'Doc Savage' Casts Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson

Get ready to see Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson karate chop his adversaries while out-smarting: the “Fast & Furious” actor has signed on to star in “Doc Savage,” Johnson said in an Instagram post on Monday.

Written and directed by Shane Black (“The Nice Guys”), the film is in development at Sony Pictures.

Johnson called Doc Savage “the world’s first superhero,” noting that popular pulp magazine character from the 1930s and 40s predates Superman. In fact, the comic book hero was often called “a superman,” which eventually inspired the creation of the Man of Steel.

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“I can see why the creator of Superman took only the best parts of Doc Savage and leaving the “weirdo” part behind,” wrote Johnson. “But to us, it’s that ‘weirdo’ part that makes Clark ‘Doc’ Savage dope!”

The MacGyver of his time, Savage was a physician, surgeon, scientist, adventurer, inventor, explorer, researcher and musician, known for his superhuman abilities in smarts and strength. The virtual swiss army knife of comic book heroes, Savage has a photographic memory, is a master of disguise and can imitate voices — along with having masterful martial arts skills.

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“He can even identify a women’s perfume from half a mile away,” wrote Johnson. “He is literally the master of everything.”

The top reason Johnson is excited to play the part, he added, is that “HE’S A F*CKING HILARIOUS WEIRDO!”

It’s OFFICIAL: For all comic book fans you already know the world’s first superhero (pre-dating Superman) is the “Man of Bronze” himself Clark “Doc” Savage. Want to thank my bud director/writer Shane Black and his writing team Anthony Bagarozzi and Chuck Mondry for flying in from LA and sitting with me and our @sevenbucksprod’s producer @hhgarcia41 on this Memorial Day weekend to chop up creative and break story on this very cool project. Comic book fans around the world know that the cool thing about “Doc” Savage is that he’s the inspiration for Superman. First name Clark, called “Man of Bronze”, retreats to his “Fortress of Solitude” in the Arctic etc etc. Doc was physically and mentally trained from birth by his father and a team of scientists to become the perfect human specimen with a genius level intellect. His heightened senses are beyond comprehension. He can even identify a women’s perfume from half a mile away. He is literally the master of everything. But here’s the #1 reason I’m excited to become Doc Savage.. HE’S A F*CKING HILARIOUS WEIRDO! Confidently, yet innocently he has zero social graces whatsoever due to his upbringing so every interaction he has with someone is direct, odd, often uncomfortable and amazingly hilarious. After speaking for hours w/ Shane Black I can see why the creator of Superman took only the best parts of Doc Savage and leaving the “weirdo” part behind. But to us, it’s that “weirdo” part that makes Clark “Doc” Savage dope! Can’t wait to sink my teeth into this one of a kind character. #ItsOfficial #WorldsFirstSuperhero #GeniusIntellect #PhysicalSpecimen #FnLoveableWeirdo #DocSavage

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on May 30, 2016 at 5:53am PDT

Johnson’s Instagram post included a photo of his weekend meeting with Black, along with co-writers Anthony Bagarozzi and Chuck Mondry.

News of Johnson’s casting comes three years after Black first announced he was kicking off the Sony franchise for “Doc Savage.”

'X-Men' Movies Ranked by Worldwide Box Office (Photos)

"X-Men: Apocalypse" hits theaters this Friday, and is under a Golden Gate Bridge of pressure to beat its forebears at the box office. The following films in the franchise, ranked by worldwide gross and adjusted for inflation, illustrate just what it's up against.
Fox
8. "X-Men: First Class" (2011)

Worldwide: $376.1 million ($353.6 million)
Budget: $170.2 million ($160 million)
Opening (U.S.): $58.6 million ($55.1 million)
Domestic: $155.7 million ($146.4 million)

*All numbers adjusted for inflation. Actual figures in parentheses.
Fox
7. "X-Men" (2000)

Worldwide: 411.7 million ($296.3 million)
Budget: $104.2 million ($75 million)
Opening (U.S.): $75.7 million ($54.5 million)
Domestic: $218.6 million ($157.3 million)

*All numbers adjusted for inflation. Actual figures in parentheses.
6. "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" (2009)

Worldwide: $415.9 million ($373.1 million)
Budget: $167.3 million ($150 million)
Opening (U.S.): $94.8 million ($85.1 million)
Domestic: $200.5 million ($179.9 million)

*All numbers adjusted for inflation. Actual figures in parentheses.
Fox
5. "The Wolverine" (2013)

Worldwide: $426 million ($414.8 million)
Budget: $123.2 million ($120 million)
Opening (U.S.): $54.5 million ($53.1 million)
Domestic: $136 million ($132.6 million)

*All numbers adjusted for inflation. Actual figures in parentheses.
Fox
4. "X2: X-Men United" (2003)

Worldwide: $530.15 million ($407,711,549)
Budget: $143 million ($110 million)
Opening (U.S.): $111.18 million ($85,558,731)
Domestic: $278.1 million ($214,949,694)

*All numbers adjusted for inflation. Actual figures in parentheses.
Fox
3. "X-Men: The Last Stand" (2006)

Worldwide: $545.2 million ($459.4 million)
Budget: $249.2 million ($210 million)
Opening (U.S.): $121.9 million ($102.8 million)
Domestic: $278.2 million ($234.4 million)

*All numbers adjusted for inflation. Actual figures in parentheses.
Fox
2. "X-Men: Days of Future Past" (2014)

Worldwide: $755.8 million ($747.9 million)
Budget: $202 million ($200 million)
Opening (U.S.): $91.7 million ($90.8 million)
Domestic: $236.4 million ($234 million)

*All numbers adjusted for inflation. Actual figures in parentheses.
Fox
1. "Deadpool" (2016)

Worldwide: $763 million
Budget: $58 million
Opening: $132.4 million
Domestic: $362.7 million
Fox

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Days ahead of the opening of “X-Men: Apocalypse,” TheWrap looks at the other films in the franchise in order of global adjusted gross

"X-Men: Apocalypse" hits theaters this Friday, and is under a Golden Gate Bridge of pressure to beat its forebears at the box office. The following films in the franchise, ranked by worldwide gross and adjusted for inflation, illustrate just what it's up against.

View In Gallery

'X-Men' Movies Ranked by Worldwide Box Office (Photos)

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