When someones dead, they cant come back, can they?
Its a pretty straightforward line of dialogue.
But when it was spoken near the end ofThe Crow, audiences silently shivered.
Brandon Lee in ‘The Crow.‘Miramax/Everett Collection
But that question ended up having a more poignant dimension than the filmmakers had never intended.
Eric was played by Brandon Lee, a rising star who died during an on-set accident.
No one who watched this adaptation of James OBarrscomicscould ignore the terrible real-world parallels to its fictional scenario.
Cruelly, life isnt like the movies.
A former Marine dreaming of a career in comics, he unraveled in the face of unimaginable loss.
Out of desperation, he channeled his sorrow into art.
It was really difficult to work on.
It was painful to go back to that.
I never really thought about selling it.
It was more for myself.
OBarr tried to shop the idea, but he got few offers.
I sent it out to virtually every publisher that was out there, he recalled in that 2000 interview.
No one was interested in it.
Either they all said it was too violent or not violent enough.
Its too depressing, its too moody.
So I put it on the shelf and thought it would be a personal project.
Eventually, though,The Crowwas published in 1989, becoming such a success that Hollywood came calling.
It took a while, though, to get the pieces together.
One early idea was to adaptThe Crowinto a Michael Jackson musical.
Brandon was only eight when the martial-arts master died at the age of 32 from a cerebral edema.
Yes, of course I would, in any field, Brandononce said.
But does it mean I want to imitate him, in any way, shape or form?
No, because imitation, its pale.
… And besides which, were just different people.
On March 19th, 1993, shortly before his death, Lee spoke aboutThe Crows deeper themes.
This is [where] this character is coming from.
[He realizes] how precious each moment of his life is.
No doubt his own fathers passing affected his mindset.
But Lee had no idea his own death was so imminent.
Mr. Lee collapsed and after hours of surgery, died in a hospital.
He was only 28,buried alongside his father.
When Brandon died I had a very, very hard time, headmittedaround the time of the films release.
The feelings of guilt and responsibility were enormous.
Brandon was killed filming the scene in which Eric is killed.
In the film and book, this occurs on the eve of Erics wedding.
… People were saying that it was destined to be that it was fate.
2 in its opening weekend, behind the romantic dramaWhen a Man Loves a Woman.
But over the years,The Crows legacy grew beyond that sad fact.
The sunny positivity of Christopher Reeves Superman cinema was long gone, replaced by jet-black pessimism.
That spirit was reflected not just inThe Crows tone but also its look and soundtrack.
Rob Zombie was going to direct a version at one point.
At other times, Bradley Cooper or Jason Momoa were slated to play Eric.
But thats simply impossible.
Supposedly, Lee hadworriedthat hed died young like his dad a fear that, sadly, came true.
Well never know what Brandon Lee might have achieved in his career.
Anyone who remembers the 1994 movie has never stopped loving him in it.
