Back in September, there was a report that Luca Guadagnino would be teaming up with his “Challengers” and “Queer” screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes for the DCU’s “Sgt. Rock”. The film is expected to be a period piece set during World War II.
Guadagnino teaming up with with Peter Safran and James Gunn’s DCU is certainly an odd pairing, but at this point in his career, we should expect the unexpected with Guadagnino as he keeps hopping onboard the most eccentric and unusual of projects.
A Production Weekly listing now has Daniel Craig set to play the titular Sgt Rock. Craig just teamed up with Kurtzikes and Guadagnino on “Queer.” It should be noted that there is currently nothing else lined up in the actor’s schedule, save for his “Othello” movie which is being produced by Bond boss Barbara Broccoli.
“Sgt. Rock” is currently in “active development.” There isn’t much else to report on it beyond Craig’s potential casting, and Guadagnino/Kurtzikes’ participation. Here’s the synopsis listed on PW:
In a time when America needed a true hero, Sgt. Frank Rock emerged as a symbol of patriotism during the United States' battle against the Nazis in World War II. Reprinted in this edition are nineteen of the most hard-hitting Sgt. Rock war stories ever told, including an early "prototype" version of the ultimate war hero as well as his first appearance. Leading Easy Company against the worst evil man has truly ever faced, Sgt. Rock was and still is an emblem of America's fighting spirit.
DC Studios bosses, James Gunn and Peter Safran, have been meeting with plenty of filmmakers these last few months. Jeff Sneider had originally broken the news of Guadagnino speaking with Gunn/Safran about hopping onboard a potential DCU project, adding that talks between both parties had been going on for quite some time, an indication that Guadagnino might be seriously considering this jump to the comic book movie genre.
In the meantime, Gunn/Safran keep piling up film projects, and filmmakers. There’s Gunn’s “Superman,” Craig Gillespie’s “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow,” James Mangold’s “Swamp Thing,” Andy Muschietti’s “The Brave and the Bold,” and, potentially rumored, Darren Aronofsky’s “Plastic Man.”
Guadagnino recently wrapped “After the Hunt,” starring Julia Roberts, and the next film he’s supposed to be shooting is “Separate Rooms,” starring Josh O’Connor and Lea Seydoux. He also has an “American Psycho” reboot percolating in advanced stages of development.
Still no distributor for "Bucking Fastard," "Alpha Gang," "The Last Photograph," "Closing Night," and "The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd." The issue seems to be quality more than a lack of willingness to buy.