The Crow remake started life as a very different movie, but when it seemed Jason Momoa would play Eric Draven, it took a dramatic turn in direction.
As The Crow remake soars into theaters, fans of the series wonder what happened to Jason Momoa. Over the years, audiences were treated to sneak peeks and overheard rumors about what was in development concerning the controversial remake of The Crow. However, after teases about famed Game of Thrones and Aquaman actor Jason Momoa as the leading role, many quickly noticed that The Crow remake looked very different from what they expected. While the plot of The Crow remake now flutters about social media feeds, the story of what happened behind the scenes remains a point of interest. A tale of life, death, and rebirth of a horror classic, as this Crow flies, it’s revealed that its path towards cinemas was anything but straight.
Considered a classic of the Gothic horror genre and a groundbreaking film for modern superhero cinema, 1994’s The Crow starred the late Brandon Lee. Based on the James O’Barr comic book series of the same name, The Crow tells the tale of Eric Draven, a musician who returns from the dead to seek revenge for the double homicide of him and his fiancée, Shelley. Critically acclaimed and dearly beloved, The Crow became a full-fledged phenomenon. The cultural impact of The Crow is undeniable, as evidenced by its several sequels, TV show, and enough branded merchandise to keep Hot Topic stocked for multiple lifetimes. However, as people revisit The Crow and mourn the loss of its star, who tragically lost his life during filming, a remake prepares for a June 2024 debut.
How The Crow Remake Struggled to Get Off the Ground
- Jason Momoa has a signed first edition of The Crow graphic novel.
While any remake of a classic film often proves controversial, many seemed hopeful that actor Jason Momoa could carry on the spirit of the 1994 movie. No stranger to comic book films and able to bring charisma and success to DC hero Aquaman, many were curious to see what he’d do with the role of Eric Draven. However, featuring a revolving door of talent and a long history, this Hollywood remake has a complicated backstory many are unaware of. Navigating Development Hell can prove challenging, as demonstrated by the struggles of projects like the Beetlejuice sequel and 2024’s The Crow. However, the demise of a franchise isn’t always as final as many think and sometimes amounts to a long, strange journey to the big screen.
The story of The Crow reboot began in 2008 when filmmaker Stephen Norrington announced a realistic and gritty remake. With The Crow sequels failing to reach the heights of the original film and the series beginning to stagnate, the opportunity to retell the story of Eric Draven was there but proved tumultuous to adapt. For almost a decade, numerous prominent figures were either announced or rumored to be involved with the project before ultimately departing. Although among the most noted people attached to the remake was James O’Barr, who planned to consult and eventually co-write the film after showing initial reluctance towards the idea. Comparing the new project to the Universal Monsters Dracula and Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula, O’Barr showed enthusiasm for a different take on his source material. However, the bankruptcy of studio Relativity Media would temporarily stall the project, leading it to be resurrected under the title of The CrowReborn as production shifted to Highland Film Group and Electric Shadow.
While countless names like Loki’s Tom Hiddleston, Guardian of the Galaxy’s Bradley Cooper, True Blood’s Alexander Skarsgård, and even Luke Evans of Dracula Untold fame were all cast as Eric Draven, none garnered more excitement than Jason Momoa. By 2016, reports circulated that director Corin Hardy and Momoa had begun collaborating on the project, with filming set to commence in 2017. With visible progress and test footage showcasing Momoa’s dedication to the role, The Crow Reborn appeared destined for success. However, just a month before the planned production, The Crow Reborn seemed dead on arrival. Jason Momoa and Corin Hardy departed from the project, with the latter citing creative differences with the rights holder. Meanwhile, Jason Momoa reflected on Instagram how much The Crow meant to him, how playing the role of Eric Draven was a dream come true, but the stars had not aligned the way he liked. Ultimately, the exit of The Crow Reborn’s driving forces marked a disappointing conclusion to a once-promising venture, but it wouldn’t signify the end of The Crow’s saga.
What Happened After Jason Momoa Left?
- Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and Javier Gutiérrez were also signed on to direct the 2024 remake of The Crow at various stages of development.
After surviving numerous cancelations, casting changes, and fleeting directorship, skepticism loomed over The Crow’s potential return, particularly with Jason Momoa pursuing other projects. However, like countless other Hollywood movie reboots, remakes, and sequels, there was a sense that the show had to go on. Upon the exit of Jason Momoa, Corin Hardy, and any previous project contributors, it became evident that The Crow didn’t simply resurrect after their departure; it evolved. Due to Hardy’s creative differences, the film had to adapt to embody a new vision and the individuals endeavoring to revive Eric Draven’s character from the grave. Unsurprisingly, the direction isn’t the only thing that’d change as details unraveled before The Crow’s intended audiences and the movie found new life.
Development picked up in 2020, determined to deliver the horror remake long after the project’s announcement and, as the majority of the past sequels had faded into obscurity. Now that Rupert Sanders and Zach Baylin were spearheading the next remake of The Crow, the film took on a different look and tone. Drawing inspiration from the music of The Cure, the two aimed to create a gritty romance film exploring themes of loss, mourning, and morality. While previous versions of The Crow remake hoped to set themselves apart from the 1994 film, Sanders and Baylin sought to pay homage to it. Viewing the 2024 adaptation of The Crow as both a successor to the original film and a tribute to Brandon Lee, the movie undoubtedly had a hard act to follow with some pretty big ambitions to chase, especially when it came to casting.
After Jason Momoa surrendered the role, and his brother Alexander had been previously in talks for it, famed horror actor Bill Skarsgård became cast as the violent undead vigilante. Additionally, musician FKA Twigs would take on the role of Shelley. In February of 2024, the world would get its first glimpse at the new Eric and Shelley, with a trailer following it in March. Unlike the Jason Momoa test video, which showed audiences what could’ve been, these two promotions for the upcoming movie showed what it would be when the film premiered in June. With people criticizing the new look for Draven as the Crow and ultimately left unsure about various elements of the trailer, the movie proved divisive before it could even reach theaters. Needless to say, doubts expressed by the original director, Alex Proyas, didn’t help public perception, nor did original cast member Ernie Hudson, who praised Skarsgård but felt Lee’s performance was the definitive take on the character.
What The Crow’s Development Has to Say About Remakes
- One version of the remake reportedly cast Andrea Riseborough as The Crow villain Top Dollar.
When discussing the art of storytelling, classic tales become told and retold, explored from different vantage points and through various individuals. What’s fascinating about films is how many different adaptations there are of stories like King Kong, Dracula, or, in this case, The Crow. At its heart, 2024’s The Crow isn’t trying to replace what came before or even surpass it. Above all else, what Skarsgård and the rest of the cast want to do is revive it.
For better or worse, if there’s anything this onscreen odyssey has to teach, it’s hard to blame someone for sharing their favorite stories or wanting to be a part of them. As people ask what The Crow remake could’ve looked like or if it needed to exist in the first place, it’s easy to overlook how many people believed in it. Whether Momoa or Skarsgård, there is love for what the comics, movies, and TV shows based on them achieved. Perhaps it may not make sense to remake a beloved horror film that remains a horror classic, but maybe it’s just another way of making sure it lives on.