Colin Farrell Looking to Star in ‘Sgt. Rock’ for Director Luca Guadagnino

Preview:

• Colin Farrell is circling the lead in ‘Sgt. Rock.’
• Luca Guadagnino is attached to direct the movie for DC Studios.
• Daniel Craig was previously considering the idea.

It looks like it’s all change in the ranks for ‘Sgt. Rock,’ though depending on who you believe, not such a big change.

While word arrived back in November that Daniel Craig was looking to reunite with his ‘Queer’ director Luca Guadagnino for a very different project –– the adaptation of the militaristic DC Comics title –– there have been conflicting reports of how far Craig got in the process. DC Studios co-chief James Gunn, for example, shot down the idea that the actor was actively in consideration, merely that he was floated as a potential lead. Here’s what Gunn and co-president Peter Safran said recently:

“You know, we never met with Daniel. We never really even announced ‘Sgt. Rock.’ ”

Still, it would appear that the process of finding a main man for the ‘Rock’ role has been ongoing no matter what the DC bosses say, and Deadline reports that Colin Farrell is now circling the part. Farrell, of course, is fresh off of winning a clutch of awards for another DC-related project, the TV spin-off of ‘The Batman’ called ‘The Penguin,’ focused on the criminal character. According to Deadline’s sources, he’s looking to board ‘Sgt. Rock’ but will first have to figure out his busy schedule (more on that below).

Related Article: Daniel Craig in Talks to Star in DC’s ‘Sgt. Rock’ for Director Luca Guadagnino

What’s the story of ‘Sgt. Rock’?

Created by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert, the character first debuted in the 1959 DC issue ‘Our Army at War’ as a WWII soldier who served in the infantry. The character gained steam in 1977 when he received his own comic book series; it ran until July 1988. Rock’s talent includes shooting down German fighter planes with a single submachine gun and tossing grenades with great accuracy. When he’s without a gun, he’s a great street fighter, and can survive gunshots. He’s a calm guy with heart, but also has a “combat antenna” able to detect an incoming enemy siege. There was also a toy series in the 1980s for Sgt. Rock around the time G.I. Joe was soaring in comic books and on TV.

Who else is working on ‘Sgt. Rock’?

Though Craig is not reuniting with Guadagnino for this new project, the director has recruited someone he’s worked with before: screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes. Which, given that he collaborated with the director on both tennis love triangle drama ‘Challengers’ and the Craig-starring William S. Boroughs ‘Queer’ suggests this is coming together quickly. There’s also the mention that Guadagnino might (if he signs on) push this ahead of his plan for a new ‘American Psycho’ adaptation, as we brought word about last year. And the prolific director has been busy –– he already has Amazon MGM Studios’ Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield thriller ‘After the Hunt’ making its way through post-production release later this year on October 10th.

What else is Colin Farrell working on?

Farrell, is, of course, an actor in demand, and he has a few projects lined up in the coming months. He’ll be filming the second season of twisty Apple TV+ drama ‘Sugar’ this year.

Plus, assuming he’s ready to put himself back into the prosthetics for the character –– something he’s said he definitely needs time away from –– Farrell may well be preparing for a new season of ‘The Penguin.’ There’s also the chance he’ll be back in for ‘The Batman’ sequel.

And Farrell is also on board for ‘Belly of the Beast,’ which reportedly explores the unlikely friendship between notorious literary titan Norman Mailer (Ben Stiller) and his protégé, Jack Henry Abbott (Farrell). ‘All of Us Strangers’ Andrew Haigh co-wrote and will direct that one.

Before any of that, at least release-wise, he has ‘A Big Bold Beautiful Journey,’ in which he co-stars with Margot Robbie, and is due on September 19th.

There’s also ‘Conclave’ and ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ director Edward Berger’s movie ‘The Ballad of a Small Player,’ which co-stars Tilda Swinton.

The story for that one follows a high-stakes gambler who decides to lay low in Macau after his past and debts catch up with him. Along the way he encounters a kindred spirit who might just hold the key to his salvation.

Production Asia occurred last summer, with Rowan Joffe adapting the script based on the novel by Lawrence Osborne.

What else is happening with DC?

DC Studios is gearing for its big cinematic relaunch, with hopes tied to Gunn’s ‘Superman,’ which lands on July 11th.

That’ll be followed by ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow,’ which has Craig Gillespie directing and will soar into theaters on June 26th next year.

Beyond that, the picture is murkier despite a big confident announcement from Gunn and Safran. A movie based on Batman villain Clayface is in development and recently landed ‘Speak No Evil’ director James Watkins to call the shots.

Batman himself is likely to return in ‘The Brave and the Bold,’ but that has experienced some scripting and director delay issues.

On the small screen, things are healthier, with the likes of the animated ‘Creature Commandos’ already out and a new season of ‘Peacemaker’ on the way. We also know that ‘Green Lantern’-based series ‘Lanterns’ is now filming.

When will ‘Sgt. Rock’ be on screens?

With no official commitment to the movie yet, there is zero information about a release date for the movie at this time.

List of Luca Guadagnino Movies:

• 'The Protagonists' (1999)
• 'Melissa P.' (2005)
• 'I Am Love' (2010)
• 'A Bigger Splash' (2016)
• 'Call Me by Your Name' (2018)
• 'Suspiria' (2018)
• 'Bones and All' (2022)
• 'Challengers' (2024)
• 'Queer' (2024)

Buy Luca Guadagnino Movies on Amazon