Lionsgste released the first trailer for its upcoming re-adaptation of The Crow last week, and the response was decidedly... mixed.
Though some were more willing than others to give an updated take on the material a chance, it's fair to say that the majority of fans took issue with the decision to pretty much ignore the moody, Gothic tone of the '90s film (that song choice was just flat out bizarre) in favor of what basically came across as a generic supernatural action movie.
Alex Proyas, who helmed the original film, has previously shared his not-so enthusiastic thoughts on the remake, and has now returned to social media to comment on the trailer receiving over 50,000 dislikes on YouTube after being online for one day (that number has since risen to 88,000).
"I really don't get any joy from seeing negativity about any fellow filmmaker's work," the director began. "And I'm certain the cast and crew really had all good intentions, as we all do on any film. So it pains me to say any more on this topic, but I think the fan's response speaks volumes. THE CROW is not just a movie. Brandon Lee died making it, and it was finished as a testament to his lost brilliance and tragic loss. It is his legacy. That's how it should remain. The sheer amount of dislikes on The Crow remake's trailer might be a bad sign for how the movie will perform."
Have another look at the trailer below.
Rochelle Davis, who played a young girl named Sarah who was cared for by Draven (Lee) and Shelly Webster (Sofia Shinas) before they were murdered in the original film, recently spoke with TMZ about the first promo images, and her initial reaction was, "Yuck."
Davis made it clear that she has no issues with Skarsgård's casting or acting ability, but feels his look fails to "capture the essence of Eric Draven, who's supposed to be a good man with a good soul." Davis described this version as "dingy, dirty, and grungy," suggesting that he looks more like the "villains he should be fighting than the titular character."
The actress also took issue with the new movie's lack of diversity, and feels that "anyone other than a straight white male" would have been a better casting choice, adding that Lionsgate maybe should have gone out of their way to cast someone who more closely resembles Lee out of respect.
The synopsis reads: "Soulmates Eric Draven (Skarsgård) and Shelly Webster (FKA twigs) are brutally murdered when the demons of her dark past catch up with them. Given the chance to save his true love by sacrificing himself, Eric sets out to seek merciless revenge on their killers, traversing the worlds of the living and the dead to put the wrong things right."
The movie will also star Danny Huston, Laura Birn, Sami Bouajila, and Jordan Bolger in undisclosed roles. Zach Baylin and Will Schneider penned the script.
The new take on The Crow will hit theaters on June 7, 2024.