Doc Savage

[GreenScar]

Shane Black to Direct Doc Savage

Sony has hired Shane Black to bring pulp hero Doc Savage back to the big screen.

I’ve been waiting for Black to step back into the director’s chair for five years now. His feature directorial debut, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, is one of my favorite films of the past decade, mostly due to Black’s incredible script and partly due to Robert Downey Jr’s awesome pre-Iron Man comedic performance. Black is considered one of the pioneer screenwriters of the action genre, and was the highest paid screenwriter in the late 1980’s/early 1990’s. He broke onto the scene with Lethal Weapon, followed by The Monster Squad, The Last Boy Scout, Last Action Hero (re-write), and The Long Kiss Goodnight.

While I’m excited to see Black behind the camera, I am skeptical of him helming a film which he didn’t personally write. The screenplay was written by Anthony Bagarozzi and Chuck Mondry. Neal Moritz (Fast and Furious) is producing the project, which likely means that one of the cast members will be played by a rap artist (I’m only half joking).

Previously:

• Since his first appearances in ’30s pulp magazines, the Savage character has appeared, a la The Shadow, in myriad mediums, including radio, women’s poolside fantasies, television and a maligned 1975 film. Black has plenty to work with, as the dude can do it all and sometimes blindfolded: “physician, surgeon, scientist, adventurer, inventor, explorer, researcher, and, a musician.” And…”martial arts master.” In canon, Savage was raised from birth to fight evil and resides in a skyscraper not unlike the Empire State Building and keeps a plush hideout in the Arctic. He’s the complete opposite of the so-called Goblin class that will likely be exposed to his bare, bronze chest. [Hunter]
• Late last year, it was reported that Black was writing a new adaptation of Savage for the tentpole production duo Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (Transformers and Star Trek franchises). It is unclear if that version was dumped completely or transfered over to Sony with new screenwriters (and if that is the case, it doesn’t make much sense).
• Black let it be known to AICN that he was looking to the definitive works of late author Lester Dent, who penned nearly 200 adventure novels using the character, and that his version would be a period piece. It was also revealed that Savage was to be joined in the film by the so-called Fabulous Five.

[Rob71]

This really interests me. I've always liked Doc Savage... and the Flash Gordon and Buck Rodgers stories. Wish they would do more period movies for these great characters.

[P@t_Mtl]

Let's hope this mean we can have the 1975 movie on BD. Sure is cheesie but I would not mind having it

[Moefiz]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Let's hope this mean we can have the 1975 movie on BD. Sure is cheesie but I would not mind having it

I agree Pat..cheesy has hell but well worth it.

I would love to see the original Doc resurrected for the modern day...

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Let's hope this mean we can have the 1975 movie on BD. Sure is cheesie but I would not mind having it

Never seen it, but I would be very interested. I am a fan of cheezy 70's movies.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

Never seen it, but I would be very interested. I am a fan of cheezy 70's movies.

Oh believe me when I say this one truly deserve the word cheese attach to it I haven't seen it now in at least 30 years I would think. I am not even sure it was ever release on home video format. Last time I saw it was in French on a local TV station here, 1980-81 at least.

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Oh believe me when I say this one truly deserve the word cheese attach to it I haven't seen it now in at least 30 years I would think. I am not even sure it was ever release on home video format. Last time I saw it was in French on a local TV station here, 1980-81 at least.

I have it on VHS.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Rob71

I have it on VHS.

So it was release on VHS? I never saw it. I think there is a way to see some of it on YouTube.

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

So it was release on VHS? I never saw it. I think there is a way to see some of it on YouTube.

You can get it from Warner on their DVD Archive Collection. For $20.

http://www.wbshop.com/Doc-Savage-The...l?cgid=ARCHIVE

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Rob71

You can get it from Warner on their DVD Archive Collection. For $20.

http://www.wbshop.com/Doc-Savage-The...l?cgid=ARCHIVE

Too bad I don't really have a VHS anymore and I can't see the point of getting one just for that. I will hope better senses prevale and they release it on Blu

[lobo81865]

I grew up reading the Doc Savage novels, and remember the original movie. I would love to see an updated movie, but hope (like the Phantom) that they stay true to the time period from which it was based. Now if only they would make a movie of the pulp character "The Spider." Not to mention getting "The Shadow" on blu ray.