With all the comic book and literary character getting big screen adaptations these days, it’s surprising we still haven’t seen a modern day movie for DOC SAVAGE… well, that’s about to change. After years of false starts, and names like Arnold Schwarzenegger and most recently Chris Hemsworth being mentioned as potential stars, Johnson posted the news on Instagram that he is officially taking the part. Sounding very happy about the deal, he noted ‘For all comic book fans you already know the world’s first superhero (pre-dating Superman) is the “Man of Bronze” himself Clark “Doc” Savage.’
The swashbuckling hero also known as “The Man of Bronze” has appeared in both Marvel and DC Comics in addition to many popular pulp novels and magazines. The original stories had him as a guy traveling the world as a scientist and adventurer, saving folks in trouble. He had no special powers in the traditional superhero sense, but was raised from birth by his father and other scientists to become one of the most perfect human beings in terms of strength, intelligence, and physical abilities. He was depicted with bronze skin and blonde hair, and while Johnson kind of already has the bronze skin part down, not sure how they’ll tackle the hair just yet. Should be cool to see what The Rock can bring to the role, though I’m most curious if they’ll keep the character in the 1930s setting or make it more of a present day setting. DOC SAVAGE was already a movie in 1975 starring Ron Ely, though that incarnation was actually G-rated and really campy in parts. We’re guessing with Shane Black at the helm of the new take, this version will be serious with some dark humor mixed in. Check out Dwayne Johnson’s Instagram post below if you missed it: