’28 Weeks Later’ Director Could Helm ‘The Crow’ Reboot

Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (28 Weeks Later) is reportedly in talks to helm Relativity Media’s reboot of ‘The Crow’ franchise.

It’s been several months since Stephen Norrington quit Relativity Media’s in-development reboot of The Crow, and the pic has yet to snag another director to fill his place. Now there’s potentially a new man to handle the job, in the form of 28 Weeks Later director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo.

Fresnadillo is currently completing post-production duties on his new horror-thriller Intruders and has already met with Relativity executives to discuss the possibility of him bringing the gothic vigilante Eric Draven back to the big screen for a new generation.

Although Mark Wahlberg implied that his not being involved with The Crow reboot was essentially a done deal, BD Horror News says that their insiders are still emphasizing his having been “offered the lead” in the movie. Wahlberg recently indicated that he’s a lock to star in Uncharted in the near future, so this could mean that Relativity simply doesn’t have another high-profile actor in mind yet. That will undoubtedly change sooner than later, but for now the lead role is apparently up for grabs.

 

Fresnadillo has directed a couple of shorts and the dramatic thriller Intact prior to his helming 28 Weeks Later, but it was the sequel to Danny Boyle’s sci-fi/pseudo-zombie thriller, 28 Days Later, that really put the former’s name on the map. While most fans don’t rank 28 Weeks above 28 Days, it is one of the better-received horror sequels out there – enough so as to keep hopes for 28 Months Later alive and thriving.

James O’ Barr’s comic book, The Crow was published in 1989 and eventually inspired a cinematic adaptation by director Alex Proyas in 1994. Despite star Brandon Lee’s accidental death due to a malfunctioning prop gun during the filming process, Proyas’ movie went on to become a critical and commercial success, and spawned a strong cult following that resulted in the development of three sequels and a spin-off television series.

Norrington reportedly wanted to take a grittier approach to this tale of a man killed and resurrected as a vengeance-seeking warrior, but claims to have clashed with an actor cast in the film (not Wahlberg, it seems) over Nick Cave’s rewrite of the script. Regardless of whether it’s Fresnadillo or another director who eventually signs on as Norrington’s replacement, look for them to also favor a grittier take on the material – if only because “gritty” has seemingly become the rage for all upcoming comic book movie reboots.

Would you like to see Fresnadillo helm The Crow?

Source: BD Horror News