The feature film project from director Luca Guadagnino and his collaborator, ‘Challengers’ writer Justin Kuritzkes, with Colin Farrell in talks to star, has been shelved due to production scheduling issues.
It seems WWII hero Sgt. Rock will have continue waiting for his big-screen debut, as The Wrap has just reported the DC Studios film, with Luca Guadagnino directing and his Challengers and Queer collaborator, Justin Kuritzkes, handling the screenplay, has been shelved. Penguin star Colin Farrell was in talks to play the title character after Daniel Craig dropped out.
The $70 million budgeted film – small by comic book theatrical adaptation standards – reportedly was scrapped not for creative differences but because of scheduling issues, as it required considerable outside shoots and couldn’t begin production this summer.
Sgt. Rock first appeared in “Our Army at War” issue 83 in June 1959. The gruff combat vet, who leads Easy Company, was created by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert.
He did appear in the 14-minute 2019 animated DC Showcase: Sgt. Rock, directed by Bruce Timm and starring Karl Urban in the titular role. It was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment.
In the late 1980s, Arnold Schwarzenegger was attached to a film version with producer Joel Silver. In the 2000s, Bruce Willis was reportedly to take on the role with Guy Ritchie directing. The film at that point was set aside when Ritchie took on Sherlock Holmes for Silver.
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
