Daniel Craig Set to Star in DC’s Sgt. Rock, Directed by Luca Guadagnino
In a surprising twist in the superhero movie landscape, the talented duo of director Luca Guadagnino and actor Daniel Craig is reportedly joining forces for a film adaptation of DC Comics’ Sgt. Rock. According to reports, Guadagnino is slated to helm this project before diving into the highly anticipated American Psycho reboot that Lionsgate is eager to kick off.
Both Craig and Guadagnino have enjoyed significant successes in their respective careers, with Craig continuing to earn acclaim in notable indie films long after his tenure as James Bond. Guadagnino has had a standout year, marked by the successes of Challengers and Queer. But the question on everyone’s mind is just what led these creators to choose the World War II character of Sgt. Rock.
As things currently stand, while there are no official arrangements for Guadagnino and Craig to collaborate with DC Studios, industry insiders suggest that the script for Sgt. Rock is being crafted by Justin Kuritzkes, who has worked closely with Guadagnino on both Challengers and Queer. The pairing of Guadagnino and Craig for a movie centered on Sgt. Rock is unexpected, considering the character’s gritty and intense nature.
Sgt. Rock, a classic figure from DC Comics, is depicted as a tough and resilient soldier who perseveres in the harshest of wartime conditions during World War II. Bruce Campbell, who has helped revive interest in the character through the recent comic series Sgt. Rock vs. Army of the Dead, described him as “the best soldier in the world”—loyal, fearless, and yet haunted by his experiences.
While it may seem like an unusual career shift for Craig, this role could offer him the chance to explore a darker, more rugged character, quite different from his comedic portrayal of detective Benoit Blanc. The history of attempting to bring Sgt. Rock to the big screen has seen various directors involved, including Guy Ritchie, who was attached to the project back in 2008. However, Guadagnino’s vision is expected to deliver a fresh take that diverges significantly from earlier efforts.
There’s even speculation that Sgt. Rock could play a role in the upcoming “Gods and Monsters Phase One” of the new DC Universe, set to kick off with Creature Commandos on December 5, 2024. For now, the project remains in the conceptual phase, but there’s undeniable intrigue surrounding it. A collaboration between Daniel Craig portraying a formidable WWII soldier and Guadagnino’s distinctive filmmaking style could result in an exciting addition to the comic book genre.
