Original ‘The Crow’ Director Alex Proyas Says Film Should Remain Brandon Lee’s ‘Legacy’ Instead of Being Remade

Original “The Crow” filmmaker Alex Proyas is voicing his feelings about the cult film’s long-gestating remake, helmed by Rupert Sanders. Proyas directed the 1994 original film based on the graphic novel about a man who returns from the dead to take revenge on the person who murdered him and his fiancée.

Twenty-eight year old actor Brandon Lee, the son of martial artist Bruce Lee, was killed on set during the final days of production when a prop gun fired during the making of Proyas’ film. Now, after various attempts at remakes over the past 30 years, “The Crow” is being rebooted with Bill Skarsgård playing the role of Eric Draven, as originated by Lee.

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Proyas took to Facebook to share his reaction to the trailer for the upcoming Lionsgate feature, set for a June 7 release. (You can also see his posts below.)

“I really don’t get any joy from seeing negativity about any fellow filmmakers work. And I’m certain the cast and crew really had all good intentions, as we all do on any film,” Proyas wrote, citing the viral “dislikes” the trailer received on YouTube. “So it pains me to say any more on this topic, but I think the fan’s response speaks volumes.”

Proyas continued, “‘The Crow’ is not just a movie. Brandon Lee died making it, and it was finished as a testament to his lost brilliance and tragic loss. It is his legacy. That’s how it should remain.”

Proyas previously expressed his disdain for the concept of rebooting “The Crow,” writing in 2017 via Facebook that any remake “seems wrong to me” after Lee “gave life to [character Eric Draven] at too high a cost.”

Proyas also shared a dig at Sanders’ “The Crow” in another Facebook post after first look images were shared. “Eric Draven’s having a bad hair day,” Proyas captioned a photo of “It” actor Skarsgård in the role. “Next reboot thanks.”

Director Sanders told Vanity Fair that the aesthetic choices for his iteration of “The Crow” were in service to a ’90s British look mixed with Post Malone and Lil Peep. “I hope people who are 19 today look at him and go, ‘That guy is us,'” Sanders said, adding that the reimagining was rooted in the original film’s legacy, particularly in regards to late star Lee. “His soul is very much alive in this film. There’s a real fragility and beauty to his version of the Crow, and I think Bill feels like he is a successor to that.”

IndieWire has reached out to Proyas and Sanders for additional comment.

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