Brandon Lee’s The Crow is considered a cult classic today, but the film was plagued with massive problems starting with the tragic death of the lead star in the middle of filming. Lee’s unfortunate demise was caused by an accidental firing of a gun which had a routine dummy bullet that unfortunately ended up killing him.
This horrific incident ultimately led to a domino effect of troubles which included finding a replacement for the lead actor to complete the film. This disaster on set prompted Hollywood director Chad Stahelski to take major precautions while handling firearms in his blockbuster film John Wick. The former stuntman also exposed the uncomfortable truth behind the use of guns in the industry.
How Brandon Lee‘s Death Influenced Chad Stahelski
While any form of death is tragic, the worst kinds are the ones that could have easily been avoided. Brandon Lee’s demise on the sets of his film The Crow was something that completely shook Hollywood for the manner in which it happened.
Lee who was shooting for a scene in the film, was horrifically killed by the accidental shooting of a gun on set. According to a report in Far Out Magazine, the production team did not use dummy cartridges which was usually the norm, owing to budgetary constraints.
The gun which was loaded to send out blank rounds, ended up having serious consequences when it was fired into Lee’s stomach by an unsuspecting props assistant who was doing a safety check of the gun.
This disaster was a huge wake-up call for Hollywood regarding safety protocols for actors and members of the crew. John Wick director Chad Stahelski revealed that Lee’s death influenced the way he used firearms, especially since his film had mutiple shooting scenes.
Stahelski rued the fact that The Crow actor lost his life owing to an error that should have never been allowed to happen. In the process, the director pointed out some uncomfortable realities of using real firearms instead of dummy cartridges which would have saved Lee’s life. In a candid interview with Yahoo, he said,
“It comes down to the fact that it would cost certain people a great deal of money to switch over. No one wants to say that, but that’s the real reason. You don’t need firearms. The alternative is just going to cost you more money.”
The filmmaker stated that through all the John Wick films which were prominently characterized by gun fights, he adopted the ‘safety over budget’ policy and ensured that there would not be an inkling of risk or danger involved in filming these scenes.
Bill Skarsgård’s The Crow Reboot Is Different From Brandon Lee’s Film In One Aspect
The Crow based on the graphic novel of the same name by David O’Barr, got its cinematic adaptation in 1994 starring Brandon Lee in what turned out to be the actor’s final film before his tragic death.
This supernatural action thriller follows a musician who is brought back from the dead to take revenge on the killers who murdered him and his fiancée. Three decades later, the film will get a reboot starring Bill Skarsgård as the central protagonist in a script written by Oscar nominee Zach Baylin and directed by Rupert Sanders.
In the Hot Mic Podcast, Hollywood insider Jeff Sneider revealed a potential change in the character arc of the villain played by Danny Huston that is a significant departure from the 1994 film. The blogger felt that this could be a defining factor in the film’s success or failure.
“There is a supernatural element. I’m told that the villain has supernatural abilities. That has me nervous. I think Bill Skarsgård could make a good Crow, so Im trying to remain optimistic about it.”
Lionsgate Films which is distributing the movie, believed that the reboot will do everything to honor the legacy of the 1994 original and its central protagonist. In a statement that appeared in Deadline, the company’s EVP Acquisitions and Co-Productions Charlotte Koh said,
“We appreciate what the Crow character and original movie mean to legions of fans and believe this new film will offer audiences an authentic and visceral reinterpretation of its emotional power and mythology.”
Koh also went on to add that Lionsgate Films had full faith in director Rupert Sanders and his unique vision for The Crow while keeping the ethos of the film intact.
The Crow (1994) can be streamed on Amazon Prime.
