A (slightly late) Christmas Present from James

James has been going through some old artwork since the move and just found this. We thought the CrowFan community would like to see it. But before I show you, I should introduce this piece.

Shortly after the success of the first Crow movie, the production company asked James to do a treatment for a Crow sequel. They wanted to continue the story of Eric Draven, but James knew that no actor could follow Brandon. James wanted to do a different character, and he wrote up a treatment and presented the production company with artwork of his new Crow character. The story: a bride is killed on her wedding day, but comes back to avenge her love and herself. (Sound familiar?) The production company said that a female lead in a story like that would never work, and they rejected it. They instead created the movie you know as Crow: City of Angels.

So now you know how much control James (DOES NOT) have over the creation of Crow sequels. You can stop asking about movie sequels now. Or you can ask the people that control it, anyway... here or here.

In completely unrelated news, about ten years later the same production company released Kill Bill.

Anyway, I thought the CrowFan community would like a look at what could have been... what SHOULD have been. Hope you enjoyed it! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

~Michael
the Crow's little helper

Comments

[Laura]

O.o I am, as the English would say, gobsmacked right now.

First off, this piece is gorgeous. Secondly, I'm a little pissed now. I would have much rather seen the sequel of The Crow be this than what we got. >.<

As far as Kill Bill is concerned, isn't it interesting how the boys in Hollywood get these "inspirations" for movies?

[billy-joe]

im glad that hollywood decided not to continue the story of eric draven.
brandon lee was perfect in that role.
for someone else to follow in brandon's footsteps in the role of the character that he seemed born to play,it would have been career suicide.
im still looking forward to when we can see a female crow up on the big screen personally.

[David J]

I would LOVE to have seen this get the green light! This is one of the best pieces I've seen from James. Proof that holly'wierd' is full of self important idiots!

-David J

[JackieH]

Amazing. I'd really like to see this turned into a story. I bet she'd wipe the floor with Beatrix Kiddo. ;)

[C.]

I'm sorry for the stupidity that you have to deal with about something like the "Bride" idea. Are those people freaking crazy???
If approached in the Same manner, and with the same charisma that Brandon brought to the role... there's no way that A Female lead... kicking ass (especially in tight leather... or rubber clothing) would not make a fortune.
Damn... I'ld go just for the Fetish effect. And I'm still a fan of the original trilogy.
I think that they messed up big time.

[Oliver]

I love the eyes of The Bride. They seem so beautiful.

[Cindy]

Gorgeous, like all of James' art. He is & always will be my favorite artist & author. I would have loved his version of a Crow sequel ;) Why don't the studio heads trust the artist/author to get it right? ridiculous!

[Darieum]

Great piece... would love to see more. Best wishes for a great 2009 to the 3 of you and your loved ones.
D.

[Abbie Herod]

Oh wow...so Crowbill was supposed to be a flop, and City of Angels was some kind of raging success with its male lead? Studios are brilliant, just brilliant.

[punisherrowe2]

I really think that they should do a version of clash by night. Because it is one of the most powerful and sad crow adaptions ever created. And how much would that hook us fans in to see something that powerful an sad. It would be the most emotional out of all of the films because of the overall story it tells. And it has a female lead so it is different in terms of all the movies.:)