Looks Like the Reboot of THE CROW Is in Trouble…Again
This reboot of James O'Barr comic series The Crow seems to have been doomed from the very beginning. This film project has been in development for years, and it’s never been able to move into production. Actors and directors have come and gone, and now it looks like an issue with the rights to the property may kill the project entirely.
I’m sure hardcore fans of Alex Proyas’ 1994 film won’t mind this news at all. Personally, I was kind of curious to how it would turn out, especially with the heavy involvement of its creator. The whole issue was brought on by the bankruptcy filled by Relativity Media. According to THR, Edward R. Pressman Film Corporation, which produced the first feature film adaptation of the comic, has filed papers in court to try to deny Relativity any sequel, prequel, or remake rights to the film.
The report also reveals that Edward R. Pressman Film Corporation originally optioned the rights to Relativity in 2009, and that was extended in 2014. When it was extended, they gave the studio three years to start production on a film. Things came pretty close a few times but nothing has happened. The Hallow director Corin Hardy was most recently attached to the film and was retained with a holding deal of $150,000 to direct it after the bankruptcy.
Apparently, when Dana Brunetti came in to run Relativity Media earlier this year, he fired Hardy from the project. This may have violated the initial agreement regarding The Crow film rights because Pressman proposed Hardy and Relativity agreed to hire him.
The future of The Crow in unclear, but it’s safe to say that the new movie isn’t going to happen anytime soon. It may be a few more years before something happens with the film... if anything happens at all. A Relativity spokesperson offered the following statement:
"With Dana coming aboard, we are giving him full creative rein. We want him to be able to reboot The Crow under his vision and guidance. We are optimistic he will create the best package for such an iconic franchise."
Yeah? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see about that, won't we. If The Crow does actually get made after all the crap it's gone through, it better be worth it.