'Doc Savage' - Shane Black to Direct

[Walts Ghost]

Shane Black and Producer Neal Moritz Talk DOC SAVAGE; Black Is “Back on It” with the Aim of It Being His Next Film

While Shane Black’s skills as a screenwriter have been more than proven with films like Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout, and The Monster Squad, he also showed himself to be an immensely talented director with the fantastic 2005 gem Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. A few years ago he signed on to write and direct a feature film iteration of the 1930s and 40s pul fiction hero Doc Savage, but his plans for that film were deterred a bit when Marvel sought Black out to come on and helm the highly anticipated Iron Man 3.

Steve recently spoke with Black at the Iron Man 3 junket and also with producer Neal Moritz in a separate, extended interview, and both provided some very promising updates on Doc Savage, saying the film is back on track with the goal of making it Black’s next film. Hit the jump for more.


For those unfamiliar with Doc Savage, the character was described by writer Lester Dent as “a mix of Sherlock Holmes’ deductive abilities, Tarzan’s outstanding physical abilities, Craig Kennedy’s scientific education, and Abraham Lincoln’s goodness.” Steve asked Black about the project, and the filmmaker confirmed that he’s still attached:

Even more promising, producer Neal Moritz added that Black is “100%” still writing and directing Doc Savage, with the aim for it to be the filmmaker’s next project. Obviously Black will be yielding a number of offers following the assured success of Iron Man 3, but the prospect of him taking on a 1930s action/adventure film with a classic hero is very, very exciting, so hopefully things move forward smoothly.

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[Walts Ghost]

Woohoo! Finally glad to see this one moving forward. I love pulp fiction adventure stories, so I can't wait to see what Black does with Savage.

[cinemaphile]

And it's official. Deal is done:

Sony Pictures Entertainment has closed its deal with "Iron Man 3" director Shane Black to co-write and direct "Doc Savage," which Black is eyeing as his next film.

One of the most popular characters of the pulps of the 1930s and 40s, Doc Savage was also popularized on radio, film and television. He is a scientist, physician, adventurer, inventor, explorer and researcher. He has been trained since birth to be nearly superhuman in every way, with outstanding strength, a photographic memory, and vast knowledge and intelligence. He uses his skills and powers to punish evil wherever in the world he finds it.

Black co-wrote the screenplay with Anthony Bagarozzi and Charles Mondry, based on the hero of pulp novels, films, and comic books.

Neal H. Moritz is producing the project with Ori Marmur through his Original Film banner. Michael Uslan will also serve as a producer on the film.

Sam Dickerman and Lauren Abrahams are overseeing the title for Columbia Pictures along with Hannah Minghella, Sony's president of production who made the announcement with studio president Doug Belgrad.

"We couldn't be more excited to be building a franchise from the ground up with Shane and this team," said Minghella. "Shane and Neal have a fantastic understanding of the character and a great take on the material and we can't wait to get this production up and running.”

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I don't know a single thing about Doc Savage - I've heard the name but know nothing about the character - but I will see anything at all that Shane Black has a hand in, and especially if he's at the helm.

[cinemaphile]

For those of you that are familiar with the property... casting ideas?

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by cinemaphile

And it's official. Deal is done:


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I don't know a single thing about Doc Savage - I've heard the name but know nothing about the character - but I will see anything at all that Shane Black has a hand in, and especially if he's at the helm.

Same here. I have no history with the character, but given that Shane Black co-writing and directing it, I'm already interested.

Now like you kind of said afterwards, onto casting at some point...

[KINGDANGER]

Casting? How about Stephen Lang?


Personally, I don't think these types of movies based on nostalgic comic and literary characters connect very well with modern audiences. Examples include The Shadow, The Phantom and even John Carter. Perhaps partly due to the source material already being mined for themes and ideas used in newer, more relatable properties.

[P@t_Mtl]

Stephen Lang is buff enough but might be a little too old for the role, well depending how they want to go with it.

While I will be there for this, I suspect this will most probably bomb badly at the box office. Will have to continue reading my book collection and find comfort with my Sideshow statue

[cinemaphile]

Originally Posted by KINGDANGER

Personally, I don't think these types of movies based on nostalgic comic and literary characters connect very well with modern audiences. Examples include The Shadow, The Phantom and even John Carter. Perhaps partly due to the source material already being mined for themes and ideas used in newer, more relatable properties.

ugh.... if this has that much in common with John Carter, The Phantom, and The Shadow, my interest level just PLUMMETED. Bad movies and lame characters all of them. I love Shane Black, but not sure even he can make me interested in another character like those.

[jvonl]

I read tons of these books in the 60's when I was in high school,and they were a lot of fun. George Pal did a movie version in the 70's starring Ron Ely which was very campy, like the Batman tv show. Doc had five helpers, each an expert in various fields, and it was good guys vs bad guys with occassional mystical elements thrown in. If it is well done it could be excellent. Whether it will connect today I can't say, but I hope so. It's got to be better than the Green Hornet......

[Phibes]

To be fair, the characters are not lame just the movies that ended up being made from the properties. IMHO

Doc Savage has a history of pulps that could be mined as did the Shadow, Carter and Phantom. It would seem the filmmakers chose to go in other routes and their respective movies were only shades of the original characters.

Savage also suffered the same fate with the campy movie done in the 70s.

Originally Posted by cinemaphile

ugh.... if this has that much in common with John Carter, The Phantom, and The Shadow, my interest level just PLUMMETED. Bad movies and lame characters all of them. I love Shane Black, but not sure even he can make me interested in another character like those.

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by cinemaphile

ugh.... if this has that much in common with John Carter, The Phantom, and The Shadow, my interest level just PLUMMETED. Bad movies and lame characters all of them. I love Shane Black, but not sure even he can make me interested in another character like those.

You know it's not the characters that are the problem, but the way that they're handled can be. But if you aren't a fan of pulp stories and comics, you may not enjoy this. This is definitely in the vein of The Rockteer, John Carter, The Shadow, and the Green Hornet. I can't wait for this.

[Elandyll]

If we're going to go Golden Age/ Pulp, to be honest, I'd rather see Dan Dare on the big screen.

I know Warner was supposedly working on that 2 years ago, with Sam Worthington attached, but I have no idea if it's still on the table.

I am just afraid that projects like Doc Savage are more or less DOA these days, particularly after seeing the mega flops of The Spirit, and more recently John Carter which had everything needed to succeed in theory.

[Talyn]

I love the pulp period, my grandpa had most of the broadcasts on tape and I'd listen to them. As far as the movies made thus far.... The Shadow was a decent film, fun and actiony....I wouldn't call it a failure (unless we're just looking at box office). The Phantom, Rocketeer, etc... all were good movies. Unless you have a love of history and the era, it doesn't appeal to the more modern, contemporary and casual audiences. It's the same reason Dark City didn't set the box office on fire and is considered a cult classic. Now....for John Carter. If there was an asterisk next to one of these movies it is this one. The issue, as most of you know, comes from the preproduction (years of development) price tag... It needed to friggin top Titanic in box office receipts to earn a profit. It made more money than any of the other films combined. It had a snowballs chance to be a box office smash. Had any the Shadow earned the box office of John Carter on it's budget....We'd have had 2 films by now, if not more....John Carter was a cursed project. We still got a good movie and with a reasonable budget without the budget baggage it came with....we'd be talking Carter 2 and 3 and then some...

Either way....I'm excited for Doc Savage....

[CYMBOL]

Period films can do well - Sherlock Holmes, Captain America, the Mummy films, Indiana Jones, etc. have done well.

Guess we'll see. Not saying it isn't an uphill struggle, just that it isn't impossible to have a pulpy film that does well.

I know nothing about Doc Savage so I have no expections one way or another.

[Monterey Jack]

This will be every bit as much of a box office flop as John Carter, because NO ONE goes to see movies based on century-old pulp icons with no recognizability factor to anyone under the age of 25.

[duggie walker]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

This will be every bit as much of a box office flop as John Carter, because NO ONE goes to see movies based on century-old pulp icons with no recognizability factor to anyone under the age of 25.

Ever hear of Indiana Jones? And yes, I know he wasn't a pulp character from the 30s. But if you've never heard of Doc Savage what difference does it make?

JOHN CARTER was a good movie, imo. It didn't flop because of its origins, it flopped because of a pernicious campaign against it, started from within the industry and parrotted in the trades and the media.

THE SPIRIT, however, was just a downright bad movie. THE SHADOW was mediocre, albeit with some good visuals. There's every reason to believe that Shane Black's Doc Savage will be considerably better. Doc Savage is a mash-up of Indiana Jones, Sherlock Holmes, Batman, Superman, even James Bond. It's no guarantee of success but it's got a lot more potential than any of the other characters mentioned.

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by duggie walker

Ever hear of Indiana Jones? And yes, I know he wasn't a pulp character from the 30s. But if you've never heard of Doc Savage what difference does it make?

JOHN CARTER was a good movie, imo. It didn't flop because of its origins, it flopped because of a pernicious campaign against it, started from within the industry and parrotted in the trades and the media.

THE SPIRIT, however, was just a downright bad movie. THE SHADOW was mediocre, albeit with some good visuals. There's every reason to believe that Shane Black's Doc Savage will be considerably better. Doc Savage is a mash-up of Indiana Jones, Sherlock Holmes, Batman, Superman, even James Bond. It's no guarantee of success but it's got a lot more potential than any of the other characters mentioned.

Very well said, I agree.

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by duggie walker

Ever hear of Indiana Jones? And yes, I know he wasn't a pulp character from the 30s. But if you've never heard of Doc Savage what difference does it make?

JOHN CARTER was a good movie, imo. It didn't flop because of its origins, it flopped because of a pernicious campaign against it, started from within the industry and parrotted in the trades and the media.

THE SPIRIT, however, was just a downright bad movie. THE SHADOW was mediocre, albeit with some good visuals. There's every reason to believe that Shane Black's Doc Savage will be considerably better. Doc Savage is a mash-up of Indiana Jones, Sherlock Holmes, Batman, Superman, even James Bond. It's no guarantee of success but it's got a lot more potential than any of the other characters mentioned.

Originally Posted by Walts Ghost

Very well said, I agree.

Yes & Yes! why always so much negativity against something that hasn't even been released? Are people just hoping things (movies & such) fail; why would anyone want to think like that? Oh yeah, I liked John Carter, a lot too!

[PopcornBandit]

I've never even heard of Doc Savage until now but this sounds like it could be good. I love Shane Black.

[Walts Ghost]

Shane Black Talks DOC SAVAGE, Trying to Be True to the Character, and Finding a Tall Actor for the Role

Shane Black has picked up a lot of clout after directing Iron Man 3. Directing the year’s biggest box office success will do that. His next project is an adaptation of the 1930s pulp Doc Savage. The eponymous character has been described as “a mix of Sherlock Holmes’ deductive abilities, Tarzan’s outstanding physical abilities, Craig Kennedy’s scientific education, and Abraham Lincoln’s goodness.” In a recent interview, Black says Savage is kind of a proto-Superman, and he’s trying to keep the “goody-goody” aspect of the character, but also aiming to go more in depth with his personality.

Hit the jump for what he had to say about his take on Doc Savage, and the challenge of casting the right actor.

Speaking to IGN [via CS, who did the transcription], Black reiterated that the movie would take place in the 1930s, but elaborated on how they were expanding the character:

I’m a big fan of Black’s, and I like how he’s trying to provide some shading to the character but not ditch his good side for a “grittier” take. I’ve been lobbying for some time that heroes should go back to being upbeat, and it looks like Black may be taking that approach.

doc-savage-bookHowever, there’s also the issue of getting the right actor into the role:

When the interviewer suggested Chris Hemsworth, Black responded “That’s not a bad idea. What’s he doing?” Personally, I would suggest Armie Hammer. Hemsworth isn’t a bad actor, but he’s a bit too modern (it’s why he fits so well in the 1970s-set Rush). Hammer has more of a classic look, although I don’t know if he would line-up with Black’s previous statement of “Jimmy Stewart as a Stone-Cold Killer“. However, actors are always looking to expand their images so they don’t get typecast, and I’d be interested to see how Hammer would fit into what Black is describing. But if you’re looking for height, IMDb says Hammer is 6’5″ and Hemsworth is 6’3 1/2″, so Hammer’s got the slight advantage there.

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