James O'Barr gives HUGE news on The Crow reboot

In a recent interview with KorsgaardsCommentary (via ComingSoon) James O'Barr have given a huge update on the upcoming The Crow reboot starring Luke Evans.

"[W]e’re not remaking the movie," says O'Barr. "We’re readapting the book. My metaphor is that there is a Bela Lugosi 'Dracula' and there’s a Francis Ford Coppola 'Dracula'. They use the same material, but you still got two entirely different films. This one’s going to be closer to 'Taxi Driver' or a John Woo film, and I think there’s room for both of them. Part of the appeal of 'The Crow' comics, after all, is that they can tell very different stories."
 
"If you read the comic, Eric and Shelley never have their last names revealed," O'Barr continues. "Hopefully, this is one area the new movie being more faithful to the comic will come into play, and Eric won’t be going by Eric Draven in the new film. Luke Evans may play Eric, but Brandon Lee will forever be Eric Draven... [N]o one understands that fear more than me. Brandon Lee was a friend and I’d never do anything to hurt his legacy."

"We’re including some music I’d wanted to originally, but just couldn’t get the rights to," says O'Barr. "Some actual Joy Division songs. Some vintage Cure songs. I’m still pretty active in the music industry, and there is a lot of neo-goth bands out there, that have that same sound, and I’ve talked to some of them about contributing, and they’re very excited about it."

"I’ve seen him in the make-up, too" says O'Barr, "and he looks great. ...I think the studio understands that if they want a 'Crow' ‘franchise’, they have to get it right. We’re hoping to begin production later this month, and start shooting in the spring."

Luke Evans talks "The Crow"

We still know very little about "The Crow" reboot, we have heard a few terms being thrown about like "re-imagining", "gritty reboot" and "darker approach" however with the film still in early pre-production details are minimal. Speaking today with Metro UK (a UK based newspaper) Luke Evans gave us a little insight plus paid his respects to the late and great Brandon Lee.

"It is incredibly sad that Brendon died making the movie. He was a very talented actor. It is a very beautiful story, The Crow. It is a very tragic story with huge emotional themes. We plan to tell the story differently and with a lot of integrity to the original comic book."

Norman Reedus in talks for "The Crow"

Schmoes Knows are reporting that TV favourite Norman Reedus is in talks to star in "The Crow", the site is also reporting that he is the top choice for a role in the film called "James". However it is currently unknown whether or not he is one of Eric Draven's allies or enemies. We already know that Luke Evans has been cast as Eric, so it would be nice to see another big name joining the film.

Set to be directed by Javier Gutierrez, the film features a script by Cliff Dorfman. Series creator James O'Barr will also work as a consultant on the film, which is said to begin production in 2014. No release date is currently set.

Luke Evans is... THE CROW!

Do we really need a reboot? No we don't ever NEED or even want reboots of the "classics" so instantly we say no it's a bad idea, however think of some of the films that are actually reboots that a lot of us love "Batman Begins", "Star Trek", "The Amazing Spider-Man" and "Ocean's Eleven" to name a few.

I think it is wrong of us to write this film off already, let's see how production goes before we give up hope. Personally I loved Bradon Lee's "The Crow", but according to big Crow fans that film was only loosely based on the comic/graphic novels. So, with how well comic adaptations are these days, I think it is safe to say we could be in for a treat.

In an interview today Evans spoke about his role,
"['The Crow'] was a very poignant film from my childhood, which I remember vividly,” Evans told Collider. “The soundtrack, also. It was such a solid performance that Brandon Lee gave. It was a very tragic end for somebody that probably would have had a very promising career.”
As for who he’ll play in the upcoming movie, Evans said, “I’m Eric Draven. I’m the same character. Obviously, he’s been refreshed and brought up to date. We’re reimagining it to a certain extent, but the story and the plot is mostly the same."

"The Crow" reboot has a writer and director

Just a day after Relativity Media and Weinstein Company settled their lawsuit over the distribution of the reboot, they are now telling us that they have a new director and writer for the project. F Javier Gutiérrez (dude on the left) is taking over to direct the reboot, the full press release is below:

"(Beverly Hills, Calif.) January 24, 2012 – Relativity Media’s Co-President, Tucker Tooley, Edward R. Pressman, producer behind the cult-classic The Crow franchise, and The Weinstein Company’s Dimension Films, announced today they have closed a deal with F. Javier Gutiérrez (Before The Fall) to direct a reinvention of The Crow, the 1994 smash hit film based on the comic book series and comic strip by James O’Barr. Writer Jesse Wigutow has signed on to pen the script.

Gutiérrez’s directorial debut, the Spanish-language apocalyptic thriller Before the Fall (Tres Dias), became an international and award-winning sensation after premiering at the Berlinale Film Festival in 2008. In Spain, the film won Best Motion Picture and Best Screenplay at the 2008 Malaga Film Festival, the Miradas Award (TVE) for Best Motion Picture of the Year, and garnered nominations from the Spain Critics Awards. In Europe, the film was a finalist for the 2008 European Film Awards and won main prizes in such science-fiction and fantasy film festivals as the Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival, the Trieste Film Fesitval, and later in the U.S., picked up four awards at Los Angeles’ famed Horror Festival “Scream Fest” in 2009 (for editing, Gutiérrez’s directing, cinematography, and actor Victor Clavijo). The film also ranked #3 on the “International Watch List 2008”. Gutiérrez is currently developing Dimension Films’ sci-fi thriller The Greys.

Wigutow most recently did a re-write for Robert Ludlum’s thriller The Osterman Weekend for Summit, and adapted the book “Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel” for Brian Oliver’s Cross Creek Films. He is also developing Age Inappropriate at Universal and Irreparable Harm at HBO. Previously, he has worked on films including: Tron: Legacy, 8 Mile, Eragon, and The Ruins.

The Crow adaptation will be a gritty reboot of the iconic character Eric Draven, who returns from the grave as The Crow on a mission to avenge his wife’s murder, so that his soul can finally rest. The original film is known for its breakthrough visual style as well as its unique production design and cinematography. The project is currently in development; start of production, targeted release dates and casting to be announced.

The film is being produced by Edward R. Pressman, Jeff Most and Relativity’s CEO Ryan Kavanaugh. Relativity’s Tooley (Immortals), The Weinstein Company’s Harvey and Bob Weinstein and Farah Films’ Dan Farah (Armored) will serve as executive producers.

Paradigm, Gutiérrez’s manager Farah, and attorney Stephen Clark of Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler & Feldman, Inc. represented Gutierrez on the deal and Wigutow was represented by UTA and attorney Warren Dern of Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern LLP, and Benderspink.

Relativity recently released Oscar®-winner Steven Soderbergh’s dynamic action-thriller Haywire in theatres. Looking ahead, Relativity will release the the heart-pounding Navy SEAL action-thriller Act of Valor (in theatres February 24, 2012) and magical adventure comedy Mirror Mirror (in theatres March 16, 2012), starring Oscar®-winner Julia Roberts, Lily Collins, Nathan Lane, and Armie Hammer. The studio just wrapped production on the comedy 21 and Over and is currently in pre-production on Nicholas Sparks’ gripping love story Safe Haven and the international espionage thriller Hunter Killer.

Pressman is currently in development on a reinvention of the iconic action film Bloodsport written by Robert Kamen (Taken) and to be directed by Phillip Noyce (Salt). The latest feature from Pressman, The Moth Diaries, directed by Mary Harron (American Psycho), will be released by IFC Films later this year."