We've lost count of the number of times a new take on The Crow has entered development only to end up being shelved or put on the back burner for one reason or another, but last April, we got word that a reboot was moving forward with It star Bill Skarsgård in the lead role of Eric Draven, and Snow White and the Huntsman and Ghost in the Shell director Rupert Sanders behind the camera.
We've had a few casting updates (Danny Huston and FKA Twigs joined the project in supporting roles), but it's pretty much been radio silence since.
Now, THR reports that The Crow is set to take flight again, this time at Lionsgate.
“The original film left an indelible mark on our culture that lives on,” said producers Victor Hadida, Molly Hassell, and John Jencks in a joint statement. “We are thrilled to bring a new adaptation for today’s audiences that respects this legacy. Rupert has masterfully brought new dimensions to create a contemporary universe for this timeless saga of undying love, and we can’t wait to share this vision with film audiences.”
Said Charlotte Koh, executive VP, Lionsgate acquisitions and co-productions: “We appreciate what The Crow character and original movie mean to legions of fans and believe this new film will offer audiences an authentic and visceral reinterpretation of its emotional power and mythology.”
Twigs will reportedly play Draven's doomed girlfriend, Shelly, and while no details on Huston's role have been revealed, we'd say there's a pretty good chance he's playing a villain!
James O’Barr's iconic comic series focused on a man named Eric Draven who, along with his fiance, is brutally murdered by a gang of thugs. One year later, he is resurrected by a mystical force in the form of a crow, and sets out to exact his vengeance.
Again, multiple filmmakers have attempted to get a retelling of this gothic tale of the ground, and while some fans will surely be overjoyed to hear that this re-adaptation has been given a new lease of life, the news may not be met with a particularly enthusiastic response from everyone. Many feel Alex Proyas’ 1994 take on the material starring the late Brandon Lee did a perfect job of adapting the story and should be left alone.
What do you make of this news? Are you down for a new adaptation of The Crow? Let us know in the comments.