“The Crow” First Look: Bill Skarsgård and FKA Twigs Stun in 1994 Remake

Photo credit: Lionsgate

Written by: Stephanie Wong

Three decades after its cinematic debut, gothic fantasy film The Crow returns with a fresh, reimagined cast to transport audiences back into its haunting world of vengeance.

Lionsgate released the first photos of the 1994 remake on Wednesday, revealing Swedish actor Bill Skarsgård, 33, covered in menacing tattoos and black eye makeup as he embodies the titular role of rock musician Eric Draven.

The photos also feature Skarsgård with British singer FKA Twigs, 36, who plays Draven’s fiancée Shelley Webster.

Based on author James O’Barr’s 1989 graphic novel, the film follows a vengeful Draven who rises from the afterlife to seek justice for the brutal killings of himself and Webster on Halloween night.

Director Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman) told Vanity Fair the remake offered him a chance to create a dark romance dealing with grief, loss and the blurred lines between life and death.

He says his retelling of the cult classic will focus on a balanced mix of dark and light themes, with a more fleshed-out plot for Draven and Webster’s relationship.

“I never did any tests between Bill and Twigs,” he says, “I had them for dinner when they first arrived [on set] in Prague and I was a bit like a nervous parent looking to see if there were any sparks because you don’t know. And they were great. They hung out and were straight into it.”

The Crow also features Danny Huston, Laura Birn, Isabella Wei, Sami Bouajila and Jordan Bolger.

While the latest adaptation of The Crow deviates from its predecessor, Sanders says he views it as a homage to the late Brandon Lee, who portrayed Draven in the original film.

Lee tragically lost his life in an accidental shooting after a firearm stunt went wrong, three days before he was slated to wrap filming.

“Obviously, it was a terrible tragedy, and it’s definitely something that we’ve always had in mind through the making of the film,” Sanders told Vanity Fair. “Brandon was an original voice and I think he will always be synonymous with The Crow and I hope he’s proud of what we’ve done and how we’ve brought the story back again.”

“His soul is very much alive in this film.”

The Crow is set to release in theaters on June 7, 2024.