Sigh. It appears that Relativity’s long-gestating remake of cult classic Brandon Lee action thriller The Crow may as well be vapourware at the moment. Just when the production was finally starting to pick up steam with a director in acclaimed music video and short film helmer Corin Hardy and a star in Boardwalk Empire alum Jack Huston, Variety now brings word that Huston has dropped out of the film due to scheduling issues.
Huston was of course brought on board to replace the originally cast Luke Evans who also pulled out of the production after development on it seemingly stalled, spinning its wheels for what seems like years. Hardy, who also a replacement for original director F. Javier Gutierrez (yes, this game of musical chairs has been going on for a while!), issued an official statement on the loss of their leading man:
“Jack Huston is unfortunately unavailable to continue with us on The Crow. The Crow is an amazing project, and I am grateful that we have the time and patience to get it right. We look forward to unveiling our new lead and starting to film over the next several weeks.”
According to Variety’s report though, Hardy and Relativity are already on the hunt for a new star and have a list of prospects they’re looking at with rapidly rising stars Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road, X-Men: First Class) and Jack O’Connell (Unbroken, 71) apparently being right at the top of it. Both young actors have had big roles in major movies that have caught the eyes of fans as well as the Hollywood bigwigs, so they could certainly help to buoy this struggling production. Conversely though, it could be that they would rather hitch their wagons to much bigger prospects that, you know, actually stand a chance of eventually making it to the screen one day.
Whomever gets the role – if anybody ever actually gets the role – they will be stepping into the shoes of Eric Draven, a rockstar who gets murdered and then resurrected as an undead avenging angel to seek justice on his killer. The role in the Alex Proyas directed 1994 original, based on James O’Barr’s cult comic book, was immortalized in Hollywood lore when a freak accident involving an incorrectly loaded stunt gun resulted in the fatal shooting of star Brandon Lee during the film’s production. Lee was the son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, who also died during freak circumstances while filming Game of Death.
Maybe all of this is the universe’s way of saying that this movie really doesn’t need to get made.
Last Updated: June 17, 2015
Decembermaloy
June 17, 2015 at 12:03
Brandon Lee WAS the quintessential Eric Draven. Everyone that portrayed the Crow in the subsequent sequels, were lackluster at best.
Choffel
June 18, 2015 at 13:05
Couldn’t agree more; they should take the hint and leave the remake be.