Filming for The Crow, a new adaptation of the James O’Barr comic that was previously turned into a 1994 cult classic, officially wrapped in Prague earlier last week. The new production stars Bill Skarsgård as resurrected rocker Eric Draven, who was portrayed by Brandon Lee in the earlier film in what would be his final film role following an on-set tragedy.
During a lengthy 10-week shoot, The Crow shot across numerous locations in the Old Town and New Town neighborhoods of the Czech capital. One of the major set pieces for The Crow was shot at Prague’s Rudolfinum concert hall, and involved the participation of hundreds of extras in formal attire.
Filming for The Crow also took place in the the Czech capital’s Jewish Quarter and high-end Pařížská street, the Municipal House and Na příkopě and Nekázanka streets, as well as Politických vězňů and Opletalova streets near the Czech capital’s Wenceslas Square and Main Train Station.
In addition to shooting in Prague, filming for The Crow also took place at the brand-new Penzing Studios outside of Munich. Some studio work also took place at Barrandov Studios in Prague.
This might be a taste of what’s to come for filming in Prague under the Czech Republic’s new production incentives plan, which caps incentives at 150 million crowns ($6 million); location shooting in the Czech capital and studio work at a neighboring country, with Prague studios losing out.
According to documentation filed with the city, The Crow was registered as a TV production, with a total of six episodes shot on Prague locations. This information has not been confirmed by those involved with the production, and previous reports identify the project as a feature film.
The Crow was shot in Prague under the working title Yellow Flower, and local casting agencies sought dozens of extras willing to appear fully nude in the film for what sound like Eyes Wide Shut-style orgy scenes. Because the actual production was not specified, applicants were repeatedly assured that they weren’t being cast in a porn film.
Outside of Prague, filming for The Crow took place at the Repre Cultural Center in Most for a scene that involved dozens of extras in pink tracksuits for a prison-style sequence. Filming also took place in Mšecké Žehrovice, Vrané nad Vltavou, and Dolní Břežany.
Alongside Skarsgård in the lead role, The Crow also stars FKA Twigs, Danny Huston, Sami Bouajila, Tundy Smith, Karel Dobry, and David Bowles.
The Crow is directed by Rupert Sanders, from a script by Zach Baylin. Producers on the new adaptation include John Jencks, Molly Hassell, Edward Pressman, and Victor Hadida.
A release date for the new adaptation has yet to be announced, but look for the The Crow to be released next summer if there are no significant post-production snags.
Pictured at top: Brandon Lee in The Crow (1994), Bill Skarsgård in Castle Rock
