‘Thought It Was a Cash Grab. Turns Out, There Wasn’t Much Cash’

Lionsgate’s reboot of “The Crow” has proven to be a major box office disappointment, opening to just $4.6 million against a reported budget of $50 million. One person who isn’t lamenting its failure is Alex Proyas, the director of the original 1994 “The Crow.” Proyas has been vocal against the reboot, particularly since Brandon Lee, the star of his original film, tragically died on set. Proyas has been expressing his satisfaction over the reboot’s flop on his Facebook page.

Proyas took to social media, labeling the remake as a “cynical cash-grab” and pointed out its failure at the box office, saying, “Not much cash to grab it seems.”

The director didn’t stop there. He shared negative reviews of the reboot, including one that called it “the worst movie of the year.” Proyas added, “The review we’ve all been waiting for. It’s a bit like flogging a dead horse now so I think I’ll stop after this…until another funny one comes along.”

Proyas has been a critic of the reboot since its trailer was released in March. He argued that “The Crow’s” legacy should be preserved with Brandon Lee and not be tarnished by a modern update. The reboot stars Bill Skarsgard, known for his roles in “It” and “John Wick 4.”

In March, Proyas expressed his discomfort about criticizing the reboot. “I really don’t get any joy from seeing negativity about any fellow filmmaker’s work,” he wrote on social media, acknowledging the negative feedback on the reboot’s trailer. “And I’m certain the cast and crew really had all good intentions, as we all do on any film. So it pains me to say any more on this topic, but I think the fan’s response speaks volumes. ‘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.”

William Schneider, the co-screenwriter for the reboot, defended the new film. In an interview, he explained that the team intentionally chose not to follow Proyas’s storyline. “We felt like that did a disservice to the film,” he said.

Schneider added, “Instead, we wanted to chart our own course almost as a way to sort of celebrate it and say, ‘Hey, we found a new way into the story, and we want them both to exist with their own voices, with their own set of fans.’”

He continued, “I hope everyone walks away from this film just reinvested in the people they love and care about. Because yes, it’s about grief, it’s about loss, but it’s also about sacrifice and what you’re willing to do for the person you love.”

“The Crow” is playing in theaters nationwide.

Source: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter