Daniel Craig will no longer star in the DC Comics adaptation Sgt. Rock, directed by Luca Guadagnino. Despite early reports in November suggesting that Craig was in talks for the lead role, sources close to the project confirm that he never formally committed. DC Studios chose not to comment on the change.
Sgt. Rock, which was first introduced in 1959, isn’t your typical superhero story. The character, a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. army, leads Easy Company during World War II’s European campaign. While he does eventually become chief of staff for the villain Lex Luthor, the character is more focused on military action than traditional superhero tropes.
DC Studios co-chiefs James Gunn and Peter Safran have expressed excitement for the film as a straightforward war story and view it as an opportunity to showcase the diversity of projects planned under the DC banner. They are already looking for a new actor to take on the lead role.
Craig recently earned some of his best reviews in years for his performance in Guadagnino’s Queer, though it didn’t lead to major awards season nominations. The actor is set to return as detective Benoit Blanc in Wake Up Dead Man, the third film in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out series. Craig is also slated to star alongside Charlize Theron in Two for the Money, directed by Justin Lin for Apple Studios.
Meanwhile, Guadagnino’s busy schedule continues, with the thriller After the Hunt starring Julia Roberts set for release this October. He is also working on an adaptation of American Psycho with Austin Butler and Separate Rooms, a gay romance featuring Josh O’Connor.
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