Just as Mark Whalberg looks to be taking wing with the new CROW movie, it looks like Stephen Norrington will be leaving the nest. Comics2Film has reported that the writer/director is leaving the project essentially due to creative differences with an actor, but it doesn't look like the two incidents above are related.
In his words…
"I can tell you I'm no longer involved with The Crow… As I had gotten involved explicitly as a writer-director my exit was inevitable. I was bummed. I had developed a genuinely authentic take that respected the source material while moving beyond it… I think the fans would have been pleasantly surprised."
Apparently it came down to the unnamed actor enjoying Norrington’s directorial vision, but disagreeing with the script he’d worked out. It sounds like Whalberg’s casting interest happened after this.
Norrington’s going off to do a couple other projects: THE LOST PATROL and an “indie animation/live action project.” I can’t help but see this being a bit timely (although not nearly as coincidentally as a soul-resurrecting crow just happening to be around for your wrongful death) because Wesley Snipes is also talking about doing another BLADE movie. You’ll recall that Norrington directed the first one - - maybe this is just the right window for a re-upped collaboration between the two? == TEASER ==
In regard to Whalberg’s potential casting, Norrington approves of the choice. He said…
"I will say I think Wahlberg could be cool if they take a gritty blue-collar approach… He's a truthful actor. I think he could really ground the supernatural stuff."
I honestly can’t picture Mark covering his face with black-and-white Halloween make-up for some alt. rock soundtracked gothic revenge. Then again, he’s more or less been in a CROW movie already with MAX PAYNE. I think you maniacs will agree that the two pecked from the same bird house of supernatural resurrections, beyond-the-grave revenge and comic-stylied urban jungles.
Tom Pinchuk’s the writer of HYBRID BASTARDS! & UNIMAGINABLE . Order them on Amazon here & here .