The planned “reboot,” gritty or otherwise, of The Crow franchise that was first announced in 2008 is apparently a go, with producer Edward Pressman telling MTV that director Stephen Norrington’s screenplay is both finished and “terrific,” and that an offer is currently out to a “major actor” to begin filming later this year. Pressman has overseen all of The Crow’s many diminished returns since the original, Brandon Lee-starring film was first spawned from James O’Barr’s comic-book series and became a touchstone for an entire generation of goth kids, a franchise that includes three sequels—the most recent being 2005’s The Crow: Wicked Prayer, with Edward Furlong as The Crow facing off against David Boreanaz and Tara Reid—and a short-lived TV series.
Pressman is obviously hoping that the latest Crow incarnation will distance itself from those straight-to-video curiosities by way of a complete reinvention, beginning with a change in setting to the “Mexico/Arizona area” that will bookend the usual “urban [setting], Detroit or Pittsburgh or something like that.” Also different is Norrington’s approach to the production design, which diverges from the film’s original look as established by Alex Proyas, and his take on the “Crow mythology”: “"The Crow itself is a creature in this movie—it's not just a bird," Pressman said. "It's got a personality and a character. Not like Godzilla exactly, but it's very different [and has] a more active role in the story." (“Not like Godzilla exactly”? That’s…reassuring.)