The Crow Remake Journey: From Development Hell to Redemption

The first movie adaptation of The Crow came out in 1994 and was a surprise success. Since then, the story of a rock musician seeking revenge against the gang that killed him and his fiancée has become a beloved classic. Despite the tragic death of its star, Brandon Lee, on set due to a prop gun accident, the film's legacy lives on. This is one reason why the original director, Alex Proyas, does not approve of the remake. Despite Proyas's reservations, the journey to bring The Crow back to the big screen has been a long and challenging one. But like the resilient bird it's named after, The Crow refuses to stay down.

2008-2009

Stephen Norrington Tapped As Writer-Director

Stephen Norrington And Brandon Lee As The Crow From The Crow 1994 - Stephen Norrington Tapped As Writer-Director - 2008-2009

In December 2008, Stephen Norrington, known for his work on Blade and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, was chosen to write and direct The Crow reboot. His initial draft impressed Relativity Media, who owned the film rights, in October 2009. Following this, The Weinstein Company and Relativity Media decided to collaborate on the reboot project.

2010

Nick Cave Brought On For Revisions, Mark Wahlberg Offered Lead Role, Cave And Norrington Exit

Mark Wahlberg Reacting And Nick Cave Facing Camera - Nick Cave Brought On For Revisions, Mark Wahlberg Offered Lead Role, Cave And Norrington Exit - 2010

In July 2010, musician and screenwriter Nick Cave was tasked with revising the script for The Crow reboot, following promising developments by Relativity Media and original Crow producer Edward Pressman. That same year, reports indicated that Mark Wahlberg had been offered the lead role of Eric Draven, the undead avenger, but the lack of updates suggested he may have turned it down. Eventually, an unnamed actor rejected the script by Norrington and Cave, leading to Stephen Norrington's departure from the project. Cave also decided to leave in the same year.

2011

Juan Carlos Fresnadillo Joins As Director, Bradley Cooper Attached To Star, The Weinstein Company Sues, Fresnadillo And Cooper Exit, Actors From Channing Tatum To James McAvoy Considered

Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and Actor Bradley Cooper - Juan Carlos Fresnadillo Joins As Director, Bradley Cooper Attached To Star, The Weinstein Company Sues, Fresnadillo And Cooper Exit, Actors From Channing Tatum To James McAvoy Considered - 2011

In April 2011, it was announced that Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, known for directing 28 Weeks Later, would be taking on the role of director for The Crow. At the same time, there were discussions about Bradley Cooper potentially starring in the film. Unfortunately, the project faced a setback when The Weinstein Company got into a legal dispute with Relativity Media over distribution rights for the reboot. Despite this hurdle, Relativity Media made the decision to bring on Alex Tse, co-writer of Watchmen, to work on a new script in June 2011.

In 2012, the search for a lead actor for The Crow reboot continued after Cooper dropped out in August. Channing Tatum and Mark Wahlberg were among the actors being considered for the role. Additionally, in October 2011, director Fresnadillo left the project without providing an official reason.

F. Javier Gutiérrez Joins To Direct, Jesse Wigutow Tapped As Writer, Cliff Dorfman Brought On For Rewrite, The Weinstein Company And Relativity Media Settle Out Of Court

F Javier Gutierrez In An Interview and Cliff Dorfman Smiling - F. Javier Gutiérrez Joins To Direct, Jesse Wigutow Tapped As Writer, Cliff Dorfman Brought On For Rewrite, The Weinstein Company And Relativity Media Settle Out Of Court - 2012

In 2013, the remake of The Crow took flight once more. This time, the new director was F. Javier Gutiérrezz, known for his work on Before I Fall and The Wait. The script was penned by Jesse Wigutow, who has worked on projects such as Tron: Ares and It Runs in the Family. Thanks to a page-one rewrite by Cliff Dorfman, known for his work on Entourage and Warrior, the project was finally given the green light. By this time, the legal issues between the Weinstein Company and Relativity Media had been resolved.

Alexander Skarsgård and James McAvoy Rumored To Star, Tom Hiddleston In Talks, Luke Evans Attached, Comic Creator James O'Barr Joins As Film Consultant

Alexander Skarsgard Luke Evans Tom Hiddleston - Alexander Skarsgård and James McAvoy Rumored To Star, Tom Hiddleston In Talks, Luke Evans Attached, Comic Creator James O'Barr Joins As Film Consultant - 2013

In 2014, the rumors about Alexander Skarsgård playing Draven were denied by the actor himself. Similarly, James McAvoy dismissed the talks about him being cast in The Crow as not true. Luke Evans was ultimately chosen to play Eric Draven in the reboot, despite earlier talks with Tom Hiddleston. By July 2013, James O'Barr was brought on board as the film's creative consultant, even though he initially opposed the idea of a reboot. However, after seeing director Gutiérrez's vision, he changed his mind and supported the project.

Gutiérrez Exits, Corin Hardy Brought On To Direct, O'Barr And Dorfman Write Together

Cliff Dorfman with Corin Hardy and James O'Barr Holding The Crow Comic Book - Gutiérrez Exits, Corin Hardy Brought On To Direct, O'Barr And Dorfman Write Together - 2014

In 2015, Gutiérrez stepped down as director of the project to work on the horror film Rings, the third installment in The Ring series. Despite leaving the director's chair, he continued to be involved as an executive producer. The reboot of the project kicked off in December 2014 with Corin Hardy taking on the role of director. The screenplay was a collaboration between O'Barr and Dorfman.

Luke Evans Leaves, Jack Huston Attached To Star Until Exiting, Nicholas Hoult And Jack O'Connell Considered, Relativity Media Files For Bankruptcy

Jack Huston with Jack O'Connell and Nicholas Hoult - Luke Evans Leaves, Jack Huston Attached To Star Until Exiting, Nicholas Hoult And Jack O'Connell Considered, Relativity Media Files For Bankruptcy - 2015

Evans had to leave in January 2015 because of production delays. Shortly after, Jack Huston and Jessica Brown Findlay were set to star in The Crow as the main characters. By May 2015, Andrea Riseborough was in talks to play the villain in a gender-swapped role.

Unfortunately, Huston had to drop out just three months later due to scheduling conflicts. Nicholas Hoult, Jack O'Connell, and Forest Whitaker were being considered as replacements. The creator of The Crow, James O'Barr, wanted Sam Witwer to take on the lead role. However, the project came to a standstill when Relativity Media declared bankruptcy in July 2015.

2016

Corin Hardy Removed From Film, Jason Momoa Cast As Lead, Hardy Returns As Director, Project Leaves Relativity Media

Corin Hardy and Jason Momoa in The Crow Makeup from Hardy Instagram - Corin Hardy Removed From Film, Jason Momoa Cast As Lead, Hardy Returns As Director, Project Leaves Relativity Media - 2016

After overcoming financial difficulties, Relativity Media faced fresh challenges. The company's current leader abruptly stripped Mr. Hardy of his role as director of the Picture in January 2016. Additionally, producer Pressman took legal action in bankruptcy court to block the company from producing any future The Crow films, such as sequels, prequels, and remakes.

In 2017, the project continued to make progress. The new Eric Draven/Crow actor, Jason Momoa, was chosen in September 2016. Despite some changes, Tom Hardy eventually returned to direct. By November 2016, the project, now titled The Crow Reborn, had transitioned from Relativity Media to a group led by Samuel Hadida at Davis Films.

Gutiérrez Reveals Attachment As An Executive Producer, Sony Set To Distribute Film Worldwide, Momoa Shares Excitement On Instagram

F Javier Gutierrez And The Crow Fanart Posted On Instagram By Jason Momoa - Gutiérrez Reveals Attachment As An Executive Producer, Sony Set To Distribute Film Worldwide, Momoa Shares Excitement On Instagram - 2017

In 2018

Gutiérrez mentioned in an interview in May 2017 that he was still part of The Crow remake as an executive producer, even though he was no longer directing. Later in September 2017, it was revealed by media outlets that Sony would now be distributing the film worldwide. Momoa, on his Instagram page, shared fanart of The Crow with a message expressing his excitement, "I've been waiting sooooo long. Let's do this brother . . . ," and mentioning Hardy.

Release Date Set, Momoa and Hardy Exit, Developments Pause

Jason Momoa and Corin Hardy Hanging Out Together - Release Date Set, Momoa and Hardy Exit, Developments Pause - 2018

Things took a turn in 2020 as the scheduled October 2019 release date for The Crow reboot was in jeopardy. Jason Momoa and Corin Hardy had exited the project in May 2018 due to "creative and financial differences" with Hadida, according to Deadline. Once again, the project seemed to be stuck in development hell.

Bloody Disgusting Reports Exclusive On Confirmed Development

Fire Outline Of A Crow In The Crow 1994 And Samuel Hadida - Bloody Disgusting Reports Exclusive On Confirmed Development - 2020

In 2021, there was exciting news for fans of the project. In January of that year, an exclusive article on Bloody Disgusting revealed that the project was back on track. Hadida and his partners were actively looking for a new director and writer to bring the project to life. This development came as a pleasant surprise, especially since the project had faced setbacks in the past. It seemed like the long-awaited project was finally moving closer to becoming a reality.

Test Footage of Momoa as The Crow Surfaces

Jason Momoa As The Crow In Unearthed Test Footage Of Him In Unmade The Crow Reboot - Test Footage of Momoa as The Crow Surfaces - 2021

2022-2024

In November 2021, a filmmaker named Ryan Unicomb uncovered test footage of Jason Momoa preparing to take on the role of The Crow, which he then shared on Twitter. Despite this exciting discovery, there were no further updates on the progress of the film, leaving fans in suspense.

Rupert Sanders Attached As Director, Zach Baylin Writes Screenplay, Bill Skarsgård Cast As The Crow

Director Rupert Sanders and Actor Bill Skarsgard with FKA Twigs in First Look of The Crow Remake - Rupert Sanders Attached As Director, Zach Baylin Writes Screenplay, Bill Skarsgård Cast As The Crow - 2022-2024

Pressman confirmed in a March 2022 interview with IndieWire that the project had started with a new crew and cast. Shortly after, it was announced that the team for the Crow reboot had been finalized: Rupert Sanders would direct, with a screenplay by Zach Baylin and Will Schneider. The story had gone through several versions by different screenwriters, including Kevin Cornish.

Bill Skarsgård was chosen to portray The Crow, while FKA twigs would play Shelly Webster. In August 2022, Danny Huston joined the cast in a yet-to-be-revealed role. Isabella Wei was set to play a new character named Zadie. Other members of the cast included Laura Birn, Sami Bouajila, Jordan Bolger, David Bowles (as Wickham), Dukagjin Podrimaj (as Detective Milch), and Paul A. Maynard (as Malcolm).

The $50 million project started filming in July 2022 in Prague, Czech Republic. Production wrapped up in September of the same year, followed by virtual production and VFX work in Germany. Lionsgate secured domestic distribution rights in September 2023.

The original Crow movie spawned three sequels—The Crow: City of Angels (1996), The Crow Salvation (2000), and The Crow: Wicked Prayer (2005)—each featuring a different protagonist from Draven. Sanders describes The Crow reboot as a modern retelling of Draven's story and a tribute to Brandon Lee, with the goal of keeping "his spirit . . . very much alive."

Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Deadline, Film Stories, Bloody Disgusting, IndieWire

The Crow will premiere in theaters on June 7.

Editor's P/S:

The arduous journey of "The Crow" reboot, spanning over a decade and a half, is a testament to the resilience of a beloved story. Through countless setbacks, legal disputes, and changes in creative teams, the project has persevered, finally reaching the cusp of its release. The dedication of those involved, including the unwavering support of fans, has kept the flame of "The Crow" alive.

The upcoming reboot, led by Bill Skarsgård, promises to honor the legacy of the original while bringing a fresh perspective to the timeless tale of Eric Draven. The cast and crew's passion for the project shines through in their commitment to creating a film that pays homage to Brandon Lee's iconic performance while introducing a new generation to the haunting world of "The Crow." With its release just around the corner, anticipation is high for this long-awaited cinematic event.