Author James O’Barr created the revenge story as a means of coping with the sudden death of his fiancee at the hands of an intoxicated driver. Since “The Crow”’s release in 1989, the tale’s reiterations haven’t pulled punches when it comes to the primary motif of righteous violence.
The 2024 reimagining, starring Bill Skarsgård as Eric/The Crow and FKA Twigs as his fiancèe, Shelly, is no different. Coming to theaters today, the story follows Eric, who takes it upon himself to track down and kill anyone who had a hand in the untimely death of Shelly. This addition to “The Crow” adaptations also sports a brand new character, Zadie (Isabella Wei), who is Shelly’s doomed, but loyal, best friend.
Character Media sat down with Isabella Wei to get a read of what it was like onset, as well as to discuss her emotional ties to the story.
Character Media: What made you want to audition for the 2024 re-imagination of “The Crow?”
Isabella Wei: I actually didn’t know much about the film before I auditioned. It was kept under wraps and all I knew was the character, but I really liked the character. I thought she was super smart and very slick and quite strong. A feisty woman. Once I found out it was “The Crow,” it was all the more exciting.
CM: How did you prepare to take on the role of Zadie? Do you relate to her or was it more out of your wheelhouse?
IW: We are definitely very different. In terms of what Zadie goes through in the story as well as style, makeup and fashion. I think [it] was actually really exciting to not draw on my own experiences, but instead really put myself into her shoes. It really helped me to see the costumes, and see the set, and see the makeup, and really feel like I was becoming Zadie — sort of stepping away from myself.
The team helped me with all the preparation that I needed, which was being able to imagine myself as this other character who, maybe [is] a bit naive, but she’s strong and gone through a lot.
CM: How was filming in Prague? Did being immersed in that setting affect your acting at all?
IW: Definitely. I love being able to travel to places with the sole purpose of it being filming. I think that changes my lens on the country or the city that I go to because [it’s viewed] in a different lens. It was super exciting. I had never been to Prague before, and it was nice to go and explore — witness all the magic that the city has to offer.
CM: You said Zadie is different from you, but generally, through your experience acting, were you drawing from other projects that you participated in to help you with this specific role?
IW: “The Crow” was my second project. The one I had done prior I was super green and didn’t know anything. A lot I learned on the set of that previous project I was able to apply [here.] The main thing was just depicting someone who was really afraid. I did a lot of that in “1899.” And again, [fear is] a very important characteristic [in “The Crow”]
CM: Was there something acting-wise that got easier for you on your second project?
IW: Yeah. The main thing was the initial meeting [of] everyone. It can be super intimidating, especially for a fresh young actor on the set. It’s really easy to feel small and a little bit of imposter syndrome. That’s definitely what I felt on “1899.” Being able to step onto a new project and feel, “I do deserve to be here and everyone here wants to support me and they’re all in this for the same reason that I am. They want to tell a good story.”
CM: What was it like working with Bill Skarsgård and FKA Twigs? No one really expects that lineup, but it’s cool.
IW: It was amazing. They’re all incredibly kind people, and super, super talented. It was amazing to observe what they’re like on set and how they can snap into character or how they prepare for a scene.
CM: Were you at all nervous about tackling this reimagination of the graphic novel? “The Crow” already has a fanbase, were you scared to deviate from what the IP is already known as?
IW: I wouldn’t say I was scared, definitely a little nerve-wracking, but also quite exciting. Zadie is a new character in the story. So, I was excited to be able to add a new element to the original story.
CM: What was the main takeaway of the film for you personally, either thematically or generally? What did you learn while filming? And, without spoiling anything, what do you wish audiences to take away from it?
IW: I think my biggest takeaway from “The Crow” was the idea of love. I thought that was an amazing tie-in to the story, [comparing and contrasting] it with the idea of hate. The two feelings can be so intertwined.
I would want audiences to take away [why] I felt drawn to the story, which was we would, if we could, go to extreme lengths to protect and avenge the ones that we love. “The Crow” is a beautiful sort of maybe fantasizing of what we wish we could all do if we were in that position.
