Director Shane Black States His Intentions For The Doc Savage Adaptation

Director Shane Black  States His Intentions For The Doc Savage Adaptation

Shane Black is attached to direct an adaptation of the pulp comic, Doc Savage. He wants to do it but as you can imagine he's a little busy at the moment. Here's what he has to say.

By MarkJulian - Nov 01, 2011 08:11 AM EST
Filed Under: Action
Source: CBR


Source: CBR

You are also doing the "Death Note" movie and are still working on "Doc Savage," which people have been talking about for years. That's a lot of comic book movies -- do you feel that's the direction you are going in right now or you are interested in?

If we do "Doc Savage," the challenge is make it adult. I think that there are so few practitioners of action movies these days who are doing worthwhile stuff that it behooves me to try to weigh in and try to do the "Raiders Of The Lost Ark"-type stuff, to try to recapture the magic. When I stood in line for a summer movie when I was coming up at eighteen, nineteen, twenty years old, I stood in line for two and a half, three hours and you got the goods! They delivered! And if they didn't, you went outside and said, "Arg, 'Indiana Jones 2' wasn't that good, I stood in line for three hours!" Now, you don't know what you're getting!

There's just, I think, a decrease in the quality of these types of comic book action movies, and so it's almost irresistible, sometimes, to try and shore that up a little, or weigh in at least with my opinion about what's wrong and how it should be...I do want to do "Doc Savage." The script is still evolving and I'm kind of busy, but I want to get it right and I want to do it.








Thoughts? Sound off below in the usual spot!



Doc Savage (full name Clark Savage, Jr.) is a fictional character originally published in American pulp magazines during the 1930s and 1940s. He was created by publisher Henry W. Ralston and editor John L. Nanovic at Street and Smith Publications, with additional material contributed by the series' main writer, Lester Dent.

The heroic-adventure character would go on to appear in several other media, including radio, film, and comic books, with his adventures reprinted for modern-day audiences in series of paperback books. Into the 21st century, Doc Savage has remained a nostalgic icon referenced in novels and in popular culture.




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marvel72
marvel72 - 11/1/2011, 8:37 AM
the rock should play doc savage.
DocBantam
DocBantam - 11/1/2011, 9:08 AM
Ahhhh I REALLY want this to happen. One of my favourite heroes, and the star of over 200 books and as many comics, Doc is a truly GREAT character. AND he has been portrayed in both Marvel and DC comic books, my favourites been the black and white ones in the 70's.
The camp Ron Ely version of 1972 was a travesty and Doc really needs the full treatment in a full-blown new movie. Will it happen? I don't know tbh because i have seen all this talk before. For me, it could be either Daniel Craig or Josh Holloway to portay Doc. You need a SERIOUS actor and the Rock is too lightweight. And Alan Rickman as John Sunlight!!
DocBantam
DocBantam - 11/1/2011, 9:09 AM
Yoy must have read my mind Dawnelldo! ha ha
Dedpool
Dedpool - 11/1/2011, 9:11 AM
Daniel Craig or Neil McDonugh!!!
Axelbratoski
Axelbratoski - 11/1/2011, 9:18 AM
Kevin McKidd? Aaron Eckhart? Daniel Craig maybe?
marvel72
marvel72 - 11/1/2011, 9:18 AM
@ Dawnelldo

nope,i think he could do it.
plasticman
plasticman - 11/1/2011, 9:19 AM
I'd like to see Daniel Craig or Simon Baker in this role. No matter who gets it, I agree with Shane Black that there should be total consideration for making this movie a true epic masterpiece. To me, in the same category as Lawerence of Arabia and Raiders of the Lost Arc mixed with action elements found in Pirates of the Caribbean or Avatar.

This a classic respectable story line and should be treated as such when translating to film.
StrangerX
StrangerX - 11/1/2011, 9:42 AM
Still got the Wizard issue when Arnold was suppose to be in Doc Savage.
RaMMaR
RaMMaR - 11/1/2011, 9:49 AM
i'm not sure if Josh Holloway could carry a feature, but he looks the part. Besides, i think the more pressing questions are if it's gonna be a period flick (post WW1) and more importantly who are gonna play the Fabulous Five?
plasticman
plasticman - 11/1/2011, 10:29 AM
Tom Arnold
plasticman
plasticman - 11/1/2011, 10:41 AM
Touche
maskman0
maskman0 - 11/1/2011, 10:59 AM
This is a tough choice. Doc has brains and muscles. I can't see Daniel Craig doing it unless he bulk up, which he can probably do. The Rock got the right size but I can't see him deliver techno babble convincingly. Same goes for Dominic Purcell and Vin Diesel. Mark Valley (Human Target)can probably pull it off. He's got the looks and can bulk up.
dtwothaniel
dtwothaniel - 11/1/2011, 11:04 AM
WHAT ABOUT DEATH NOTE????
AlanWarlock
AlanWarlock - 11/1/2011, 11:10 AM
You'll never find someone as physically imposing as Clark Savage, Jr. is meant to be who could also act like a brilliant scientist. Mark Valley is a good actor and tough as nails, but he's a dwarf compared to what you need for this movie. Schwrzenegger (who was attached to a "Doc Savage" movie at one time is also too short. I just hope Shane Black's project, if it's the one to hit the screen, does justice to the character and that he doesn't feel the need to denigrate or jettison stuff that he thinks is inappropriate. I'm frankly surprised that he still has the gig directing "Iron Man 3" after how he spoke about the Mandarin and about the ending of "Captain America: The First Avenger." I can only assume Marvel is more interested in keeping RDJ happy for the rest of his tenure on the franchise than they are in whether their directors toe the company line.
maskman0
maskman0 - 11/1/2011, 11:33 AM
Fabulous Five cast
Jon Hamm as Ham (Duh)
@ Inturder - Chaz Bono can be Monk. lol Or Benicio Del toro with prosthetics
David Tennent as Johnny
Chris Hemsworth as Renny
Jackie Earle Haley as Long Tom

Daniel Craig or Christian Bale as Johnny Sunlight
DocBantam
DocBantam - 11/1/2011, 11:47 AM
ok seeing as we are talking the rest of the cast here is mine....

David Hyde Pierce as Long Tom (Miles from 'Frasier')
Timothy Dalton as Ham (watch him in 'Rocketeer' where he even LOOKS like Ham)
Ron Perlman as Monk
JefF Goldblum as Johnny
Stephen Lang as Renny
marvel72
marvel72 - 11/1/2011, 11:51 AM
@ intruder

doc savage the man of bronze

sam worthington the man of wood. :D
DocBantam
DocBantam - 11/1/2011, 11:55 AM
...And this has GOT to be set in the 30's.
Wouldn't be right otherwise.
Be interesting to see if Columbia could snaffle the rights to characters like The Shadow, Rocketeer and The Spider as well and maybe have references to them as well. Would be sweet
maskman0
maskman0 - 11/1/2011, 12:01 PM
@AlanWarlock - I agree. No actor is a shoe-in for doc at this point. Hopefully they just find a really good actor that's willing to bulk up. Then we let movie magic and camera angles provide the optical illusion that can make his height and mass even more believable.

I just hope they base the story in the 30s. After seeing trailers for Adventures of Tin Tin, they can definitely do Doc Savage as a animated movie.
maskman0
maskman0 - 11/1/2011, 12:03 PM
@DocBantam - Like you casting. Can def see Ron Perlman as Monk.
brokenexcitement
brokenexcitement - 11/1/2011, 12:30 PM
I remember watching the 1975 Doc Savage movie when I was a kid, it was fun and I often have fond memories of it. A more "modern" spin on it would make it some what of a James Bond meets Indiana Jones style movie. I would be interested in seeing where they took it and how it developed. Most definitely would be a hit if done right.

I'm on board
headlopper
headlopper - 11/1/2011, 12:31 PM
Now THIS could be cool! Doc's got balls of steel..I, I mean balls of bronze.
ThaMessenger07
ThaMessenger07 - 11/1/2011, 12:41 PM
I Like Neil McDonugh. He's 6'3 and can get big. Savage is 6'8 so the taller the better. If you got Neil M. at about 240-250 solid, you have a great Savage. If they go young then go Hemsworth, same thing going for him.
plasticman
plasticman - 11/1/2011, 12:47 PM
Too bad Nathan Jones doesn't come across as intellectual in the movies. It seems someone like that is what you all are thinking would be perfect in regards to size.
DocBantam
DocBantam - 11/1/2011, 12:53 PM
AQUAMAN? The poor-mans SubMariner! Give me Namor prince of Atlantis anyday rather than ....fishy boy
DocBantam
DocBantam - 11/1/2011, 1:03 PM
BTW anyone who DOESN'T know - Doc Savage's full name is Clark Savage jr and he was created in 1933 before Superman. The latter shamelessly copied Doc's own Fortress of Solitude and also Doc's first name (Clark). SHAME ON YOU DC!!
ThaMessenger07
ThaMessenger07 - 11/1/2011, 1:21 PM
Yeah but Superman would kick Doc's ass so those facts are all pointless.....
DocBantam
DocBantam - 11/1/2011, 3:33 PM
"Doc, it's not who was there first, it's who is better"

. ...and Namor is a HECK of a lot better than old Fish Breath. And he was around first. Another case of DC ripping off other heroes?

Hey i could go on and on here but the facts are that Doc Savage has so far stayed around a heck of a lot longer than most of 'em. Proof enuff.

I am not even going to comment on the ridiculous argument that Supes could 'whup' Doc. Oh really? So that makes him a better character does it?

comicb00kguy
comicb00kguy - 11/1/2011, 3:54 PM
I'm encouraged that it sounds like Black wants to get this movie right. An Indiana Jones feel would work really well with Doc Savage.

I'm also with those who say that this film should be set in the '30s. I just think Doc Savage works better as a period piece than trying to set the film in modern times.
AlexDeLarge87
AlexDeLarge87 - 11/1/2011, 4:08 PM
Ryan McPartlin maybe?
Fassbender wouldnt be bad choice either. Just give him the abs of Henry Cavill and he would be great.
admiralhowdy
admiralhowdy - 11/1/2011, 6:11 PM
He's so right. Recapture the magic. Whatever the cast, just do it right. Sounds like he at least is in tune to the challenge, and this will definitely be one I'm looking for. I remember my utter disappointment after getting so psyched for The Phantom, among many others.
mikespitzer
mikespitzer - 11/1/2011, 8:01 PM
Needs to be an unknown like .....
http://www.rawsoundrecords.com/Doc%20Savage.jpg
mikespitzer
mikespitzer - 11/1/2011, 8:01 PM
Smile
RolandD
RolandD - 11/1/2011, 8:10 PM
Went to see the Doc Savage movie as a kid and was disappointed, although I was still waiting for the sequel that was promised at the end, much like at the end of Bond movies. That was so premature of George Pal.

Also, need a serious and much better done Shadow movie. I cringe whenever I think of the bomb scene (with such a fine actor as Ian McKellan no less-loved his Gandalf and Magneto, the latter despite the overall bad quality of the X-Men movies).
DocBantam
DocBantam - 11/2/2011, 3:55 AM
I liked both the Shadow and the Phantom movies, shame that they didn't catch on. Also loved Rocketeer but was wasted by a lame leading man (where IS that guy Bill Campbell now?)
There's definitely an audience for a new 'Indiana Jones' if its done right. I'd adapt one of the Marvel black-and-whites there were some great stories there - the Inferno Scheme being one of them.
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