Sony Fires Up “The Crow Reborn” as Tom Rothman Lands Another Potential Comic Book Franchise (Exclusive)

Miramax

In what would be a major coup for Sony Pictures, multiple sources have told the Tracking Board that the studio has signed on to distribute THE CROW REBORN worldwide.

While it’s a bit unclear whether Jason Momoa and Corin Hardy remain attached to respectively star in and direct the film, insiders suggest both men are still part of the studio’s plan, as both are on the rise. Next year, Momoa has Aquaman coming out, while Hardy has The Conjuring spinoff The Nun.

The Crow Reborn will be a reboot of the cult classic franchise as well as a more faithful adaptation of the original graphic novel written by James O’Barr.

Samuel Hadida’s Davis Films, Highland Film Group and Electric Shadow previously acquired the rights to finance, produce and distribute the film.

Edward R. Pressman, who produced the original 1994 film starring Brandon Lee, will produce The Crow Reborn alongside Hadida and Kevin Misher of Misher Films. Highland Film Group and Electric Shadow are also producing, with HFG handling international sales. The movie was developed by Pressman and Relativity.

Directed by Alex Proyas, the original Crow movie grossed $50 million at the domestic box office, doubling its production budget and launching a four-film franchise, as well as a TV series. The property has endured over the last two decades, and remains enormously popular with fans of comic books and graphic novels — the same audience that has propelled the box office this decade.

The Crow Reborn gives Sony a marquee title that could become a profitable franchise for the studio if the film — which will likely be made (and wisely so) on a modest budget — proves to be a hit. Either way, this acquisition is a feather in Tom Rothman’s cap, and a strong way for Sony executives to start their Labor Day weekend.

The studio already has its own Marvel universe featuring films like Venom and Silver & Black, and it’s in the midst of developing a movie universe based on Valiant Comics and their popular Bloodshot character.

 Jeff Sneider | Editor in Chief