It was only a month ago that Relativity Studios’ planned remake of the 1994 cult classic The Crow got a new director in Corin Hardy, who replaced F. Javier Gutierrez, who’d been on the project since 2012. Many names had come up for the lead role, iconically portrayed by Brandon Lee, who died while filming the movie. The Avengers’ Tom Hiddleston and True Blood’s Alexander Skarsgard were both considered at one time, until Dracula Untold star Luke Evans signed on for the role.

Now, Evans has reportedly left the film to pursue other projects, according to The Wrap, who added that Relativity declined to comment for their story.

The Welsh actor, who had a major role as Bard the Bowman in Peter Jackson’s Hobbit film trilogy, had been cast as Eric Draven aka The Crow when Gutierrez was still at the helm, so when Hardy came on board in early December 2014, it was unclear at that time whether Evans was still attached to the project. Around that same time, the actor told Den Of Geek that he couldn’t wait much longer for The Crow to start up. The Wrap states that they have since confirmed Evans’ departure.

Here’s Evans’ quote from the interview with Den Of Geek, posted online on December 4, 2014, right after the announcement of Hardy’s hiring.

Hardy is currently readying his feature debut The Hallow for its world premiere at Sundance later this week, but once he shifts his focus to The Crow, he’ll be able to pick his own lead. When Hiddleston was in early talks for the part, it was reported that the Thor actor had sent the producers his own make-up test, so he was obviously very interested in the part at one point; perhaps the producers, who were reportedly very impressed with what they saw, could lure him back. (You can imagine how good Hiddleston looked in that make-up.) Hardy recently told Fangoria that he intends to make a Crow film that’s “incredibly emotional and brutal” that goes back to the source material, James O’Barr’s graphic novel.

While most of us believe that The Crow doesn’t need a reboot, if it is going to happen, Relativity needs to get a move on this project, since it’s been in development hell for far too long.

Evans will be seen next in Ben Wheatley’s High-Rise, which also stars Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller, and Elisabeth Moss. (See a photo here below Hiddleston posted to Twitter from the production of High-Rise.)

The usual suspects. #HighRise @mr_wheatley @Laurie_Rose @TheRealLukevans pic.twitter.com/rNnVduxJOW

— Tom Hiddleston (@twhiddleston) August 6, 2014

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