Bill Skarsgård will not only have a great year in terms of his acting career, with several new projects on the horizon, but it has also been confirmed that he will be the protagonist of the long-awaited remake of The Crow.
The original film was originally starring Michael Wincott and Brandon Lee, who tragically died on set during filming due to an incident with a fake gun. Over time, it became a cult classic and it has a solid fan base.
Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman) is directing the iconic gothic drama, while Zach Baylin and William Josef Schneider are responsible for the screenplay, adapted from the comic created by James O’Barr.
Who is the cast of The Crow?
Bill Skarsgård, known for bringing Pennywise to life in the It remakes, will return to the big screen to take on the role of Eric Draven, a rock musician who is brutally murdered along with his fiancée on the eve of their wedding.
Filling the role of his fiancée Shelly Webster is British singer FKA Twigs, who previously appeared in the dramatic film Honey Boy and the thriller Brighton Beach, with only supporting roles. This will mark her major debut in a leading role.
The cast is not only quite extensive but also features several other stars participating in the project. Among the most notable are Danny Huston, Laura Birn, Jordan Bolger, Isabella Wei, Sami Bouajila, Dukagjin Podrimaj and Jim High, among others.
When does The Crow premiere?
The remake of The Crow now has a release date and will debut on the big screen on August 23, 2024 after being delayed by a month. So, we only have to wait a few months to experience the new version of the iconic gothic tale of supernatural revenge and justice.
The director gave an interview to Vanity Fair where he talked about the project and the intention behind it, stating that it is a kind of tribute to Brandon Lee and the original material released in 1994. He confessed:
“Obviously, it was a terrible tragedy, and it’s definitely something that we’ve always had in mind during the making of the film. Brandon was an original voice and I think he will always be synonymous with The Crow, and I hope he’s proud of what we’ve done and how we’ve reclaimed the story. His soul is very much alive in this movie. There’s a real fragility and beauty to his version of the Crow, and I think Bill feels like a successor to that”.
What is the remake of The Crow about?
The new version of the classic is a modern reimagining of the beloved character, The Crow, strictly based on James O’Barr’s original graphic novel. Therefore, the story will once again follow the paranormal and justice-seeking journey of Eric Draven.
Draven is a rock musician who is brutally murdered along with his fiancée Shelly on the eve of their wedding. After his death, he is resurrected thanks to the intervention of a mystical crow. Guided by the crow, he returns to life with supernatural abilities and a thirst for revenge against those who caused his and his fiancée’s death.
The story revolves around Eric’s quest to avenge his own death and the injustice he suffered, confronting the criminals responsible for his misfortunes. Before long, he becomes a supernatural vigilante, known for his distinctive appearance with facial makeup that mimics a crow.
In the original movie, Eric and Shelly’s deaths happen within the first few minutes of the drama, but this time, Rupert Sanders confessed to Vanity Fair that he always wanted his version to have a bit more balance between light and darkness.
Additionally, he didn’t seem overly concerned about the chemistry between his leads, as he revealed: “I never did a screen test between Bill and Twigs. I invited them to dinner when they arrived [on set] in Prague and felt a bit like a nervous parent looking to see if there were sparks because you don’t know. And they were great. They hung out and got on really well“.
