It took many years, but a reboot of The Crow was finally released in August 2024. From its inception, the project was met with opposition, especially from the creators of the original 1994 adaptation, as the tragedy that occurred during its filming set a legacy for the lead that many feel should be left alone. After the reboot’s box office failure, the detractors might be right.
Brandon Lee died on the set of the original film
On March 31, 1993, a tragedy occurred during the filming of the original film, The Crow. 28-year-old Brandon Lee, son of the late martial arts legend Bruce Lee, died on set. He had been fatally shot by a prop gun that was supposed to be loaded with blanks but instead had a bullet lodged in its barrel. The accident occurred while shooting a scene where Lee’s character, Eric Draven, is shot by thugs after entering his apartment.
Despite being rushed to the hospital, Lee was pronounced dead that same day. To honor him, the crew completed the film using special effects and body doubles, and it was released in 1994. It was well-received by audiences and critics, who praised its dark style and Lee’s haunting performance, and became a box office smash. Over time, the film also garnered a cult following which has kept the film close to the hearts of many.
The reboot was an absolute flop
Talks about a potential reboot of the The Crow had been circulating for years, but in 2023, Lionsgate announced that they had finally acquired the project. The lead role of Eric Draven is played by Bill Skarsgard, who seemed a fitting choice for the role, as he is best known for his roles as Pennywise in the remake of Stephen King‘s It (2017) and as Marquis Vincent Bisset de Gramont in John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023). A trailer for The Crow was released in March 2024, which received mixed reviews from fans of the original.
The film officially released in theaters in August 2024 and was an absolute box office flop. Set against a budget of $50 million, the film opened at just $4.6 million. An open opposer of the reboot has been Alex Proyas, the director of the 1994 adaptation. After the film’s flop, he shared his opinion of the matter, saying, “I thought the remake was a cynical cash-grab. Not much cash to grab it seems.”
The film was also a critical failure, with a plethora of poor reviews coming out after its release. One review went so far as to call it “the worst movie of the year.” Proyas shared this on one of his social media accounts, saying, “The review we’ve all been waiting for. It’s a bit like flogging a dead horse now so I think I’ll stop after this…until another funny one comes along.”
Proyas feels the reboot is a smear on Lee’s legacy
Proyas has long been critical of the reboot. To him, a reboot goes against the legacy of Brandon Lee that the first film left behind. He feels an updated version of the film taints this legacy. Despite sharing the negative reviews of the reboot, Proyas also contends that he does not find joy in the failures of his colleagues. “I really don’t get any joy from seeing negativity about any fellow filmmakers work.” However, he feels it serves as a lesson for the future.
He continued, “And I’m certain the cast and crew really had all good intentions, as we all do on any film. So it pains me to say any more on this topic, but I think the fan’s response speaks volumes. ‘The Crow’ is not just a movie. Brandon Lee died making it, and it was finished as a testament to his lost brilliance and tragic loss. It is his legacy. That’s how it should remain.”
Those working on the reboot defended their work
While the reboot has faced major backlash following its release, those who worked on the project continue to defend their choice to remake the film. One of the film’s co-screenwriters, William Schneider, said in an interview that the team intentionally did not “go the same route” as Proyas did in his version “because we felt like that did a disservice to the film.”
“Instead, we wanted to chart our own course almost as a way to sort of celebrate it and say, ‘Hey, we found a new way into the story, and we want them both to exist with their own voices, with their own set of fans,'” he explained. “I hope everyone walks away from this film just reinvested in the people they love and care about. Because yes, it’s about grief, it’s about loss, but it’s also about sacrifice and what you’re willing to do for the person you love.”
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We’re curious to see how the reboot will age against the original.