Studios have been looking for the next Deadpool. Sony may have found it.
Starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and directed by action comedy maestro Shane Black (The Nice Guys, Iron Man 3, screenwriter of Lethal Weapon), Doc Savage promises to have that perfect mix of wild, unpredictable comedy with high octane action, all jacked to gonzo Rated R levels. And who better to portray The Man Of Bronze than The Rock?
Having debuted way back in 1933, the character of Doc Savage pre-dates even Superman (1938). For those unfamiliar, think of Savage as a comic book superhero version of Indiana Jones. Back in his early days, Doc followed and encouraged a virtuous moral code (as all heroes did). With the success of Deadpool, that will most certainly shift toward Rated R sensibilities under the direction of Black, although the character itself has already evolved over the decades as well.
Interestingly, Savage not only debuted before Superman, but apparently Superman’s creators blatantly stole key traits from him. Consider:
- Man Of Bronze/Man Of Steel
- Clark Savage/Clark Kent
- Savage had his own Arctic “Fortress of Solitude” hideaway
What makes Doc Savage a particularly great fit for Shane Black – a writer of sharp wit and narrative complexity – is that Savage is a character trained both physically (by his father) and mentally (by a team of scientists) to be the ultimate human specimen of strength and intelligence. I don’t know if you could find a character better suited to Black’s sensibilities.
No release date has been set for Doc Savage, but it will be released by DC Entertainment through Sony Pictures.