Bill Skarsgård underwent a rigorous diet and fitness regimen to achieve a chiselled physique for his role in ‘The Crow’, a remake of the iconic 1994 film that originally starred Brandon Lee.
In a recent interview with Variety, the 34-year-old actor discussed the extensive preparation required to embody his character, Eric Draven. ‘The Crow’, adapted from James O’Barr’s 1989 graphic novel series, tells the story of Eric, a man brought back from the dead to avenge the brutal murders of himself and his fiancée, portrayed by FKA Twigs.
“I had been training for quite some time, gradually increasing muscle mass without becoming overly bulky,” Skarsgård explained. “Finding the right balance was challenging because while the Crow needed to appear ripped, the character of Eric shouldn’t be excessively muscular. We didn’t have the luxury of a six-month transformation like in ‘Raging Bull,’ so we focused on intensive weight training and a high-protein diet.”
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Director Rupert Sanders praised Skarsgård’s commitment to the role, highlighting his disciplined eating habits and workout routine. “Whenever we went out to dinner, I’d order for him knowing he was sticking to steak tartare and raw eggs,” Sanders shared. “He spent a lot of time in the gym and maintained a remarkably healthy diet, putting the rest of us to shame as we indulged in burgers and hot dogs during late-night shoots in the Czech summer.”
Sanders also noted that Skarsgård’s physical preparedness enabled him to perform most of his own stunts, contributing to the film’s dynamic action sequences. “Bill is incredibly physical, and his body in the movie is astounding,” the director remarked. “He seamlessly transitions between being a formidable force of destruction and displaying profound moments of vulnerability and empathy. This depth adds emotional resonance to the action scenes, making them more impactful than mere displays of violence.”
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Despite the strictness of his diet, Skarsgård admitted it wasn’t a significant hardship for him. “I genuinely enjoyed what I was eating, so I didn’t feel the need to cheat,” he said. “I stayed away from sugar, but that’s easy since I don’t have much of a sweet tooth. My biggest indulgence was probably an alcoholic beer, which I treated myself to as a celebration after we wrapped filming.”
Skarsgård’s dedication to his transformation underscores his commitment to bringing a fresh and compelling portrayal to ‘The Crow’, promising audiences a performance that honours the original while delivering something uniquely his own.
–Farheen Ali