Bill Skarsgard’s Anticipated Cult Classic Remake Finally Sets Release Date

By April Ryder | Published

Brandon Lee in The Crow

The long-awaited remake of cult classic The Crow looks like it’s finally making some real progress towards release. Deadline reports that Lionsgate has made an eight-figure deal purchasing the rights to the film, which is scheduled for release sometime in 2024, and Bill Skarsgard is set to play the lead character Eric Draven. 

After years of delays, The Crow reboot featuring Bill Skarsgard is moving forward, and it’ll be out next year.

Production of The Crow franchise has historically been riddled with hurdles and hardships, and the most recent remake is no exception. The production of the film began more than a decade ago, in 2008. Since then, the writers, the producers, and nearly every acting role has been cycled through with various talents in the industry. 

Over the last decade, more than a handful of actors have been cast as the lead character, Eric Draven, with production finally settling on Bill Skarsgard as the lead. Everyone from the likes of Mark Wahlberg, Bradley Cooper, James McAvoy, Jack Huston, Jason Mamoa, and even Bill’s own brother Alexander Skarsgard have come and gone along the way. 

If trouble finding the leading guy wasn’t bad enough, two producers have since passed away, the original writer Steven Norrington, backed out of the project, and the Hollywood writer/actor strikes have halted production of the film. 

stephen king it prequel
Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise in IT

Ultimately, writers Zach Baylin (Gran Turismo) and Will Schneider (Ageusia) settled into the crafting of the new remake. Victor Hadida, Molly Hassell, John Jencks, Samuel Hadida (who has since passed away), and Edward R. Pressman (who has also passed away) have all worked to produce The Crow reboot. 

The Crow has been a seemingly cursed franchise, ever since original star Brandon Lee was killed on set in an accident.

Hopeful that the new deal with Lionsgate is proof of a break in the “Crow Curse,” die-hard fans might finally get a chance to take a breath next year. Filming of Bill Skarsgard in The Crow remake finally began last year in Prague. 

Cast opposite of Bill Skarsgard, singer/songwriter FKA Twigs is set to play the role of Shelley Webster who is Eric Draven’s fiance in the movie. The two will have big shoes to fill, and the pressure certainly has not gone unnoticed by those who have been formerly cast in the roles. 

Originally a 1980s comic by James O’Barr, the 1994 version of The Crow made an unforgettable impact on moviegoers. Starring the son of the great Bruce Lee, Brandon Lee brought an undeniable gothic glow to the role. 

Filming of Bill Skarsgard in The Crow remake finally began last year in Prague. 

Unfortunately, Lee met an untimely death when a prop gun fired an unexpected live round during filming. Whether it was the chaos of the incident or the pure talent shown by Brandon Lee during filming, The Crow (1994) sparked a cult following that will be difficult to recreate. Let’s hope the newcomers are up for the task. 

In the meantime, get your popcorn ready and watch for updates on the production and release of the new movie. If we’re lucky, Bill Skarsgard’s reinvention of The Crow will rival past attempts, and we’ll all be in for an unforgettable treat. Look for the movie to hit the big screen sometime next year (2024).