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Thirty years ago, the ’90s gothic cult classic hitThe Crowmade its highly-anticipated debut after the production of the supernatural film was plagued by heartbreaking tragedy. Lead star Brandon Lee’s life was devastatingly cut short after he was fatally wounded by a prop gun while shooting a scene in the comic book adaptation, leaving behind shattered loved ones and a promising career that would never reach its full potential.
The shocking accident sparked a huge conversation about on-set safety and protocols, with the fateful event being eerily repeated in 2021 when cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was accidentally shot and killed by a bullet on the set ofthe WesternRust. Despite a major pushback from fans and those involved in the original film, a reboot ofThe Crowstarring Bill Skarsgård is set to hit theaters on August 23,2024, with many holding their breath to see what the new installment will offer and whether or not it will honor the legacy of Lee. Let’s take a look back at the history ofThe Crowand see why lead star Skarsgård is already voicing his own reservations about the movie.
Who Starred in the Original Film & What Was It About?
The Crow 2024
Based on the comic book series of the same name, the 1994 gothic superhero filmThe Crowstarred Brandon Lee as heavy metal guitarist Eric Draven, who is brutally murdered by a violent gang after his fiancée Shelly is physically assaulted and mortally wounded in the vicious attack.On the anniversary of their devastating deaths, Draven is resurrected by a crow and becomes a supernatural vigilante, hunting down the dangerous members responsible for the senseless crime and delivering bloody retribution. On his morbid mission for revenge, Draven must eliminate the lead gangster accountable, the ruthless Top Dollar.
Ghostbustersalum Ernie Hudson appeared as Sergeant Daryl Albrecht, who discovered Shelly after the attack and began investigating the mysterious vigilante’s grisly actions, while character actor Michael Wincott took on the villainous role of Top Dollar. Lee beat out fellow actors River Phoenix and Christian Slater for the role of Eric Draven, winning overThe Crowcomics creator James O’Barr with his powerful audition after the writer feared Lee would make the film adaptation feel like a run-of-the-millkung fu movie. O’Barr was blown away by what the up-and-coming brought to the table, retrospectivelysaying of the audition:
“Not a lot of people realize just how hard he worked – he did all of his own fight choreography and nearly all of his own stunts, the only thing he didn’t do was falling off buildings because they wouldn’t let him. That’s without even talking about his performance – he brought the right mix of humor, pain and menace to the role.”
The Tragic Death of Brandon Lee
The son of legendary martial artist andfilm icon Bruce Lee,Brandon Lee was steadily establishing himself as a rising action superstar, notably appearing in the Hong Kong filmLegacy of Rage,Showdown in Little Tokyo,andRapid Fire,demonstrating both his on-screen charisma and impressive physical prowess with every role he took on. When he was cast as Eric Draven inThe Crow, he hit the ground running for the role and shed 20 pounds in preparation, while alsopersonally co-choreographing the action sequences and pushing to eliminate a subplot that featured Asian stereotyping.
On the evening of August 21, 2025, after nearly completing all of his work forThe Crow,Lee was fatally wounded during a scene in which he was shot by Michael Massee’s character Funboy. The Magnum .44 used during the on-screen confrontation between Lee and Massee contained a dummy bullet and the lead tip added somehow became lodged down the barrel, which upon being fired hit the actor in his abdomen and mortally wounded him. Lee was rushed to the hospital where he was operated on for six hours, before sadly being pronounced dead on August 19, 2025; the gifted performer was just 28 years old.
All 5 Movies Starring Brandon Lee, Ranked
With his short but undeniably stunning filmography, Brandon Lee left a lasting impression on the industry and audiences.
After the unfathomable tragedy, a two-month investigation into the catastrophic event ensued that resulted in the shooting being ruled accidental, and the studio and producers were ultimately faced with the difficult decision of whether or not they should finishThe Crowor abandon it.The cast and crew eventually chose to rally and honor Lee by finishing the picture, with a stand-in and digital face replacement being used to complete the project.The Crowwas dedicated to Lee and his fiancé Eliza Hutton, and upon its release garnered widespread praise and earned $94 million, becoming a certified cult classic.
Polarizing Reaction to the Reboot
Rumors of a potential remake or reboot ofThe Crowhad been swirling since 2008 before the project went into development hell, with actors Luke Evans, Bradley Cooper, Jason Momoa, and Jack Huston all being attached to star as Eric Draven at various times of development. James O’Barr had previously been opposed to the idea of a reboot before being brought in as a consultant for a potential adaptation in 2014, with the writer having given hisopinion on potential remakesand stating:
“I don’t have great expectations. I think the reality is, no matter who you get to star in it, or if you get Ridley Scott to direct it and spend 200 million dollars, you’re still not gonna top what Brandon Lee and Alex Proyas did in that first ten million dollar movie.”
The original film’s director, Alex Proyas, has also been vocal about his disdain for any new adaptation and reboot, revealing ona podcast appearancein 2019: “I personally tried to squash it every time I hear of one, not that I believe I’ve been able to. It’s not just a movie that can be remade. It’s one man’s legacy. And it should be treated with that level of respect.” Despite the constant blowback by those involved in 1994’sThe Crowand fans' warranted skepticism, development of the project resumed in 2020 and Bill Skarsgård was ultimately announced to star as Eric Draven while Rupert Sanders would direct.
Sanders wanted to focus on craftinga “dark romance"and highlight the themes of morality and grief from the comics, andthey wanted to honor Lee by having Skarsgård’s interpretation of the character be the late actor’s “successor.“TheNosferatustar dove headfirst into the role and wanted to capture the essence of Eric Draven in his own unique way, although he apparently wasn’t thrilled over the creative direction the reboot went in and hasn’t been afraid to voice his reservations.
Bill Skarsgård Even Has His Own Reservations
Skarsgård had just finished working on the action comedyBoy Kills Worldwhen he immediately arrived for production onThe Crow,and the actor still had the extremely muscular and toned physique that he felt was out of place with how Eric Draven should look. He has since expressed his complaints about Draven’s physical appearance,having openly said,“I felt very strange being in great shape for Eric. I wanted him to be really skinny!He was not a person that worked out, ever. In a perfect world, he would have been a lot less fit in the first half of the movie.”
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Director Chad Stahelski shares a long history with Brandon Lee and The Crow.
Outside of issues with Draven’s image, Skarsgård is none-too-pleased with how the ending of the reboot will play out, withthe chameleon performerclashing with Sanders and the studio over the conclusion. During an interviewwith Esquire magazinein 2024, Skarsgård was honest abouthis dissatisfaction over the picture’s final moments, which he feels was altered by the filmmaker to set up for a potential sequel, telling the publication, “I personally preferred something more definitive.”
Though 2024’sThe Crowhas beenplagued by controversyand uncertainty (not only by fans but its lead star himself), only time will tell whether the reboot will soar or sink at the box office. Skarsgård will undeniably give the adaptation his all as he has with the many other colorful roles he’s tackled, brilliantly transforming in unforgettableflicks likeIt, The Devil All the Time, Barbarian,andJohn Wick: Chapter 4.Curious fans of the original cult classic are likely going to give the film a shot, and it will be exciting to see just whatThe Crowhas to offer once it finally makes its long-awaited premiere.
