The rebooted version of 1994 comic book classic, The Crow, has found a new director. The previously-attached F. Javier Gutiérrez has bowed out, and relative newcomer Corin Hardy will take the reins on the gothic revenge actioner.
Per Deadline, Hardy’s name was suggested to Edward R. Pressman – who produced the original and is tackling the same role for the remake – by none other than Edgar Wright. A self-confessed fanboy, Wright was impressed by Hardy’s first short, Butterfly, and the edgy music videos he crafted for Ed Sheeran, Biffy Clyro, Keane, Paolo Nutini and The Prodigy, and recommended him for the gig. Hardy’s feature debut, The Hallow, traces the story of family who move to the rural confines of countryside and wind up fighting a load of creatures in the woods. It’s yet to be released, but will hopefully land a date for 2015.
Talk of a reboot of The Crow, based on James O’Barr’s timeless graphic novel, has been bubbling up for years. It’s become one of those projects that’s sent the rumourmill into overdrive on multiple occasions. At various points in the film’s development, Mark Wahlberg, Bradley Cooper, James McAvoy and Tom Hiddleston were all vying for the lead. Finally, Luke Evans signed on to play back-from-the-dead rocker Eric Draven, whose resurrected revenge mission sees him hunting down the gang that murdered both he and his girlfriend, Shelly.
Casting a glance into next year, with Hardy now in place it looks like production might genuinely be ready to commence. While Gutiérrez chose to direct The Ring 3 instead, he’ll be joining Tucker Tooley, Bob and Harvey Weinstein and Dan Farah to executive produce. Kevin Misher, Ryan Kavanaugh, Jeff Most (who produced the original with Pressman), and Jeff Waxman are lined up to produce The Crow, based on Entourage scribe Cliff Dorfman’s script.
Is the decision to bring Hardy on a risk? Will it be a brilliant stroke of genius? Sound off below!
