After studio lawsuits, and a great deal of rumors and fallout with various actors, the Welsh actor Luke Evans (Fast & Furious 6) has taken the lead in director F. Javier Gutierrez’s (Before the Fall) upcoming remake of The Crow.  As we previously reported, actors Tom Hiddleston (The Avengers), Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood), and James McAvoy (X-Men: Days of Future Past) were all rumored for the role, but it looks like it's Evan who will ultimately be starring.  Allegedly, Evans was originally courted for the lead, but at the time he was unable to commit due to his busy schedule.  The actor is currently signed on, however, now that Relativity Media has agreed to push back the start date to early next year.  Hit the jump for more details on Evans and his role in the film.

News of Evans' casting and the new production plan for The Crow comes courtesy of Deadline.  Although Evans may not be very well known right now, he will be soon.  The busy actor is currently promoting Fast & Furious 6, in which he will portray the film’s villain opposite Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, and Dwayne Johnson.  Evans is also set to play Bard the Bowman in Peter Jackson’s upcoming Hobbit sequels, The Desolation of Smaug and There and Back Again.  Last but not least, the actor just signed on as the lead in Dracula: Year Zero.  Consequently, it’s no wonder why the studio had to push back production on The Crow. 

Based on a graphic novel by James O’Barr, The Crow tells the story of a rock star named Draven who is brutally murdered alongside his fiancée, Shelly, by a group of thugs.  A year later, after a crow taps on Draven’s grave, he is resurrected, and he seeks revenge on the gang of thugs who killed him and his fiancée.  The original film was directed by Alex Proyas in 1994, and it starred Brandon Lee, who died tragically during production.  Lee’s death before the film’s success was ominously similar to his father Bruce Lee’s premature death.  Hopefully this role is not also a bad omen for Evans, who seems to have been hitting his stride in the past year with a new string of roles.  The question for fans of the original is: does Evans have what it takes to give a performance that is unique, but comparable to Lee’s 1994 performance?  Feel free to comment and offer your feedback.

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Image via Dimension