The upcoming reboot of The Crow, directed by Rupert Sanders, will soon hit the 2024 film calendar. The film promises not only a new take on the iconic dark comic, but also a revolutionary technique for on-set safety. In a decisive resolution that echoes the franchise’s tragic history and its disastrous production, Sanders decided to ban all firearms on set, a choice influenced by more than just the injuries that have cast a shadow over the industry. So what did they use instead of the intensity of the action that enthusiasts have come to? expect from the franchise?
The original 1994 film adaptation of The Crow was marred by the accidental shooting death of its star, Brandon Lee. A similar tragedy occurred in 2021 on the set of Rust, where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot to death due to the presence of live ammunition in a prop gun. With those incidents in mind, Rupert, who filmed the 2022 reboot, prioritized safety, making sure that such a tragedy would not happen again under his watch. He told Variety in a recent interview:
Safety is the number one priority. Film sets are very dangerous. There are fast moving cars with cranes stuck on top. There are specialists who fall on the upper cables on the steps. Even walking around a set at night with rain machines and lights, you’re running in a commercial environment. So it’s dangerous. You want to be sure. On the first day in Prague I met the special effects department and the gunsmith, who is great. They were very concerned about safety. They stick to the same rules as the military when it comes to weapons, but I didn’t even want to take that risk.
Given the tragic history and inherent dangers of guns on set, the director of The Ghost in the Shell has absolutely banned the shooting of guns on his set. Instead, the production used Airsoft guns (non-lethal replicas that shoot plastic balls) and non-functional rubber bands. or steel lures. This technique ensured that active cartridges, whether blank or blank, would never be provided on the set. Sanders continued:
So I flat out said, “We probably wouldn’t have any firearms on set,” meaning we would never have a single gun that could have just one live bullet or a blank near it, so that no projectile could hit. They are all Airsoft guns, and some of them are simply rubber or steel decoys that are functional but do not have a firing mechanism.
The use of Airsoft weapons required some artistic changes in post-production, specifically in terms of visual effects. While those replicas mimic realistic movements like the gliding action of a Glock, they also required additional effects to charge shell casings, muzzle flashes, and smoke. Despite those challenges, the director of Snow White and the Huntsman believes that the protection and tranquility of his cast and crew value him.
The Crow team’s commitment to protection may create new popularity in Hollywood, where the use of real firearms on set is increasingly scrutinized. Given that industry leaders like Dwayne Johnson have also pledged to avoid genuine weapons in their productions, Sanders’ strategy for the next action movie may motivate a change in the way action movies are made, with an emphasis on protection without sacrificing quality. Crow’s intense, action-packed first trailer demonstrates that the use of Airsoft weapons did not diminish the film’s genuineness or brutality, showing other filmmakers that taking risks with live ammunition on set can’t hurt. I just don’t value it.
The Crow reboot, starring Bill Skarsgård as Eric Draven, will hit theaters on August 23. It promises the same intensity and darkness that enthusiasts have come to expect, now with a focus on the protection and well-being of all involved.
Check out our 2025 movie lineup to see what’s at a theater near you in the coming months.
Ryan graduated from Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in English and creative writing. An expert on all things horror, Ryan enjoys covering a wide variety of topics. He’s also a lifelong comic book fan and an avid observer of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon.
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