The director of The Crow reveals a big change from previous versions

Lionsgate's new take on The Crow hits theaters this weekend, presenting a new adaptation of the original comic by James O'Barr. The new film will feature some notable differences from the original story and the 1994 film starring Brandon Lee.

According to film updates, The Crow Director Rupert Sanders commented on what makes the new version of the story unique. The filmmaker noted that there's no point in reinventing a story unless there are some changes that make the new version stand on its own. One big example he revealed is that FKA twigs' Shelly, the lover of Bill Skarsgard's Eric, plays a much bigger role in the story. As the director explained, much more time is spent exploring Shelly and Eric's relationship before the tragedy that kills them both. Sanders also said that this makes Eric's revenge feel “more poignant” in the new film.

Bill Skarsgard as Eric in the advertising poster “The Crow”

In Bill Skarsgard's film “The Crow,” real weapons were banned on set

In the new version of “The Crow” with Bill Skarsgard, no real weapons were allowed to be used as props.

“Every adaptation must be a new creation. You can’t just copy it word for word. Otherwise, what's the point?” Sanders said. “I wanted to see [Shelly and Eric] fall in love. I wanted to be with them, exist with them and fall in love with them… He cries in the middle of action sequences. He's not bloodthirsty. He's not a nihilistic killer. He's doing it to get her back. He hates what he has to do and what's becoming of him.”

The audience of the first test screenings wanted an earlier transition for The Crow

Sanders also shared that the first audience members shown the film had some suggestions to have Eric transform into the vengeful Avenger earlier in the film than he did. Despite this, the director stayed true to his vision and insisted on leaving the film's opening scenes, which show the two falling in love, as they were. For those disappointed by the late change, Sanders hinted that a potential sequel could pick up with Skarsgard in his new identity right from the start.

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“When we first showed the film, people said, 'I wanted him to be The Crow in the second minute,' and then they said, 'No,'” Sanders said.I had to fight hard for this beginning of the film because I would have preferred more of that and then just shown him becoming The Crow in the last few minutes and then gone into the next adventure with him as The Crow. But I think we are also different from the original because there is a beautiful love story between the two.and when he goes on this journey, which is exhausting for him; nobody wants to kill anyone. In the comic, he's just avenging her flashback.”