Tragic End of Brandon Lee: The Cast Firearms Accident on The Crow

Brandon Lee, the talented son of legendary martial arts master Bruce Lee, tragically met his untimely death on March 31, 1993, during filming of the movie The Crow. This incident remains a stark reminder of the risks that can be associated with firearm use on movie sets.

The Incident

Brandon Lee was 28 years old when he was fatally shot on a scene The Crow while filming a pivotal scene. The scene was supposed to involve another actor, Michael Massee, pointing a prop gun loaded with blanks at Lee and firing it accordingly. However, a metal dummy bullet from a previous scene had remained inside the prop gun. When Massee pulled the trigger, the gunpowder dislodged the bullet, causing it to fire live ammunition.

The Aftermath

Lee was struck in the stomach, severing two arteries instantly. Despite medical efforts, he died six hours later at 1:04 p.m. The incident prompted a series of lawsuits and investigations into the safety protocols on film sets, especially concerning the handling of firearms.

Incidents on the Set and Beyond

The production of The Crow was no stranger to accidents and near-misses, but Brandon Lee's death stands out as the most devastating. On the first day of filming, a carpenter narrowly escaped electrocution. Later, another carpenter accidentally drove a screwdriver through his hand, and a stuntman fell through a roof. A powerful storm caused significant damage to the set, and a former crew member whose employment was terminated drove his car through the set. However, these incidents pale in comparison to the tragic loss of Brandon Lee.

Fatal Scene Details

Brandon Lee was required to carry a grocery bag for the fatal scene, which was adorned with squibs, a type of prop pyrotechnic. The scene was saved until the end of production, and Lee's character was supposed to die early in the film but was moved to the conclusion to fit the narrative.

Lawsuits and Aftermath

Brandon Lee's mother, Linda Lee Cadwell, faced the difficult task of pursuing legal action following her son's death. She filed a lawsuit against 14 different entities, alleging negligence in the handling of the prop gun and lack of proper safety measures. The incident shook her deeply, as she had lost her husband, Bruce Lee, 20 years prior under similar unexpected circumstances.

Debunking Rumors

Misinformation spread quickly following Lee's death. Rumors suggested that footage of the accident was included in the final cut of the movie and that he may have been killed on purpose. However, these claims were debunked by the film's production companies.

Final Implications and Legacy

After the tragic incident, filming of The Crow came to an immediate halt. The movie was completed months later, with Chad Stahelski, a friend of Brandon Lee and a stuntman, stepping in to perform the dangerous scenes. In post-production, Lee's face was digitally replaced using advanced technology, an 8 million dollar process at the time.

Michael Massee, who unknowingly discharged the fatal shot, took a year off from acting and struggled to recover emotionally. Stahelski, who directed the movie, later went on to direct the John Wick series and has credited his experiences on The Crow with shaping the stringent safety protocols he follows in his later work.

Today, Brandon Lee's death serves as a somber reminder of the importance of safety measures on film sets, particularly when dealing with firearms.