Shane Black to Write and Direct Doc Savage!

    Definitely not too old for this shit...

    So I don't usually post movie news here, but this little tidbit has me so excited I had to share my thoughts - Shane Black just closed the deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment to direct an adaptation of popular pulp adventure hero Doc Savage. Working with co-writers Anthony Bagarozzi and Charles Mondry, Black was first tapped to write and direct the film back in 2010. Hollywood being Hollywood - and taking into consideration the character reached the apex of his popularity nearly sixty years ago - the project sort of disappeared not long after, but now that Shane Black is the director of a $700 million (and counting) film, Sony has decided they want to be in the Shane Black business. I have every bit of confidence that Black will absolutely nail this sucker out of the park (especially after seeing him play in the PG-13 world with Iron Man 3), but the question remains: who could possibly play Clark Savage, Jr., the Man of Bronze himself?  

     The only actor to ever portray the character in live-action was former Tarzan Ron Ely, in the forgettable 1975 adaptation from famed producer George Pal. The film performed so dismally both financially and critically any further attempts failed to get off the ground. Arnold Schwarzenegger then was attached to the role in the late 90's, but his decision to run for Governator put the kibosh on that.

    Considering Doc has never had a really definitive portrayal in three-dimensions, the role is ripe for some young hot-shot to come in and make it their own. But who has both the look and the talent to pull such a role off? Arnie certainly could have pulled off a man who looked like a bronze statue when standing still, but his acting chops and accent would have probably been a poor fit. In my mind, there's really only one guy who could pull this off:

    Dwane "The Rock" Johnson. Sure, for a while there his choice of projects left a lot to be desired, but in recent years Johnson has finally started to live up to the "Action Star" career that was promised when he first started making movies early on in the last decade. The Rundown, Faster and Fast Five have shown he's got the action-movie goods, while his fantastic and offbeat turns in Be Cool, Southland Tales and the recent Pain and Gain have shown that he's far more than a sack of muscles with basic motor functions. With the right look and more than enough talent, in my mind he's the perfect choice for the role, and - working with Shane Black - could very easily turn in a truly iconic performance. Others who would also probably turn in a killer performance: Daniel Craig, Armie Hammer, or Jason Momoa.

    Whatever the case may be, this Doc Savage fan can't wait to see what Black and co. have in store for us.

    SOURCE: The Wrap