Trigger warning: This article contains gruesome descriptions of murder and violence.
In response to rising gun violence and on-set deaths, including Alex Baldwin’s tragic incident in Rust, The Crow reboot director Rupert Sanders has taken a decisive stance on safety. Sanders, known for his work in Snow White and the Huntsman and Ghost in the Shell, is committed to ensuring the safety of his cast and crew by banning real guns from the reboot’s set.
Sanders, 53, addressed the risks of working in an “industrial environment” in an exclusive interview. He stressed the importance of safety following the tragic events of the original The Crow film in 1994. “I explicitly said, ‘We will have no firing weapons on set,’ meaning we did not have a single gun that could ever have a live round or a blank round near it, so that no projectile could go inside,” Sanders told Variety.
The fifth installment of The Crow franchise revisits the dark history of the original 1994 film directed by Alex Proyas. The tragedy occurred during an action scene in which Bruce Lee’s son and The Crow’s star Brandon Lee was accidentally shot and killed due to a gun malfunction. The incident was witnessed by 75 to 100 crew members, who realized the severity of the incident when Lee did not wake up. He was just 28 years old at the time.
Sanders also highlighted the wider dangers of film sets, including the risks posed by fast-moving cars, high-wire stunts, and complex setups involving rain machines and high-powered lighting at night. “It’s dangerous. You have to be safe,” Sanders stressed, underlining the need for rigorous safety measures to prevent accidents and ensure the well-being of everyone involved.
However, the director did not compromise on the quality and believability of the action scenes. Instead of using real firearms, Sanders used airsoft guns and other alternatives, such as rubber or metal decoys that lacked firing mechanisms, to protect the actors from life-threatening exposure. Prop guns ranged from wooden or plastic imitations to decommissioned firearms that were no longer viable.
By working closely with an armory and a reliable special effects team – who, according to Sanders, were as careful as the military in handling weapons – the London-based filmmaker upheld his ban on real firearms. Sanders invested heavily in his special effects department to ensure safety during production.
The Crow (2024) is a modern version of the franchise aimed at appealing to the younger generation. It tells the revenge love story of soul mates Eric Draven and Shelly Webster, played by Bill Skarsgård and FKA Twigs. After the murder, Draven is given a second chance to avenge his lover’s death at the hands of the killers.
The Crow premieres in theaters on Friday, August 23, 2024.
Disclaimer: If you need help or know someone who is going through any kind of abuse, please contact your nearest mental health expert, NGO or just talk to someone. There are many helplines available for this.
Also read: Is Alex Baldwin’s co-producer role in the Rust movie being considered in his involuntary manslaughter trial? Find out ahead of opening statements