Bill Skarsgård barely looks recognizable in the first images for the upcoming film The Crow taken from an exclusive at Vanity Fair. With almost zero body fat and his skin full of tattoos, the actor embodies his character, a rock musician named Eric who is stuck in limbo, playing a supernatural vigilante.
It must be hard for everyone involved to reboot a movie when you know the original is steeped in tragedy. In 1994 Brandon Lee took on the titular role, but a lethal prop firearm mishap took his life.
That tragedy divided fans when the reboot was announced. Some thought it in poor taste to reboot a film known for having ended the life of Brandon Lee. Others thought it was okay since The Crow’s source material is adapted from a comic book that existed five years prior to Lee’s death.
Alex Proyas, the director of the first film has come out strongly against a reboot of any kind, saying even though the character was adapted from a comic book, it is Lee’s legacy and therefore shouldn’t be touched.
Despite the controversy, Skarsgård is in a predicament because if he portrays Eric like Lee did it might be seen as disrespectful, if he doesn’t it could read as apathetic. Still, the actor is multi-faceted and with his skills, he just might make it work.