Earlier than the times of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DCU, The Crow was one of many first main superhero movies that basically spoke to audiences. Directed by Alex Proyas, the 1994 movie was based mostly on James O’Barr’s 1989 graphic novel of the identical identify. Brandon Lee, the son of legendary martial arts icon Bruce Lee, and a martial artist himself beat out extra established actors like River Phoenix and Christian Slater for the lead function of undead avenger Erik Draven. However on March 31, 1993, tragedy struck whereas Lee was filming the scene the place his character is killed, he was fatally wounded as a result of the gun was really loaded with dummy cartridges moderately than clean rounds as deliberate. Lee died solely days earlier than the top of the movie’s manufacturing, and the producers made the tough resolution to complete the film with a stunt double and digital results.

The Crow was first a crucial and field workplace hit, then a cult traditional. The darkly surreal world shot totally on set, creates an alternate actuality dystopia the place something–even a person resurrected by a crow takes revenge on the gang that killed him and his fiancée. However what actually balances the movie is the torrent of emotion—significantly ache and loss—that runs beneath. Lee’s efficiency is bodily and visceral; the film would have made him a star. As an alternative, when Draven is shot and killed, we shudder uneasily with the information of how carefully the character’s loss of life mimics the actor’s. Regardless of the movie’s success, not one of the three sequels or the tv adaptation captured Lee’s charisma or the darkish magnificence and sorrow of the 1994 movie. Producers have been attempting to get a Crow reboot off the bottom for years, with a number of actors coming and going from the lead function. And now it seems like they’re lastly succeeding. Right here’s what we all know in regards to the new Crow film thus far.

Editor’s Notice: This text was up to date on April 10, 2024.

The Crow (2024)

Launch Date

August 23, 2024

Writers

James O’Barr , Zach Baylin , William Josef Schneider

Price range

$50 Million

Distributor(s)

Lionsgate

Does ‘The Crow’ Have a Launch Date?

Sure, lastly after years of delays, modifications in entrance of and behind the digicam, and studio modifications, Lionsgate acquired the reboot in September 2023. The film is formally scheduled to hit theaters on Friday, August 23, 2024. Opening on the identical weekend is Zoë Kravitz‘s directorial debut Blink Twice, starring Naomi Ackie and Channing Tatum.

The reboot was beforehand scheduled to launch on Friday, June 7, 2024, however was delayed over two months, more likely to keep away from direct competitors with the action-comedy sequel Unhealthy Boys: Experience or Die.

Is There a Trailer for ‘The Crow’?

The primary trailer for The Crow reboot was launched by Lionsgate on March 14, 2024. Set to Submit Malone and Ozzy Osbourne‘s “Take What You Need From Me,” the trailer reveals Eric Draven assembly Shelly Webster in a psychiatric ward, the place they fall in love. The trailer then reveals Shelly’s loss of life and Eric’s transformation into the titular anti-hero, as he plots his revenge towards the felony who killed his spouse.

Who’s Starring in ‘The Crow’?

Invoice Skarsgård steps into Lee’s intimidating sneakers to play doomed avenger Eric Draven. It may not be potential to recreate the bodily charisma that Lee dropped at the function. That stated, Skarsgård has confirmed himself a flexible actor able to taking part in a wide range of totally different roles, together with Pennywise within the It movies and most just lately the Marquis Vincent de Gramont in John Wick: Chapter 4. Skarsgård’s different credit embody Barbarian, The Satan All of the Time, Eternals, Fortress Rock, Atomic Blonde, and 9 Days. Subsequent up he is starring because the immortal rely himself in director Robert Eggers‘ upcoming Nosferatu and is taking part in the lead within the dystopian motion flick Boy Kills World. So maybe Skarsgård is not such an uncommon option to play one of popular culture’s most iconic goth icons in spite of everything. Earlier than Skarsgård was solid within the lead function, a wide range of different actors have been eyed for the lead function over time, these being Mark Wahlberg, Bradley Cooper, Channing Tatum, Ryan Gosling, James McAvoy, Tom Hiddleston, Alexander Skarsgård, Luke Evans, Sam Witwer, Jack Huston, Nicholas Hoult, Jack O’Connell, and Jason Momoa. Momoa was even photographed in make-up as Draven, with gorgeous outcomes.

British singer/songwriter FKA Twigs will star as Draven’s fiancée, Shelley. Whereas most identified for her music, Twigs beforehand appeared within the 2019 drama Honey Boy. Casting such a widely known face as Shelley hints at a departure from the unique movie and graphic novel, the place Draven’s fiancée is killed early within the story and solely seems briefly, hazily romantic flashbacks. However with Twigs within the function, audiences are in all probability proper to anticipate that Shelley has a much bigger function within the upcoming remake than ever earlier than. Earlier than Twigs was solid a number of different actresses have been eyed by way of the years together with Kristen Stewart and Jessica Brown Findlay.

Character actor Danny Huston (Yellowstone), can be within the solid, although it’s not clear who his character is but. However given Huston’s historical past of taking part in villains in motion pictures like Surprise Girl and 30 Days of Night time, Huston could be taking part in Draven’s killer and eventual goal. Isabella Wei (1899) can be on the solid listing taking part in the function of Zadie. Forrest Whitaker, Andrea Riseborough, and Norman Reedus have been beforehand hooked up to the movie with Riseborough taking part in the feminine model of Prime Greenback and Reedus taking part in a personality often known as James.

What Will ‘The Crow’ Reboot Be About?

Within the graphic novel and unique film, Eric Draven and his fiancée Shelley are attacked by a gang of thugs. Shelley is raped, and each are killed. However quickly, Draven is resurrected by a mysterious crow and given mysterious powers to hunt revenge towards the lads who killed him and his fiancée. So whereas the brand new film has been touted as a “trendy re-imagining” of the characters and story, it’ll almost certainly recreate these central occasions of the 1994 movie and the graphic novel.

The official synopsis from Lionsgate reads:

Soulmates Eric Draven (Skarsgård) and Shelly Webster (FKA twigs) are brutally murdered when the demons of her darkish previous meet up with them. Given the prospect to save lots of his real love by sacrificing himself, Eric units out to hunt cruel revenge on their killers, traversing the worlds of the residing and the lifeless to place the fallacious issues proper.

Who’s Behind ‘The Crow’ Reboot?

In 2008 Stephen Norrington (Blade) was the primary of many filmmakers introduced to jot down and direct The Crow reboot with Relativity Media behind the movie’s rights and financing. Musician Nick Cave later was introduced in to rewrite the script. After Norrington left the undertaking in early 2011, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (28 Weeks Later) and F. Javier Gutiérrez (Rings) have been thought of to helm the undertaking with the previous finally touchdown the gig. The movie was plagued with extra manufacturing issues together with a authorized battle between Relativity and The Weinstein Firm (who on the time nonetheless had worldwide distribution rights to the franchise). Throughout this time Alex Tse (Watchmen) was introduced in to jot down the screenplay. In October 2011, Fresnadillo left the undertaking with Gutiérrez stepping in a number of months later with Jesse Wigutow (It Runs within the Household) set to jot down a brand new draft of the screenplay

Not lengthy after that Cliff Dorfman (Warrior) was introduced in to do a web page one rewrite for the reboot. In July 2014, Gutiérrez dropped out of the movie on account of scheduling conflicts with filming for the horror sequel Rings. Later that 12 months James O’Barr introduced that he can be co-writing the screenplay alongside Dorfman and Corin Hardy (The Nun) was introduced in to direct the movie. Manufacturing got here to an entire halt in 2015 after Relativity Media filed for chapter. Hardy remained hooked up to the undertaking till 2016 when he was briefly given the boot solely to be introduced again in a number of months later. In 2018 when he departed on account of artistic variations. Lastly, in 2022 it was introduced that Zach Baylin (King Richard) would pen the script with Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman) directing the movie. Connected to provide the movie are Molly Hassell (Braven), Victor Hadida (Resident Evil), John Jencks (Weapons Akimbo), Malcolm Grey (21 Bridges), and unique Crow producer Edward R. Pressman.

When and The place Was ‘The Crow’ Filmed?

Filmmakers shopped worldwide distribution rights to the movie on the 2022 Cannes Movie Competition earlier than location filming started in Prague on July 13, 2022. Over ten weeks in the summertime of 2022, The Crow was filmed throughout quite a few areas within the capital metropolis, together with a serious set piece shot at Prague’s Rudolfinum live performance corridor with a whole bunch of extras. After filming wrapped on September 16, 2022, the film entered digital manufacturing at Penzing Studios in Germany and ultimately wrapped in October 2022.