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Luke Evans Is The New Crow

Peter Oberth — Mon, 06 May 2013 11:07:28 +0000

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Luke Evans

After years of development hell, Relativity Media's new version of The Crow seems, finally, to have coalesced into a going concern. As we already knew, F. Javier Gutierrez (Before The Fall) is the film's director. But now we also, at longest last, have an actor signed and sealed to play the unfortunate anti-hero Eric Draven. The man in the corpse paint will be (*goth metal drum roll*) Luke Evans.

If that's a surprise to the world at large, it's apparently not a sudden decision on the part of the filmmakers, with Deadline claiming that Evans has been top of the wishlist for some time. He was believed to be out of the running due to his commitments to Dracula Year Zero (in which he plays Dracula) and the publicity treadmill for The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug (where he's Bard the Bowman) but the potential schedule clashes have been avoided by Relativity pushing The Crow's start date to accommodate him.

This new Crow was kickstarted by Stephen Norrington in 2009, with the Blade director planning to shoot his own screenplay, which would have taken place in Detroit and the American south-west. Nick Cave then wrote a draft in 2010, before Norrington walked over the usual creative differences with the studio. Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (28 Weeks Later) signed on in early 2011, beating Gutierrez to the gig, but when Fresnadillo moved on later the same year, Gutierrez was back in the game.

During the Norrington days, we were briefly looking at Mark Wahlberg as our possible new Draven, and names in the hat since then have included Bradley Cooper, Channing Tatum, James McAvoy, Alexander Skarsgård and Tom Hiddleston.

Evans it is, though, who'll be playing the murder victim who returns from the grave to avenge his own death and that of his fiancée, gradually working through the jolly pirate club that did him in. There's an odd coincidence to the fact that he's also playing the Count in the Dracula origin story: for a long time that film was being developed by the original Crow's director Alex Proyas, but Evans only came to it under the aegis of current helmer Gary Shore.

A busy year for Evans, anyway, since aside from Dracula and The Hobbit, he's also on chief villain duties for Fast & Furious 6. You can check out his form in that one on May 17, with The Desolation Of Smaug due on December 13. Dracula Year Zero is currently in pre-production with a pencilled-in US release date of August 2014. If all now goes to plan, shooting on The Crow will finally get underway early next year.

If you want to sate your Draven cravings befoe then, Titan Books published a swish new expanded edition of James O'Barr's original graphic novel last year.

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Luke Evans

Tom Hiddleston May Fly To The Crow

Peter Oberth — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 08:16:28 +0000

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Tom Hiddleston

If the producers behind the remake of The Crow wanted to generate a little attention, then they certainly know how to do it. Because Loki himself – AKA Mr Tom Hiddleston – is in early talks to play Eric Draven in the new film.

According to The Wrap’s sources, the Hiddlestoners’ favourite has already met with producers including Ed Pressman, Kevin Misher and Ryan Kavanaugh and submitted a make-up test he sorted out at home. The next step is apparently a formal test with filmmakers including director F. Javier Gutierrez.

The script, currently credited to Warrior’s Cliff Dorfman, will follow the same basic story, adapted from James O’Barr’s dark graphic novel about rocker Draven and his fiancée who are murdered on Devil’s Night, only for our hero to be brought by as a supernatural superhero to exact vengeance.

This new take on Draven’s tragic tale has been flapping its way through development limbo for ages now. Mark Wahlberg was attached at one point before Bradley Cooper and James McAvoy were considered. Directors such as Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and Stephen Norrington have come and gone.

Hiddleston could certainly handle the darker dramatic sides, and we know he can be funny. Plus anyone who can go up against Chris Hemsworth has the fighting chops. What say you, Hiddlestoners? Do you want to see him donning the pale makeup and leather gear? Squawk out below.

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Tom Hiddleston

Is James McAvoy The New Crow?

Peter Oberth — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 23:18:18 +0000

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Relativity's reboot of James O'Barr's The Crow has been thrashing around in development for ages now. Last we heard, a year or so ago, attached star Bradley Cooper and director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo had both left the project. The Crow refuses to stay dead, however, and word this morning is that James McAvoy is in talks to wear the leathers and the corpse paint. F. Javier Gutierrez is the man currently in the director's chair.

We are slightly dubious about this news, since BD seem disinclined to talk about any sort of source for their scoop. But they point out that they previously correctly announced Mark Wahlberg's brief involvement, so maybe they have a secret insider source. McAvoy seems like an odd choice, but we wouldn't necessarily have pegged him for Professor Xavier either, and look how well that worked out.

This new Crow was kickstarted by Stephen Norrington in 2009, with the Blade director planning to shoot his own screenplay, which would take place in Detroit and the American south-west. Nick Cave then wrote a draft in 2010, before Norrington walked over the usual creative differences with the studio. Fresnadillo (28 Weeks Later) signed on in early 2011, beating Gutierrez (Before The Fall) to the gig, but when Fresnadillo moved on later the same year, Gutierrez was back in the game.

Channing Tatum's name was bandied around for the lead role after Wahlberg and Cooper had gone, so we'll see whether McAvoy lasts any longer, or even gets beyond the "talks" stage. It sounds as if we still won't see the new Crow anytime especially soon, but if you're feeling Draven cravings, Titan published a swish new expanded edition of O'Barr's original graphic novel last year. We'll next see McAvoy in Danny Boyle's Trance (March 27) and Eran Creevy's Welcome To The Punch (March 15) - but if you're in London, he's appearing in Macbeth onstage nightly.

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James McAvoy

'The Crow' Remake Gets Director, Writer

Peter Oberth — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:36:41 +0000

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F. Javier Gutierrez

Days after settling a lawsuit regarding the long-gestating remake of The Crow, Relativity has closed a deal with F. Javier Gutierrez to direct the comic book adaptation. At the same time, Jesse Wigutow has signed on to pen the script.

Gutierrez made a name for himself directing the Spanish-language horror movie Before the Fall (Tres Dias), which was a hit on the sci-fi and horror movie circuit and won numerous awards in Spain. The movie put the director on the Hollywood’s radar and he found himself attached to several horror projects including The Monkey’s Paw.

Wigatow worked on Eragon and The Ruins and recently did a rewrite on a remake of The Osterman Weekend at Summit.

Gutierrez had been in talks to tackle the movie for a while but development on the movie had stalled while the companies threw legal barbs against each other.

Crow is being produced by Edward R. Pressman, Jeff Most and Relativity’s CEO Ryan Kavanaugh. Relativity’s Tooley (Immortals), TWC’s Harvey and Bob Weinstein and Farah Films’ Dan Farah, who reps Gutierrez will serve as executive producers.

Crow, created by James O’Barr, centered on a musician who is murdered while trying to save his fiancée from thugs. He is brought back from the dead by supernatural forces and seeks revenge. The movie became a cult hit due to its visual style but also due to its star, rising actor Brandon Lee, being killed by a freak accident during production of the original movie in 1993.

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F. Javier Gutierrez

Bradley Cooper Exits 'The Crow' as Other Actors Circle

Peter Oberth — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 01:14:03 +0000

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“As the crow flies” may denote the shortest route from one place to another, but the movie version of The Crow is proving to be less than a straight shot.

Relativity is remaking the supernatural action movie based on the 1990s comic and has set Juan Carlos Fresnadillo to direct.

Bradley Cooper was to have played the title character but sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that he has now exited due to scheduling conflicts. Cooper has David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook shooting this fall and then dives straight into Legendary’s Paradise Lost, which shoots first quarter next year…the exact time Relativity plans on making the high-priority Crow.

But akin to the project’s rock musician who is killed and resurrected, two new names have surfaced as possible replacements: Channing Tatum and Mark Wahlberg.

Walhberg has a previous association with the Crow; he was offered the part last fall but a deal never materialized. But there is a question as to whether he wants to revisit the role, and last week he signed on to Universal's 2 Guns action pic.

Tatum is best known for his work in G.I. Joe and the weepie Dear John.

It’s too early to tell what will happen with either Tatum or Walhberg, or whether other actors join the fray, although Relativity is keen on not wasting time.

The studio also is embroiled in litigation with The Weinstein Co. over distribution rights to the film. Harvey and Co. believe they have a deal to release the film but Relativity argues that the Weinsteins forfeited their right by, among other things, botching the release of the expensive Relativity-backed flop Nine. That case is currently in arbitration.

Crow, created by James O’Barr, centered on a musician who is murdered while trying to save his fiancée from thugs. He is brought back from the dead by supernatural forces and seeks revenge. The role was originally played by Brandon Lee, who was killed by a freak accident during production of the original movie in 1993.

The new film is being produced by Edward R. Pressman, Jeff Most, Relativity's CEO Ryan Kavanaugh and Apaches Entertainment's Enrique LopezLavigne and Belen Atienza.

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Not Bradley Cooper

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Not Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper in Talks to Star in 'The Crow' Remake

Peter Oberth — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 01:10:42 +0000

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Juan Carlos Fresnadillo

Bradley Cooper

The Crow

Bradley Cooper is in early negotiations to star in Relativity’s remake of The Crow, being directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo.

In the adaptation of the gritty black-and-white indie comic by artist James O'Barr, Cooper will play a rock musician who is murdered while trying to save his fiancée from thugs. He is resurrected by supernatural forces and seeks revenge. The role was originally played by Brandon Lee, who was killed by a freak accident during production in 1993.

Relativity is flying fast with Crow, with Fresnadillo only officially boarding the project a week ago. The Spanish director of 28 Weeks Later is said to have met with Cooper in Spain recently, where the two hit it off and shared a vision for the character and the film. Relativity would not confirm the talks but sources say Cooper, currently in theaters in Relativity’s hit thriller Limitless, is keen to board the project.

The new film is being produced by Edward R. Pressman, Jeff Most, Relativity's CEO Ryan Kavanaugh and Apaches Entertainment's Enrique Lopez Lavigne and Belen Atienza.

Production is targeted to start in the fall. Relativity’s Tucker Tooley (The Fighter) will serve as executive producer. José Ibáñez, Pressman Film Corporation’s Jon Katz and Apaches’ Jesús de la Vega will serve as co-producers.

Cooper, repped by CAA, next appears in The Hangover Part II, which opens May 26.

Talent(s):

Bradley Cooper

Juan Carlos Fresnadillo

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Bradley Cooper

Mark Wahlberg Offered Lead Role in 'The Crow' Remake

Peter Oberth — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 22:17:26 +0000

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Bloody Disgusting has confirmed exclusively that Mark Wahlberg was offered the lead role in Relativity Media's The Crow, a remake of the 1994 film that starred Brandon Lee as a man (Eric Draven) brutally murdered that comes back to life as an undead avenger of his and his fiancée's murder. The film was an adaptation of James O'Barr's incredible comic series. Iconic musician and acclaimed screenwriter Nick Cave has been working on a rewrite with Stephen Norrington (Blade, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen ) attached to direct. The new tale is said to take place in Detroit. Now, the offer has been made, therefore Wahlberg could (and hopefully will) decline. I can't say this news has me swimming in excitement.

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Mark Wahlberg

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Mark Wahlberg

Norrington's Crow Gets Closer

Peter Oberth — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 17:18:24 +0000

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Stephen Norrington

It's been a while since we heard anything about the project, but MTV have news on Stephen Norrington's reboot of The Crow. To whit (no wait, that's an owl), according to producer Edward R Pressman, shooting is expected to start this year, and "things are moving ahead very aggressively".

"We've got an offer out to a major actor," says Pressman, tantalisingly. He also teases that this will be a very different film to the Alex Proyas / Brandon Lee original from 1994. "Steve has created a very different visual idea," we're told, with Avatar production designer Rob Stromberg's sketches apparently looking quite unlike what's gone before.

There will be two locations, an urban centre (possibly Detroit, like the original) and a South-West setting, which suggests that, maybe, The Crow is flying into Western territory that might suit the formula (wronged murder victim back from the grave to exact revenge on the perps) rather well. Wicked Prayer, the last of the increasingly bad original sequels, already went there, but we've chosen to forget that.

Mythology-wise, it sounds like Norrington is returning to James O'Barr's graphic novel, with Pressman promising that "The Crow itself is a character in this movie: it's not just a bird. It's got a personality... and a more active role in the story." The (talking) Crow in the book acts as both the hero Eric Draven's guide, and his harshest critic. "It's not like Godzilla, exactly" says Pressman, peculiarly. Maybe that statement made more sense in context.

"It's a different time and a different idea," Pressman concludes. Sounds like the same idea but with tweaks to us. But the director of Blade returning to goth-action-horror territory has got us quite excited anyway. Casting announcements are on the way. watch this space.

Talent(s):

Stephen Norrington

Stephen Norrington Updates The Crow Reboot Status

Peter Oberth — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:44:02 +0000

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The Crow

We haven't heard much about a remake of the 1994 film The Crow lately and it seems the project is still moving forward. Mania recently spoke with director Stephen Norrington who revealed that he's still on board with the remake.

"The producer and visual effects people are crunching numbers," Norrington said. "We've opened discussions with major cast but nothing is final yet."

We recently reported that Norrington had signed on to direct The Lost Patrol, but the site is reporting that Norrington would film The Crow remake before that project.

Talent(s):

Stephen Norrington