Actor Jason Momoa and director Corin Hardy are leaving the troubled The Crow film remake over creative and financial differences with the film’s financier, Samuel Hadida. The news broke on Thursday morning via Deadline. A release date had already been scheduled and production was to start in 5 to 6 weeks.
According to the exclusive story from Deadline:
EXCLUSIVE: The Crow has seen its wings clipped yet again. Sources tell me Jason Momoa and director Corin Hardy formally withdrew from the film this morning. This after Sony was close to exiting as the film’s worldwide distributor. I’m told this has to do with creative and financial differences with Samuel Hadida, whose Davis Films holds underlying rights and who was financing the film. Production was gearing up to start within the next five weeks in Budapest, and the picture was in full pre-production with Hardy presiding.
You can read the entire article HERE.
A few hours later on his Instagram account, Jason Momoa responded to the news with a statement of his own and shared some concept art in a photo with him and director Corin Hardy.
Jason Momoa’s statement (loosely edited for style): “I’ve waited 8 years to play this dream role. I love you Corin Hardy and Sony Pictures. Unfortunately, I may have to wait 8 more. Not our team. But I swear I will. James O’Barr sorry to let you down. I won’t on the next. This film needs to be set free. And to the fans, sorry. I can’t play anything but what this film deserves and it needs love. I”m ready when it’s right.”
Jason’s involvement in The Crow remake has been a somewhat controversial topic amongst his fans. Some have expressed their desire for the Brandon Lee version to be the only version while others have looked forward to what he could bring to the role. It remains to be seen if this, dare we say “cursed” production ever actually happens.
UPDATE: Director Corin Hardy has weighed in on his Instagram account today with a statement of his own and another photo of Jason Momoa in Crow makeup.
His statement:
“I knew from the off, that the idea of making a new version of The Crow was never going to be for everyone, because it is a beloved film. And I say that as someone in love with it myself. But I poured everything I had into the last 3.5 years of work, to try & create something which honoured what the Crow stood for; from James O’Barr’s affecting graphic novel, to Alex Proyas’s original movie, with great respect to Brandon Lee and with the desire to make something bold and new, that myself, as an obsessive fan, could be proud of. And with Jason Momoa, and my amazing team of artists & film-makers, we came SO close. But sometimes, when you love something so much, you have to make hard decisions. And yesterday, deciding it was time to let go of this dark & emotional dream project, was the hardest decision of all.
Buildings burn, people die, but real love is forever.”
In the meantime, you can read our post with a timeline of how Jason and Corin got to the point where they were going to do The Crow movie or check out our filmography page. A few of our artists on the artist profile pages have done artwork of Jason Momoa as The Crow AKA Eric Draven.
Stay tuned to Jason Momoa News for updates as we get them!