Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson to Play ‘F—ing Hilarious Weirdo’ ‘Doc Savage’ in Shane Black Adaptation
“Fast & Furious” star plays a vintage pulp magazine superhero who predated Superman
Meriah Doty | May 30, 2016 @ 10:24 AM
Last Updated: May 30, 2016 @ 10:25 AM
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.
“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.
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.