Goodbye, Sergeant Rock? DC Studios cancels World War II comic book adaptation
It looks like the battle for Sergeant Rock, the World War II film planned by DC Studios, is over before it even started. The project, which could have starred Colin Farrell of Penguin fame and was to be directed by Luca Guadagnino with a script by Justin Kuritzkes, will no longer move forward as part of the upcoming DCU lineup.
Here's What We Know
The film was in pre-production and was supposed to be shot in the UK. However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the project has been finally cancelled. The publication also claims that DC Studios has been actively casting, negotiating with The Rivals star Mike Feist for one of the roles, and has also approved an unknown actress for the role of a French Resistance fighter. According to the plot, the film will feature the Easy Company combat unit fighting Nazi troops in Europe.
THR also revealed a possible storyline in which Sergeant Rock would team up with a French Resistance fighter to find the Lance of Destiny before the Nazis do. In the DC Universe, the Lance of Destiny was used to pierce Christ's side on the cross and has supernatural powers.
The reason for the cancellation of the project remains unclear. One source told THR that the project's requirements to shoot outside the studio were an issue, while another source claimed that despite Guadagnino's good resume, his lack of experience in superhero films raised concerns among executives about his ability to deliver.
According to the first source, the film is not completely dead and will be "re-evaluated at the end of the year for a possible summer shoot in 2026," but whether this prediction will come true remains to be seen. The first news about the project appeared in November 2024.
Sgt. Rock was created by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert and made his comic book debut in 1959. James Gunn's rebooted DCU officially kicks off with Superman in July, followed by Supergirl in 2026: The Woman of Tomorrow, featuring a cameo by Jason Momoa's Lobo. A DCU film about Clayface is scheduled for release in September 2026.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
