we!
Joker1zero
Joker1zero - 12/28/2008, 2:18 PM
Hey Shaman, what do you think about having Philip Seymour Hoffman play Detective Bullock for the next Batman movie? It would be a nice touch due to the fact that Batman is now being hunted and Detective Bullock never liked Batman. He would be way better suited for that than the Penguin (who I doubt they are gonna use anyways. Plus, even if they did do the Penguin, a better choice would be Jim Gaffigan). What say you?
Shaman
Shaman - 12/29/2008, 9:27 AM
Actually, i always hated the Penguin as a character. He's not dark enough as the others are. And i love Seymour, he would be amazing as Bullock! Good pick :) And i don't know if Gaffigan can pull off a serious role like Penguin's but i wouldn't mind giving him a shot.
loganoneil
loganoneil - 12/31/2008, 11:28 AM
Steward Townsend as Eric Draven?!! Isn't he the one who gave us those god-awful performances in 'Queen of the Damned' as Lestat (he can't sing) and 'League of Extraordinary Gentlemen' as Dorian Gray (...and he can't act)? I say let whole idea 'Rest In Peace'.
Shaman
Shaman - 12/31/2008, 5:56 PM
Thing is, it won't rest in peace. That's the reason why i did this editorial, so that they can make it the way we want it this time around. So if not Townsend, who would you pick and why?
FrizzBee
FrizzBee - 1/1/2009, 12:20 PM
I say Michael Jackson... that would scare the crap out of the T-Birds. Unh!! Hee!! Shaka Oooh!!! (Although applying the make-up could cause his face to collapse.)
Shaman
Shaman - 1/1/2009, 11:33 PM
Dude, you can't have The Crow running around chasing little boys to touch their bums. It's not kosher.
loganoneil
loganoneil - 1/2/2009, 12:11 PM
This just goes to confirm my belief that Hollywood (for the most part) has run out of ideas. Why else do you think they're 'Americanizing' foreign material and recycling stuff from the past? I heard that the producers of the original 'Highlander' are going to try the latest Hollywood trend and completely re-boot their dead franchise - as with most classic pieces, I say... "There can be ONLY one!"
Shaman
Shaman - 1/5/2009, 8:27 AM
Funny, but the thing is that i'd pay to see an updated version of Highlander LOL. And as actors go, Christopher Lambert and Adrian Paul aren't my cup of tea if you get my drift. And it's not like the character is to demanding of a mold to follow. There are a lot of good actors out there who could do a better job than what has already been done. I say do it as long as you do it right!
loganoneil
loganoneil - 1/5/2009, 8:36 AM
But like 'The Crow', 'Highlander' should NEVER have been a franchise - it's a perfect 'One-off' movie! Eric gets his revenge and passes on to meet his love in the afterlife / MacLeod receives the prize after defeating the Kurgan and lives 'happily ever after' in the Highlands of Scottland - THE END. Why is is that Hollywood feels it MUST capitalize on EVERY SINGLE THING out there (even when it doesn't call for it?!)
version4
version4 - 1/5/2009, 6:57 PM
I agree, logan... i don't think Highlander should have had sequels, although the tv series was pretty decent for a sec. I WOULD like to see a rehash though...

With that being said.... why do I see the studio execs pushing Hayden Christiansen for the role of Craven... bad desicion, but I have a funny feeling...
Shaman
Shaman - 1/6/2009, 7:45 PM
I also agree Logan, i totally get what you're saying, the original, as a masterpiece, should be left alone. Hollywood only thinks of their pockets and in doing so, they screw up everything in they touch.

And Version4, you get that feeling because hollywood are idiots. Putting Christensen as drave would be as idiotic as putting Eddie Furlong as the crow... oh wait they did that already!!!
Dragodon
Dragodon - 1/9/2009, 2:49 AM
From what I understand, The Crow is a power that anyone can weld from tragedy. Even if Brandon Lee didn't die, he wouldn't be in the sequels that everyone hoped for cuz the power fell to other victims. The first one was untouchably great, the second was decent, the the last two went downhill. Probably due to lack of keeping the spirit of the first one and lowering the budget to straight to DVD crap. If they decide to do another Eric Draven story and Stuart Townsend is a bad joice, how about Kyle Schmid (Henry Fitzroy of Blood Ties)?
Shaman
Shaman - 1/9/2009, 11:19 AM
And why is Townsend a bad choice? Kyle schmid might have the look but Townsend also has the charm and intensity which is very rare.
LastSon1027
LastSon1027 - 1/9/2009, 1:24 PM
I gotta disagree with you Dragodon the second Crow was HORRIBLE! Of course it wasn't as bad as the fourth one which was worse than horrible. But the third movie Crow: Salvation. That movie was Kick-Ass. Eric Mabius was an awesome Crow! And as much hell as I know I'm gonna catch for this. I actually liked the third better than the first. BUT it was close.

Shaman I thought of another possible pick. I don't know how well he can do serious acting but Russell Brand, who played Aldous Snow in Forgetting Sarah Marshall definitely has the look. What do you think?

kaoz4100
kaoz4100 - 1/9/2009, 2:21 PM
sorry shaman i don't like. if it ain't broken don't fix it. I own the crow movie and i watch it over and over. if you want to remake it then curse you and everyone else. Reboot hell no.....make a different storyline. make the crow female....make her have her own story. Just don't mess with the original crow. No one played it better. Bradon lee made sure of it. He was a fan of the crow. He and James O barr talked over the role. James O barr gave him the approval. Don't mess with it.
Shaman
Shaman - 1/9/2009, 3:19 PM
LastSon, i would slap the shit out of you if i didn't like the third one myself. For me it was just a decent rental but yeah...decent. Second one was an acid overdose... frickin' Iggy Pop, come oooonn! I'm not even gonna waist my time commenting on Furlong. As for your pick, they would save a lot in makeup costs but as for "what it takes" i think he falls a bit short.

Kaoz- You're not alone in this, i also own and watch it a few times a year but thing is, no matter what we think, it's gonna happen anyway. You got an "out of work" director working on just that. So he's got nothing better to do than remake the movie. We can't convince him different so why not help in a way that might not make it a totall failure? So i do like your female idea, i think it was approached in the TV series but never in a movie. That could be cool, who would you pick? I'm thinking Brittany Murphy what do you think?
kaoz4100
kaoz4100 - 1/9/2009, 8:03 PM
Brittany murphy is alright but we need some that can really play the dark side of things. really can't see one..ye3ah i guess brittany murphy would do. James o' barr had a female crow i think. The graphic novels are hard to get a hold of. Let me ponder this a little more.
Joslezio85
Joslezio85 - 1/9/2009, 10:53 PM
christina ricci
Joslezio85
Joslezio85 - 1/9/2009, 10:55 PM
brittany murphy would be a good harley quinn. sorry just popped in my head
Dragodon
Dragodon - 1/10/2009, 4:02 AM
I aint dissin' on Townsend, I was just referring to how everyone else was saying that he was a bad joice. I thought he was cool in LOEG. I should have worded that last comment better but I was under the influence of rum that night lol. Shaman is right, even if we fans forbid it, Hollywood will eventually remake the first one. They already have plans to revamp Nightmare on Elm Str., Hellraiser and John Carpenter's The Thing and I think these movies shouldn't be touched either. If they do a good job enough for a sequel, then I would like to see a female crow. Brittany Murphy will definitely get my vote.
Shaman
Shaman - 1/12/2009, 9:12 AM
Jos, i feel that Christina Ricci doesn't have the "maturity" required for the role even though she has the "darkness" down to a "T". Which in my book makes her the best possible pick to play "Raven" in Teen Titans. As for Brittany Murphy, I want her for both Harley Quinn and the crow LOL. I love her :))

Very good point Dragodon.
LastSon1027
LastSon1027 - 1/15/2009, 1:39 PM
That's a great idea Dragodon. It never even occurred to me that the Crow could be female. I gotta give this some thought as to who would be an awesome female Crow I'll get back to you.
Shaman
Shaman - 1/15/2009, 3:00 PM
Sweet :)) Drumroll please......
LastSon1027
LastSon1027 - 1/16/2009, 7:15 AM
I got it! Kristen Stewart from Twilight. They made her look really innocent for that movie, but in real life she has these really intense green eyes that just give her that ominous look. Plus she is mad hot! If you don't believe me google her. She looks like a completely different person from her character in Twilight.

I think it would also be really cool if instead of having her paint her face they just made her really pale because she's dead and for the black around her eyes they just have that be her makeup that has dripped down her face like you see after a girl has been crying. Of course it would have to be an exaggerated effect. But I think it would look sweet.

By the way did I mention Kristen Stewart is mad hot!
loganoneil
loganoneil - 1/16/2009, 10:32 AM
Not to get off course, but on the whole Christina Ricci / dark thing - has anyone thought of her for 'Death' (Sandman)? Loved the comic and I'd love to see an adaptation - it doesn't even have to be on the big screen (if done right). The SciFi Channel is always looking for interesting stuff (now that 'Galactica' is coming to a close), and it woud beat most of the D-list crap they're putting out now! Or maybe an HBO mini-series on 'The High Cost of Living'... Hmmm....
Shaman
Shaman - 1/16/2009, 11:07 AM
Well guys i'm very impressed! Lastson, that's a mad hot pick you got there! She would be great if they did a teen angst take on the crow which could be very popular! Goth is always in with the teens and it's also about that age where females get really into they're "girl power trip" so yeah, a winner for sure. If they need to go older, Brittany Murphy is the best so far :)

Loganoneil- She would be nothing short of absolutely perfect for the role of Death in Sandman!!! And yes, i do agree, it would be better as a TV show however, Gaiman having his head inflated to almost "Shyamalan" standards, he wouldn't settle for nothing less than IMAX which would still be cool :) Hey maybe the two of them could hook up and share illusions of grandeur :))
loganoneil
loganoneil - 1/16/2009, 12:32 PM
Ewwww - "Clash...of the EGOS!"
Shaman
Shaman - 1/16/2009, 2:54 PM
LOL Tea time at the center of the universe LMFAO!!!
1 2
View Recorder