Mark Wahlberg has been offered the lead role in Stephen Norrington’s remake of the comic book adaptation The Crow, Bloody Disgusting is reporting. Norrington has been developing the remake for a while, in conjunction with screenwriter Nick Cave. With this news it is beginning to look like the project is moving towards actual production.
Based on the graphic novel by Mike O’Barr, about a man who is mysteriously resurrected after he and his fiance are murdered to seek revenge on the hoodlums who did the deed. It was previously adapted to the big screen in 1994 by Alex Proyas, though I think the film wound up being overshadowed by the tragedy of its star Brandon Lee’s accidental on-set death during its making.
While I like usually Wahlberg as an actor, I think he’s a bit beefcake for the role. Both the original comic and Proyas’s adaptation portrayed the character as thin but muscular. I think Wahlberg has too much bulk on him. Also, part of the tragedy of the murder of Eric Draven is that he is a young man, just at the start of adult life with the woman he loves. Honestly, and I say this as someone who is just two years older than him, I think Wahlberg, who will turn 40 next year, is just too old for the role.
