Is **The Crow **following a one in, one out policy? Because just a couple of hours after the news broke that Forest Whitaker is in talks to join the cast of the new Crow film, Variety reveals that leading man Jack Huston has had to leave the film even as pre-production continues.
It’s just another blow for a project that has been a revolving door of scripts, directors and leading men. Luke Evans was attached for a while, but Huston, best known for Boardwalk Empire, American Hustle and Kill Your Darlings, was cast to replace him in March and now has to drop out because of scheduling issues. “Jack Huston is unfortunately unavailable to continue with us on The Crow,” Hardy says in a statement. “The Crow is an amazing project, and I am grateful that we have the time and patience to get it right. We look forward to unveiling our new lead and starting to film over the next several weeks.”
Relativity Studios, which is backing the new film, also seemed upbeat about the departure and the future of the movie itself. “Jack is a remarkably gifted actor, and we look forward to working with him in the future,” the studio said. “Corin Hardy has a tremendous vision for The Crow, and we are working closely with him to continue prepping the movie and supporting him as he brings his vision to the big screen.”
Hardy is working to adapt James O’Barr’s gothic graphic novel, which sees Draven as a musician murdered by criminals before being brought back from the land of the dead by a mysterious, mystical crow to get revenge against those who wronged him and his fiancée. Alex Proyas brought the story to the screen in 1994, but the new film reportedly hews even closer to O’Barr’s story while making some changes such as having Andrea Riseborough play the villainous Top Dollar.
Pre-production is underway in Wales and the studio was hoping to have the movie ready for next year. With luck, Hardy will still be able to keep things on track.
Huston will next be seen in Nicholas Sparks adaptation The Longest Ride, which hits the UK on Friday. He also has **Pride And Prejudice And Zombies **(February 19, 2016) and the new take on **Ben Hur **(March 11, 2016) on the way.