Bill Skarsgård’s challenging transformation for 'The Crow' revealed

Bill Skarsgård faced a rigorous physical transformation to play the lead role in the reboot of "The Crow," according to an interview with Variety. The actor, known for his diverse roles, had to adhere to a strict diet and exercise regimen to portray Eric Draven in the film.

Skarsgård explained the difficulty of his transformation, saying, “I’d already been training for quite a while. Me and my trainer kept adding a little bit of weight onto what I’d already be, but I didn’t want to be too big either.” He aimed to achieve a balance, noting, “I didn’t feel like the character should be thin, but you can’t afford to split it into six months, the ‘Raging Bull’ kind of way. So we did a lot of weight training and ate a lot of protein.”

Director Rupert Sanders commented on Skarsgård’s commitment, joking, “He ate very healthily and put us all to shame when we were eating burgers and hot dogs and working late at night in the Czech summer.” Sanders supported Skarsgård’s diet by joining him in meals of steak tartare and raw eggs. Despite the intense regimen, Skarsgård enjoyed the food and did not miss sugary treats, celebrating the end of filming with a beer.

Sanders also spoke about the film's themes, emphasizing the dark romance and exploration of grief and loss. “What attracted me to this project was the chance to create a dark romance,” Sanders said.

The original "The Crow," released in 1994 and starring Brandon Lee, was completed despite Lee's tragic death on set. Sanders noted that Skarsgård’s portrayal pays homage to Lee’s legacy, with Skarsgård feeling like a successor to Lee’s role.