Man of Iron Dwayne Johnson Toplines Shane Black’s DOC SAVAGE

Posted on May 31, 2016 by Niall Browne in News

Movies In Focus remembers when Doc Savage was going to be an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie (way back in the late nineties/early noughties) – now in 2016 it’s a Dwayne Johnson vehicle written/directed by Shane Black. I’d still rather see Black’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang star Val Kilmer in the role or Aaron Eckhart or maybe even Chris Hemsworth – but them’s the brakes.

I can dig this though. Johnson is an actor with great charisma – even if I don’t think he’s ever been in a very good movie. Shane Black is a writer par excellence and it’s good to see him get work in Hollywood – the man knows how to create flicks with snappy dialogue and ingenious thrills. I love the fact he’s being employed in this age of dumb corporate movies.

Here’s how Dwayne Johnson announced his signing:

It’s OFFICIAL: 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. Want to thank my bud director/writer Shane Black and his writing team Anthony Bagarozzi and Chuck Mondry for flying in from LA and sitting with me and our @sevenbucksprod’s producer @hhgarcia41 on this Memorial Day weekend to chop up creative and break story on this very cool project. Comic book fans around the world know that the cool thing about “Doc” Savage is that he’s the inspiration for Superman. First name Clark, called “Man of Bronze”, retreats to his “Fortress of Solitude” in the Arctic etc etc. Doc was physically and mentally trained from birth by his father and a team of scientists to become the perfect human specimen with a genius level intellect. His heightened senses are beyond comprehension. He can even identify a women’s perfume from half a mile away. He is literally the master of everything. But here’s the #1 reason I’m excited to become Doc Savage.. HE’S A F*CKING HILARIOUS WEIRDO! Confidently, yet innocently he has zero social graces whatsoever due to his upbringing so every interaction he has with someone is direct, odd, often uncomfortable and amazingly hilarious. After speaking for hours w/ Shane Black I can see why the creator of Superman took only the best parts of Doc Savage and leaving the “weirdo” part behind. But to us, it’s that “weirdo” part that makes Clark “Doc” Savage dope! Can’t wait to sink my teeth into this one of a kind character. #ItsOfficial #WorldsFirstSuperhero #GeniusIntellect #PhysicalSpecimen #FnLoveableWeirdo #ManOfBronze #DocSavage

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on May 30, 2016 at 5:53am PDT