Alex Proyas Continues To Share His Distast For THE CROW Remake - "The Fan's Response Speaks Volumes"
The director of the original 1994 film The Crow continues to talk about the upcoming remake and share his thoughts on how unhappy he is with it. He’s been very vocal about this for years, ever since Hollywood started its long journey to getting made.
He believes that the whole thing is disrespectful to the late Brandon Lee’s memory and legacy. This is the same argument that he’s made for a long time. He has now shared on Facebook:
“I really don't get any joy from seeing negativity about any fellow filmmakers work. 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.”
Yeah, the fans are not happy with this film and the backlash has been pretty strong. Proyas previously poked fun at Skarsgård in the comments and the reboot as a whole saying things like, “I guess he’s supposed to be a bad mofo with all those tats and werewolves and skulls on his jacket.” He added, “Well at least the stills gave me a good laugh. I thought they were going to take a dump on Brandon Lee’s legacy for a moment.”
He previously spoke out against it in a heartfelt message explaining why the film shouldn't happen, saying:
WHY I THINK THE CROW SHOULD NOT BE REMADE
I was privileged to know Brandon Lee – he was a young, immensely gifted actor with a great sense of humour and a bright future ahead of him. I was also privileged to have been able to call him a friend. Our working relationship as actor/director went beyond mere collaboration. We crafted a movie together which has touched many people.
I did not take a “film by” credit on THE CROW. I wanted it to be Brandon’s movie, because it was, and because he would not be able to make any more movies. He brought all his passion to the movie and it has lasted as his legacy. It is a film I know he would have been proud of.
I finished the film for Brandon – struggling through grief, along with the hugely supportive cast & crew who all loved Brandon, to complete it in his absence. We were imbued with the strength of Brandon’s spirit and his inspiration. Not only Brandon’s wonderful work as an actor and a film-maker, but as a man, who’s humanity had touched us.
THE CROW would not be a movie worth “remaking” if it wasn’t for Brandon Lee. If it wasn’t for Brandon you may never have even heard of this poignant little underground comic. It is Brandon’s movie. I believe it is a special case where Hollywood should just let it remain a testament to a man’s immense talent and ultimate sacrifice – and not have others re-write that story or add to it. I know sequels were made, and TV shows, and what have you, but the notion of “rebooting” this story, and the original character – a character Brandon gave life to at too high a cost – seems wrong to me.
Please let this remain Brandon’s film.
The movie stars Bill Skarsgård (It), singer/actor FKA Twigs, Danny Huston (30 Days of Night), Laura Birn (Foundation), Sami Bouajila (A Son), and Jordan Bolger (The Woman King).
In the reboot: “Soulmates Eric Draven (Skarsgård) and Shelly Webster (FKA Twigs) are brutally murdered when the demons of her dark past catch up with them. Given the chance to save his true love by sacrificing himself, Eric sets out to seek merciless revenge on their killers, traversing the worlds of the living and the dead to put the wrong things right.”
This version of the movie comes from director Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman, Ghost in the Shell) from a script by Zach Baylin (King Richard) and Will Schneider. The is based on James O’Barr’s original graphic novel that spawned a previous film franchise.
The movie will be released on June 7th, 2024.