Alex Proyas Offers a Heartfelt Message as to Why THE CROW Should Not Be Remade
As many of you know, a remake of The Crow has been in and out of development for years. The movie is actually moving into production now with director Corin Hardy (The Hallow, The Nun) at the helm and Aquaman star Jason Momoa in the lead role.
The remake is said to be more of a closer adaptation to the comic from James O'Barr. We've been told time and time again that it's not going to be a remake of director Alex Proyas' film. It's going to be a film made directly from the source material. But everyone has their own opinion of what that all means.
Well, Alex Proyas is 100% against the new Crow movie and he took to his Facebook page to speak out against it in a heartfelt message explaining why the film shouldn't happen. The reasoning behind his opinion is the legacy of Brandon Lee, who was accidentally killed while shooting the film int he early 90s. Here's what Proyas had to say:
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.
I can totally see and understand where Proyas is coming from. I can also see the reasoning behind why we are getting another Crow movie, especially with series creator James O’Barr wanting to see a movie that sticks closer to the source material.
In the end, it's ultimately O'Barr's creation, and whether fans like it or not, if he wants to see another movie get made, then there you have it.
Do you feel a remake of The Crow would be disrespectful to Brandon Lee’s memory?