The 2024 adaptation ofThe Crowdidn’t perform as expected with critics and general audiences, but it could have been saved with one connection to Brandon Lee’s 1994 version. Almost 20 years after its last movie,The Crowfranchisecame back to life with a new adaptation of James O’Barr’s comic book series of the same name. Directed by Rupert Sanders,The Crowstars Bill Skarsgård as Eric and FKA Twigs as Shelly, and though it kept the same concepts and basic premise of the comic books and Alex Proyas’ 1994 movie, it also made a lot of changes.
The Crowintroduces viewers to Eric, who meets Shelly at a rehab center. Eric and Shelly fall in love and escape the center as Shelly is being pursued by dangerous people. Unfortunately, these people catch up with them and kill them, but Eric is given the chance to return to the land of the living to avenge his and Shelly’s death. For that, Eric is granted the ability to heal from every wound and is helped out by a crow.The Crowwas inevitably compared to the 1994 version, and one connection to it could have saved this new adaptation.
As entertaining as it is, it can’t be denied thatthe 2024 adaptation ofThe Crowhas its flaws. Among the many weaknesses critics pointed out inThe Croware its pace, the lack of chemistry between Skarsgård and Twigs (though others praised their connection), its graphic and violent scenes, and the unnecessary changes to the main characters, mostly the villain, who was made supernatural. While the problems of the latest adaptation ofThe Crowgo all the way to its pre-production process, one connection to the 1994 version could have made it great: Chad Stahelski.
Stahelski has directed all threeJohn Wicksequels.
Chad Stahelski began his career in film as a stuntman, gaining recognition for his work as a stunt performer and coordinator in action movies, most notablyThe Matrix, where he served as Keanu Reeves’ stunt double.In 2014, Stahelski made a slight career change and made his directorial debut withJohn Wick, which he co-directed with David Leitch. Since then, Stahelski has directed all threeJohn Wicksequels and served as producer in the spinoff movieFrom the World of John Wick: Ballerina.
Stahelski has quickly become one of the best and most popular directors in the action genre, and his background as a stunt performer and coordinator has been key to the incredible action scenes in his movies. With all this in mind, Stahelski would have been the perfect choice to direct the new adaptation ofThe Crow, more so after his direct connection to the 1994 movie, thanks to which he would have surely approached the project with some reverence for Brandon Lee and Proyas’ movie.
Chad Stahelski has a direct connection to Brandon Lee andThe Crowas he was part of the 1994 movie.Stahelski was Lee’s stunt double, and he was key to completing the movie after Lee’s death. While shooting the scene where Lee’s Eric Draven is shot after witnessing the beating and sexual assault of Shelly at their apartment, the gun used as a prop, which was actually a real revolver, was loaded with improperly made dummy rounds. Lee was fatally shot, and the producers had to make a decision: finish the movie or leave it incomplete.
How Bill Skarsgård’s The Crow Compares to Brandon Lee’s
Bill Skarsgård is the latest actor to play Eric Draven, and this version of The Crow is drastically different than Brandon Lee’s.
The producers ultimately decided to finishThe Crowand some scenes had to be rewritten.Stahelski was used as a stand-in in the scenes needed to finish the movie, and digital face replacement was used to superimpose Lee’s face onto the head of the double. Stahelski knows well what makingThe Crowwas like, and he could have brought a unique insight into the 2024 adaptation.
Alex Proyas’ 1994 adaptation ofThe Crowended up creating a movie series, even if its sequels aren’t well-remembered and didn’t come close to its quality and success. Unfortunately, given its poor performance with critics and general audiences,the 2024 adaptation ofThe Crowwon’t get a sequel, but it wouldn’t be surprising if there’s a remake or another adaptation of O’Barr’s comic books in a not-so-distant future.If it happens, Chad Stahelski would be the perfect choice to direct it, and it could be the remake or adaptation that truly honors the legacy of Brandon Lee’s version.
The Crow
The Crow (2024) is a dark and gritty reimagining of the original graphic novel. It follows Eric, who is resurrected from the dead to avenge his and his soulmate’s brutal murders. Armed with supernatural abilities, Eric seeks justice against the killers responsible, navigating through a corrupt city that is as much a character as he is. This adaptation introduces new elements to captivate the modern audience!
