THE CROW Relaunch Is Now Looking For The New Draven

Last thing we heard about THE CROW reboot is that Director Stephen Norrington’s current draft of THE CROW reboot has been “very well received” by Relativity Media and that the project is moving forward and attention will now turn to casting the film and the movie is expected to open in 2011.  Stephen Norrington (Blade) intends to re-invent THE CROW, this new take will still be loyal to the graphic novel by James O Barr so unlike Alex Proyas‘ dark, gloomy, gothic adaptation back in 1994 starring the late Brandon Lee who tragically lost his life during production, Norrington’s version will be more realistic, hard-edged and mysterious, almost documentary-style. io9 had a brief chat with producer Ryan Kavanaugh (Zombieland, Death Race) who revealed that the script is indeed finish, he’s comparing it to Batman Begins and they are looking for actors and whoever they’ll chose will be a familiar name…

The script is great. We’re very excited about it. The Crow is definitely going to happen, we’re just getting all the pieces together right now. It’s not officially greenlit, but it’s going to happen… I think in a couple months we could have the package together for sure.
It’s really a whole relaunch of the franchise, much more of a dark superhero type.
It’s not a remake it’s literally a relaunch of the franchise.

He really likes that word ‘Relaunch’ to mention it frequently but what does he really mean by that?

we’re sticking to the flavor of it. We’re just relaunching it and making it with a much more present day character, someone more relatable to everybody.
He’ll have makeup, but it will be different. The best way to compare it is the first Batman and Batman Begins. In terms of their look and feel and character.

Yeah, we know, everybody in Hollywood wants to reboot something from the past and make it as successful as Nolan’s Batman Begins. If I had a penny for every time I hear this desire, I’d be sitting in my Malibu beach house by now.
But who’s going to play the new… oh excuse me.. the.. relaunched.. Draven?

It will be an actor you’ve heard of, yes. We’re not ruling anything out. We’re looking at both, with the very well known and the “very talented but they may not be quite there yet.”

I’ve said before that I think actor Cillian Murphy (Red Eye, Batman Begins, 28 Days Later) would be perfect for this role because we have yet to see the potential that this thesp could unleash but after watching the awesome Ninja Assassin last night, believe it or not, I’m beginning to think Korean superstar Rain could pull this off as well. Who do you think should get the job?

Here’s the official synopsis of the graphic novel THE CROW which was first published in 1989
“The story revolves around an unfortunate young man named Eric Draven. He and his fiancée, Shelly, are assaulted by a gang of street thugs after their car breaks down. Eric is shot in the head and is paralyzed, and can only watch as Shelly is savagely beaten and raped until she dies at the scene. Eric survives and is taken to a hospital, but while surgeons are trying to save him, the Crow comes to him and convinces him he needs to let go of his life. Only by dying can the Crow help him exact his revenge. One year later, Eric is resurrected by the Crow to seek out vengeance on the murderers, methodically stalking and killing them. When not on the hunt, Eric stays in the house he shared with Shelly, spending most of his time there lost in memories of Shelly; her absence is torture for him, and he stays in hideous emotional pain, even engaging in self-mutilation. However, this provides him little release; any injury he suffers (save those that are self-inflicted) heals rapidly, leaving him scarred but intact. The Crow acts as both guide and goad for Eric, giving him information that helps him in his quest but also chastising him for dwelling on Shelly’s death, seeing his pining as useless self-indulgence that distracts him from his purpose.”