Six years ago, I wrote an editorial advocating for the release of the Tim Pope cut of The Crow: City of Angels. For those of my readers who are not familiar with this version of the movie, the Tim Pope cut is the original 160-minute presentation of The Crow: City of Angels that was purposefully intended to be different from its predecessor, 1994’s The Crow. Unfortunately, this version was never released due to “studio intervention” pushing for The Crow: City of Angels to be more reflective of the 1994 film. Since publishing my editorial, what I said resonated with over two thousand readers and counting. But there had been no official word on whether the Tim Pope cut of The Crow: City of Angels would ever see the light of day. A recently announced plan from Paramount & Warner Bros. could, potentially, bring hope for those interested in seeing The Crow: City of Angels’ Tim Pope cut. In an article from Cosmic Book News, Matt McGloin reports how, due to the ongoing merger, Paramount and Warner Bros. have agreed to host a ““celebration of movies” series”. This collection of films will be “directors’ cuts” of theatrically released titles, such as ““Star Trek (JJs), Snyder, Ayer, Mission Impossible, etc.”” Adding to that collection is ““Harry Potter too of course.”” Not only will this ““celebration of movies” series” ““release directors’ cuts into theaters next year – limited runs or maybe extended if demand is strong””, it will also be a collection of “full-blown events” with ““Red carpet included – and Q&A with director/cast.”” There will be “Brand new Blu-rays and collector’s merch” following the theatrical screenings of these films as well. However, as of the publication of this Word on the Street story, an official complete list of films and their re-release dates have not yet been announced, though Matt’s article stated the series will take place “next year”. Also, as of the publication of this Word on the Street story, the merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. has not yet been finalized.

As you’re reading my Word on the Street story, you’re probably wondering why the Tim Pope cut of The Crow: City of Angels could, potentially, be included in Paramount and Warner Bros. ““celebration of movies” series”? In my editorial about The Crow: City of Angels’ Tim Pope cut, I explained how Paramount/ViacomCBS is in control over the potential restoration and release of the Tim Pope cut, due to ViacomCBS (which owns Paramount) acquiring “a 49% stake in Miramax”, giving Paramount “an exclusive, long-term distribution agreement for Miramax’s film library and an exclusive, long-term first-look agreement allowing Paramount Pictures to develop, produce, finance and distribute new film and television projects based on Miramax IP.” According to Matt’s Cosmic Book News article, the ““celebration of movies” series” “covers both sides of the merger”. I also explained in my editorial how fans who love The Crow are dedicated, vocal, and passionate about their favorite IP. A major reason for the ““celebration of movies” series” is for Paramount and Warner Bros. to create an ““Easy quick way to make money from loyal fandoms and gauge demand for future projects.”” Though these facts do not guarantee the Tim Pope cut of The Crow: City of Angels will be included in Warner Bros’ & Paramount’s upcoming series. But if Paramount & Warner Bros. selected The Crow: City of Angels’ Tim Pope cut to re-release, they would finally set a “wrong thing right” (yes, Sarah’s quote from The Crow was definitely intentional).

What are your thoughts on this piece of movie news? Which Warner Bros. and/or Paramount films do you wish were re-released as directors’ cuts? Let me know in the comment section below!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

References:

https://cosmicbook.news/paramount-wbd-directors-cuts-theaters-snyder-ayer

Why Now is the Perfect Time to Release the Tim Pope Cut of ‘The Crow: City of Angels’

https://deadline.com/2020/04/viacomcbs-deal-stake-miramax-closes-1202899997/