A reboot of The Crow is back on Sony’s active development list according to Bloody-Disgusting.
In 2014, James O’Barr, creator of The Crow, gave his full endorsement to the reboot of the film explaining that it would not be a remake of the movie, but instead a new adaptation of the book. In an interview (2014) with Korsgaard’s Commentary, O’Barr was asked what made him change his mind about the remake and he said:
“He (Javier Guiterrez) flew over from Spain – paid for his own flight – to talk to me. He got off the airplane, I took him to my car, and I was going to lecture him for an hour and then put him right back on the plane. I did give him the whole lecture too, no one wants this, no one wants to see a remake, that the original is sacred ground because it was Brandon Lee’s last film, that you’re committing career suicide by trying to remake that film.
I told him all of this, he listened to every word, and then he told me ‘I don’t want to remake that film, that film is perfect as it is. I want to do your book, literally page-for-page adaptation.’ That’s what changed by mind, that it’s not a remake of the original film, or cashing in on the cult status of Brandon Lee, it’s that Guiterrez wants to go back to the source material, which if you’ve read the book and seen the film, while the movie has the right feel and the right flavor of the book, probably only 40% of the book made it into the movie.
That got me intrigued – the idea of adapting it from page 1 and going from there, including a lot of the darker or stranger elements of the comic dropped from the original film.”
Fast forward a bit to September of 2017 and actor Jason Momoa signed on to play the role of Eric, which he called his “dream role.” Director Corin Hardy (The Nun, Joker) also came on board around that same time. Then, in March of 2018 as the project entered pre-production, Mamoa took to Instagram to say that he was exiting the project which was slated for an October 2019 release.
“I’ve waited 8 years to play this dream role. I love you @corinhardy and @sonypictures unfortunately I may have to wait 8 more. Not our team. But I swear I will. James O’Barr sorry to let you down I won’t on the next. This film needs to be set free. And to the fans. Sorry. I can’t play anything but what this film deserves and it needs love. I’m ready when it’s right. Love u Corin aloha j.”
Director Corin Hardy also pulled off the film.
Samuel Hadida’s Davis Films, Highland Film Group, and Electric Shadow previously obtained the rights to make the film and are expected to still be involved in the project. According to reports, there will be a new writer and director for the upcoming release. No word on who will play the roles of Eric and Shelley.
Watch the original film trailer below.
