The Crow reboot is happening, according to James O’Barr, the creator of the character. Over the past few months, remaking The Crow has turned into an arduous uphill battle. There was the departure of Jack Huston, followed by the recent bankruptcy of Relativity last month, leading to news that the return of Eric Draven was dead in the water. Not according to O’Barr, however, who said The Crow remake is “still very much a live property” at a recent ComicBook.com panel in New York.
“The company, Pressman Films, that owns The Crow film and TV rights, licensed it to a studio named Relativity. And Relativity made like a hundred bad movies and lost money so now they’re in financial trouble. So the producers are just going to take it to another studio if Relativity can’t get backing again. It’s going to happen. I talked to Pressman Films a couple of weeks ago and they said within two or three weeks, we should have it placed at a new studio. Because the day Relativity announced that they were having financial problems, there were like a dozen other studios that called about getting The Crow property. it definitely will happen.”
This is good news for fans of the comics and the original film, which is sadly more recognized for the tragic on-set death of its star, Brandon Lee. What is overlooked is the wonderful gothic tapestry of Alex Proyas’s film. Let’s all collectively erase the three increasingly terrible sequels, from City of Angels, to Salvation, to the incredibly terrible Wicked Prayer starring Ed Furlong in the title role. There will be no Eddie Furlong in this new reboot, so who could take over the role of vengeful Eric Draven? Here are five possibilities.
1. Ezra Miller
Miller is my number one choice to take over the role. He has everything the character needs. Miller has an angular, athletic build similar to Brandon Lee, the look of a rocker, and anyone unfamiliar with his dark side needs to see his work in We Need to Talk About Kevin.
2. Jack Huston
I know Jack Huston left the project already, but the departure was due to scheduling conflicts. Now that the film has been pushed back and delayed, it seems the Boardwalk Empire alum may still be able to hop on board. Much like Ezra Miller, Jack Huston has the build and the brood necessary to embody Eric Draven.
3. Daniel Zovatto
Daniel Zovatto is relatively unknown, but his performance as the neighbor, Greg, in It Follows proves he can handle physicality and can wrangle the dark aspects of the Draven role. The Crow could be the next step for Zovatto in his early acting career, a breakout role for him.
4. Nicholas Hoult
Nick Hoult is a young cinematic chameleon, able to change his look with ease. Most know Hoult as Beast in the new X-Men films, and “Mr. Shiny and Chrome” himself, Nux, in this summer’s Mad Max: Fury Road. Hoult has many of the same qualities as Ezra Miller, so he could easily slip into the role if Miller passed on it for whatever reason.
5. Andrew Garfield
I’m not sure if Andrew Garfield has any interesting in returning to a new comic property after the much maligned Spider-Man reboot films failed to catch on. But Garfield has the weight and intensity that would fit the Draven character.
What are your thoughts? Who would you like to see play The Crow?
