Bradley Cooper Might Be ‘The Crow’
As much as we like to think we know what we're talking about, one of the best parts about covering movies is when actors or filmmakers defy our expectations and surprise us. A great recent example of this was Bradley Cooper, who we liked in "The Hangover" and "The A-Team" but were concerned was a bad match for the edgy thriller "Limitless." We were wrong: He gave the character a smarmy bite that made the guy both compelling and deeply flawed. We don't want to underestimate him again so soon, but we confess that we're deeply unsure about the fact that he may be starring in the upcoming remake of "The Crow."
Heat Vision says he's in "early negotiations" at this point, but if he does take the role, it will mean that this new version is radically re-imagining the part of Eric Craven, the rock star who is murdered but comes back from the dead for vengeance. As played by Brandon Lee (who died during the filming of the 1994 original), Craven was a brooding Goth figure who had a sarcastic streak. While Cooper has demonstrated a withering sense of humor in earlier roles, he has been a success either exploiting or playing off his All-American Frat-Guy physique. Let's face it: Bradley Cooper is the guy who would have beaten up guys like Craven in high school.
But since "Limitless" proved to us that he can do thrillers, maybe we should let this "Crow" be what it's going to be before rushing to judgment. And we confess that once we see one actor in a trademark role, it can be hard to picture anybody else playing the part. Still, Craven's transformation into an undead avenger is something we've never seen Cooper play before, and we wonder if Cooper can pass muster. We're not going to say it's impossible, though: Cooper has made us look dumb enough already.
Bradley Cooper Eyes Starring Role in 'The Crow' Remake (Exclusive) [Heat Vision/The Hollywood Reporter]
