Westeins, Relativity settle 'The Crow' lawsuit

The lawsuit between The Weinstein Co. and Relativity over "The Crow" remake has been settled and the companies will work together on the production

The companies released the following statement: "The lawsuit between Relativity Media and The Weinstein Company concerning THE CROW has been amicably settled out of court, and the parties will continue to work on the film together as planned. In addition, Relativity Media has dismissed all of its claims against The Weinstein Company for any wrongdoing regarding the release and distribution of NINE, and The Weinstein Company has dismissed all of its claims against Relativity Media."

The original film hit theaters in 1994.

The Weinstein Co. sued Relativity in April, claiming the company broke an existing contract between the two over the exclusive worldwide distribution rights of the film.

According to the suit, the Weinsteins claim that Relativity owner Ryan Kavanaugh "decided that Relativity would not perform that contract and will purport to sell TWC's distribution rights to others here and overseas in willful breach of the contract."

Relativity in turn rejected the suit and claimed the Weinsteins failed to uphold their distribution agreement for 2009's "Nine," which was partially financed by Relativity.

A remake of the 1994 original, "The Crow" will be a "gritty reboot of the gothic iconic character Eric Draven, who returns from the grave as The Crow on a mission to avenge his wife’s murder, so that his soul can finally rest."

"Watchmen" scribe Alex Tse was pegged to write the screenplay. Actor Bradley Cooper was at one pointed attached to play Draven, but has since pulled out of the project. The role was famously played by Brandon Lee, who was killed by an on-set accident.

Bradley Cooper flying away from 'The Crow'

Relativity Media's remake of "The Crows" has hit another snag with star Bradley Cooper ("Limitless") flying the coop.

Bradley Cooper

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Cooper, who joined the project in June, is leaving due to scheduling conflicts. The actor is instead set to film "Paradise Lost" in early 2012.

The Reporter continued that actors Channing Tatum ("G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra") and Mark Wahlberg ("The Departed") are possible replacements.

Directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo ("28 Weeks Later"), "The Crow" adaptation will be a "gritty reboot of the gothic iconic character Eric Draven, who returns from the grave as The Crow on a mission to avenge his wife’s murder, so that his soul can finally rest."

Screenwriter Alex Tse ("Watchmen") is also attached.

Even before Cooper was confirmed back in June, the project had sparked a back-and-forth round of litigation between Relativity and The Weinstein Company.

Relativity and Edward R. Pressman Film Corporation will be teaming with Spain-based Apaches Entertainment on the production. "The Crow" is being produced by Edward R. Pressman, Jeff Most, Relativity’s CEO Ryan Kavanaugh, and Apaches’ Enrique López Lavigne and Belén Atienza. Relativity’s Tucker Tooley ("The Fighter") and Apaches’ Jesus de la Vega will serve as executive producers. José Ibáñez and Pressman Film Corporation’s Jon Katz will serve as co-producers.

Watchmen scribe to write 'The Crow'; Bradley Cooper confirmed for lead

While Relativity Media's planned remake of "The Crow" has already sparked litigation, the project continues to move forward with screenwriter Alex Tse now being tapped to write the script.

Bradley Cooper

Relativity Media President of Worldwide Production Tucker Tooley and Edward R. Pressman, producer behind the "The Crow" franchise, announced today they have attached Tse ("Watchmen").

Directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo ("28 Weeks Later"), "The Crow" adaptation will be a "gritty reboot of the gothic iconic character Eric Draven, who returns from the grave as The Crow on a mission to avenge his wife’s murder, so that his soul can finally rest."

The pair also announced today that Bradley Cooper ("Limitless"), who had been in talks, is now attached to star as Draven.

"The original film is known for its breakthrough visual style as well as its unique production design and cinematography," the studio said in a release. "Fresnadillo and Tse are perfectly suited to bring these beloved characters back to life, and to create a world worthy of this modern classic."

Relativity and Edward R. Pressman Film Corporation will be teaming with Spain-based Apaches Entertainment on the production. The Crow is being produced by Edward R. Pressman, Jeff Most, Relativity’s CEO Ryan Kavanaugh, and Apaches’ Enrique López Lavigne and Belén Atienza. Relativity’s Tooley (The Fighter) and Apaches’ Jesus de la Vega will serve as executive producers. José Ibáñez and Pressman Film Corporation’s Jon Katz will serve as co-producers.

'The Crow' suit heading to arbitration

The lawsuit between The Weinstein Co. and Relativity over "The Crow" remake is heading to arbitration after the judge in the case ruled the contract between the two companies required it.

Juan Carlos Fresnadillo is set to direct.

The Weinstein Co. sued Relativity in April, claiming the company broke an existing contract between the two over the exclusive worldwide distribution rights of the film.

According to the suit, the Weinsteins claim that Relativity owner Ryan Kavanaugh "decided that Relativity would not perform that contract and will purport to sell TWC's distribution rights to others here and overseas in willful breach of the contract."

Relativity in turn rejected the suit and claimed the Weinsteins failed to uphold their distribution agreement for 2009's "Nine," which was partially financed by Relativity.

The lawyers for both sides have been decidedly vocal and following today's ruling was no different with The Hollywood Reporter quoting both sides.

Weinsteins sue Relativity over 'The Crow,' studio fights back

The original film debuted in 1994.

Apparently I wasn't the only one upset by Relativity Media's plans to remake "The Crow," although not for the same reasons.

The Weinstein Co. sued Relativity Wednesday, claiming the company broke an existing contract between the two over the exclusive worldwide distribution rights of the film.

According to the suit, which The Hollywood Reporter posted online, the Weinsteins claim that Relativity owner Ryan Kavanaugh "decided that Relativity would not perform that contract and will purport to sell TWC's distribution rights to others here and overseas in willful breach of the contract."

Relativity recently announced Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (“28 Weeks Later”) would direct the remake and Bradley Cooper is reportedly in talks to star.

It did not take long for Kavanaugh to respond to the suit, releasing the following statement:

This is yet another typical litigation stunt from the Weinsteins, who have a long history of threatening lawsuits with the sole purpose of intimidation. If served, Relativity will seek immediate dismissal. While we expect these types of antics from the Weinsteins, we are shocked that a lawyer of Mr. Fields' caliber would make such false, reckless and intentionally harmful statements to the press about Relativity and Mr. Kavanaugh. We intend to seek appropriate remedies for this misconduct. Clearly, this is a feeble attempt to create a press stir and a malicious effort to interfere with Relativity's development of the project.  

In addition, Relativity provided The Hollywood Reporter a letter sent by its attorney Carol Genis to The Weinstein Company's lawyer Bert Fields, rejecting the suit and claiming the Weinsteins failed to uphold their distribution agreement for 2009's "Nine," which was partially financed by Relativity.

"It takes gall for your client to make demands upon Relativity about The Crow, which has not even been greenlit, when TWC's failure to properly distribute Nine demonstrated that it will disregard and breach any and all of its distribution, marketing and financial obligations. If any party is entitled to seek legal remedies it is Relativity," the letter states.

"Your client is forewarned and proceeds at its own peril," Genis concludes.

It's not unusual for litigation such as this to spring up, especially on projects that have spent a long time on shelves or have bumped around from studio to studio. Usually both sides bluster and shout, then settle. The particular hostility in Genis' letter seems to put that in doubt, but it is still very early in this case.

Cooper interested in "The Crow" lead

When Relativity Media announced last week they had signed director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (“28 Weeks Later”) to “re-imagine” the 1994 cult hit, “The Crow,” I questioned who would want to step into a role originally portrayed by Brandon Lee, who was killed by an on-set accident during filming.

Well, according to The Hollywood Reporter's Heat Vision, Bradley Cooper is in early talks to take over for Lee in the new version.

The report continues that Cooper recently met with Fresnadillo and the two “hit it off.”

Cooper would play Eric Draven, who’s resurrected as The Crow to avenge his wife’s murder so he can reunite with her in the hereafter, as first envisioned by graphic novelist James O’Barr.

“The original 'Crow' was groundbreaking cinema; its gothic visual and musical ideas influenced a generation and cinema itself,” said Producer Edward R. Pressman, who has worked on the entire franchise.

Last week I questioned the need for remaking a “groundbreaking” film, and those questions remain. Still, I have to admit Cooper is an interesting choice for Draven. The actor impressed me considerably for his work in “Limitless,” where he showed ability as both a polished, smooth-talking genius and as a withdrawal-suffering wreck.

The news of Cooper's interest comes only a week after Fresnadillo was named director, so things seems to be moving a pretty fast pace for the remake.

More news as it becomes available.

Juan Carlos Fresnadillo will direct 'The Crow' reboot

Hollywood keeps remaking and rebooting films so often it would take a blog devoted entirely to the subject to have a chance of staying abreast of it all.

Still, sometimes you just have to take a moment and say...really?

Such is the case of Relativity Media's announcement yesterday that they have signed director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (“28 Weeks Later”) to “re-imagine” the 1994 cult hit, “The Crow.”

According to Relativity, Fresnadillo will collaboratively develop the script once a writer is attached to adapt the screenplay. Casting has not yet been announced.

The Crow adaptation will be a reboot of the iconic cult character Eric Draven, who’s resurrected as The Crow to avenge his wife’s murder so he can reunite with her in the hereafter, as first envisioned by graphic novelist James O’Barr, the studio said.

“Juan Carlos Fresnadillo is an incredibly talented and imaginative filmmaker,” Relativity Media’s president of worldwide production Tucker Tooley said. “We are thrilled to have him at the helm and are excited to work with both Pressman and Apaches on what we all believe will be a compelling and innovative reimagining of 'The Crow.'”

“The original 'Crow' was groundbreaking cinema; its gothic visual and musical ideas influenced a generation and cinema itself,” said Producer Edward R. Pressman, who has worked on the entire franchise. “With Juan Carlos, we have every confidence that his new 'Crow' will have a similar impact on the contemporary audience.”

Here's a thought. When a film's “visual and musical ideas influenced a generation and cinema itself,” doesn't it deserve to stand on its own and be remade 17 years later? Of course there have been sequels, but fans have had the luxury to simply ignore them, and as far as I can tell, most have.

(This doesn't get into the fact that Brandon Lee was killed on set while filming the original “Crow” by a gun mishap. Good luck to the guy who has to step into those shoes.)

Ignoring the inherit absurdity of remaking “The Crow,” is there really a market for a reboot? The original film made around $50 million at the box office. The first sequel, “City of Angels” (1996) made far less--$17.9 million. The next two--“Salvation” (2000) and “Wicked Prayer” (2005)--didn't even make it to theaters and instead went direct to video. Each of the sequels was met with progressively worse receptions.

The original comic was published in 1989 and no new material has come out since 1999. The only seemingly existing fan-base is those of the first film, who will most likely greet this latest news on the same level as blasphemy.

I guess we've just reached a point where Hollywood thinks a “groundbreaking” film is simply one that needs to be done again.