Summary
ACrowsequelshould only happen if it follows an abandoned concept from the original franchise.The Crowgraphic novel was created by James O’Barr in response to the devastating loss of his fianceé, and it didn’t take long for producers to acquire the movie rights. After everyone from Michael Jackson to Christian Slater were considered, Brandon Lee signed on for the titular role of a man rising from the grave to avenge his and his fiancée’s murders. Tragically, Lee himself was killed during production, with the resulting film dedicated to his memory.
The movie was a big success, leading toThe Crowmovie franchise. Later entries wisely opted not to recast Lee’s role, and the series instead became an anthology where new lead characters took on the mantle. The upcomingThe Crowremakehas spent many years in development hell, with everybody from Bradley Cooper to Jason Momoa being suggested for the lead. Bill Skarsgård has taken over the part, though fan response to his look and the movie’s trailer has been decidedly mixed.
James O’Barr’s Rejected The Crow: The Bride Idea Would Be Perfect For A Modern Sequel
A sequel to The Crow 2024 should reuse the original pitch
Lee’s performance inThe Crowwas instantly iconic, so creator O’Barr felt a sequel to the 1994 adaptation had to do something totally different. While speaking at the Los Angeles Comic Con in 2017 (viaScreenGeek), the writer outlined his original sequel pitch, which O’Barr dubbedThe Crow: The Bride.O’Barr’s concept came from hearing a story about a Chicago woman who was killed at her wedding when a gunfight suddenly eruptedbetween police and gangsters in the church.
That story always stuck with me and that day is supposed to be the happiest day in someone’s life and it couldn’t get more tragic than that. So my idea was “Okay, what if I take that scenario and call it The Crow: The Bride?” and she comes back. It was super cool, she’s still wearing her wedding dress with barb wire and nails in her head.
O’Barr wrote up a large treatment forThe Brideand gave it to Miramax, the production company behindThe Crow. He felt this was a fresh angle to continue the series, but he was quickly told “…no one is going to see an action movie with a female lead.” After submitting his idea and being paid for it,The Crow: The Bridewas left sitting on a shelf, and instead, the eventual sequelCity of Angelsacted as a soft remake of the original.
James O’Barr suspects hisThe Crow 2concept inspired Quentin Tarantino’sKill Bill, which also involved a bride who survives a wedding massacre taking bloody revenge.
$51.3 million
86%
$17.9 million
14%
18%
0%
N/A
The Crowis a stylish action/horror hybrid that (unfortunately) was given an extra touch of melancholy due to the passing of its leading man. None of the sequels ever had a chance of matching its impact - but that doesn’t excuse their laziness either.To giveThe Crow: City of Angels’director Tim Pope credit, his original cut told a very different storythat ended on a deeply tragic note. Producers took the film out of his hands, however, and instructed editors to chop it up to resemble the first film.
1998 saw the arrival of TV seriesThe Crow: Stairway to Heaven, which cast Mark Dacascos as Eric Draven; despite decent reviews, it only lasted for one season.
City of Angelslooks beautiful, but it feels like an art film that has been hacked up to resemble an action flick. The sequel was a moderate success, and after a brief period whereRob Zombie almost made his directorial debut withThe Crow 3, Bharat Nalluri’sSalvationflew into theaters in 2000. Despite a great cast (Kirsten Dunst, Fred Ward, Walton Goggins, etc) and stylish visuals,Salvationfelt like a tired rehash of the first two outings. The third movie’s theatrical run was only a limited one, and it quickly went straight to video.
The Crowsaga descended into the depths with 2005’sWicked Prayer, with a bizarre ensemble consisting of David Boreanaz, Tara Reid, Dennis Hopper and Macy Gray. Stylistically,Wicked Prayertried some new things with the property, but the film is a turgid mess that was so poorly received it killed the original seriesoutright.
The Crow 2024’s Sequel Should Revisit The Bride Concept
The Crow movies need to fly in new directions
Not only didthefollow-ups stick rigidly to formula, but all of them swerved away from more intriguing ideas. The second film rejectedThe Bridepitch, producers passed on Rob Zombie’s futuristic take for the third entry whilethe fourthCrowalmost pitted DMX against Eminem. There seems to be little excitement for the forthcoming remake, though time will tell if it becomes a hit. There are also comments that Bill Skarsgård gave toEsquirethat suggestThe Crow 2024will set up direct sequels, despite the star stating “I personally preferred something more definitive.”
Bill Skarsgård’s Criticism Of 2024’s The Crow Is Actually A Good Sign For The Movie After All The Backlash
Bill Skarsgård shared one complaint about his character in The Crow, but this is good for the movie as it shows he understands the character.
If the remake clicks with audiences,The Crow 2should resurrect (pun fully intended) O’Barr’sThe Bridepitch. For decades, fans of the property have been itching to see it move in a more diverse direction, which is why pitches like DMX or a female Crow sounded so exciting. A sequel doesn’t need to bring back the Eric Draven character either, as his tale should be a one-and-done. The original series whiffed on this element, but if the franchise is to evolve and grow, the nextCrowneeds to mix things up.
The Crow
Cast
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!
