Shane Black signed to direct Doc Savage for Columbia Pictures

Out Of My Vulcan Mind · February 23 2010, 07:22 PM

From Variety:

Columbia Pictures is set to return to the Bronze Age.Studio is bringing Doc Savage -- known as the Man of Bronze and hero of pulp novels, films and comicbooks -- back to the bigscreen.

Shane Black is attached to direct the film from a screenplay he is penning with Anthony Bagarozzi and Chuck Mondry. Neal Moritz ("Fast and Furious") will produce through his Sony-based Original Film banner.

One of the most popular characters in the pulps of the 1930s and '40s, Doc Savage was also popularized on radio, film and TV. Trained since birth to be nearly superhuman in every way, Doc Savage uses his skills and powers to fight evil all over the world.

"Doc Savage is an icon, a character with limitless possibilities," said Columbia co-president Matt Tolmach of the character, who is by turns a scientist, physician, adventurer, inventor, explorer and researcher. "We have had a great experience working with Neal to bring another classic character of the era, the Green Hornet, to a new generation of fans, and we think he and Shane make the ideal team to bring Doc Savage back to the bigscreen."

Black, who was one of the highest-paid scribes of late '80s and early '90s when he penned such screenplays as "Lethal Weapon" and "The Long Kiss Goodnight," segued to directing in recent years. He made his helming debut with the Robert Downey Jr. starrer "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" (2005).

He's also known for his vast collection of antique detective books and pulp fiction.

Bagarozzi and Mondry's credits include "Cold Warrior" and "Tick-Tock," which is in development at Columbia.

Black has said in interviews that the film will be set in the 1930s and he's drawing elements from the best of Lester Dent's Doc Savage novels.

Bad Bishop · February 23 2010, 07:35 PM

Great news, though I wonder if Black has enough experience as a director to take this on.

Harvey · February 23 2010, 08:07 PM

His direction of Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang was spot on, so why not? He certainly has the experience as a screenwriter to make this work.

Greg Cox · February 23 2010, 09:21 PM

Sounds like he's familiar with the material, too.

Captaindemotion · February 23 2010, 09:38 PM

There are no limits to the ways in which this rocks. This could well be the best 30s-set pulp movie since Raiders.

Nerys Myk · February 23 2010, 09:57 PM

But will it wash the memory of the Roy Ely Doc Savage from my mind?

ClayinCA · February 23 2010, 10:22 PM

Looks like it's partially been washed away already, as it was Ron Ely.

(Sorry...couldn't resist!)

Nerys Myk · February 23 2010, 10:31 PM

ClayinCA wrote:

Looks like it's partially been washed away already, as it was Ron Ely.

(Sorry...couldn't resist!)

No prob. Now I need to work on Bo Derek's Tarzan of the Apes!

Bad Bishop · February 23 2010, 11:04 PM

Harvey wrote:

His direction of Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang was spot on, so why not? He certainly has the experience as a screenwriter to make this work.

I have complete faith in Mr. Black as a screenwriter. I loved his script for The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996), which blended big action scenes with witty dialogue. Still, he has directed just one film. I will just cross my fingers, hope that Black has some top talent by his side (cinematographer, assistant directors) and be glad that a diehard Doc Savage fan is making this movie.

Dream · February 24 2010, 09:14 AM

Robert Downey Jr will be playing Doc Savage.

S. Gomez · February 24 2010, 05:27 PM

Never heard of Shane Black, but...

Set in the 1930's? He's got a huge collection of pulps?

Yes! This could very well rock.

Captaindemotion · February 24 2010, 05:31 PM

^ Shane Black wrote Lethal Weapon,The Last Boy Scout, The Long Kiss Goodnight and wrote and directed Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang. He also appeared in Predator and co-wrote The Last Action Hero.

S. Gomez · February 24 2010, 05:38 PM

^I got most of that from the thread already.

Captaindemotion · February 24 2010, 08:06 PM

^ Then you should have said 'I had never heard of Shane Black.'

TheSeeker · February 24 2010, 08:13 PM

I've never read any of the novels but I used to like reading the Doc Savage comics from DC in the 80s and I always thought it would make a good movie. Having seen Kiss Kiss Bang Bang I am really looking forward to it!

February 23 2010, 07:35 PM	#2
Bad Bishop Rear Admiral Location: The Land of Fruits and Nuts	Re: Shane Black signed to direct Doc Savage for Columbia Pictures Great news, though I wonder if Black has enough experience as a director to take this on. __________________ Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be debunked. (Paraphrasing Dr. Carl Sagan)

February 23 2010, 08:07 PM	#3
Harvey Admiral	Re: Shane Black signed to direct Doc Savage for Columbia Pictures His direction of Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang was spot on, so why not? He certainly has the experience as a screenwriter to make this work. __________________ "What do you hear, Starbuck?" "Nothing but the rain, sir." "Then grab your gun and bring in the cat."

February 23 2010, 09:21 PM	#4
Greg Cox Vice Admiral Location: Oxford, PA	Re: Shane Black signed to direct Doc Savage for Columbia Pictures Sounds like he's familiar with the material, too. __________________ www.gregcox-author.com

February 23 2010, 09:38 PM	#5
Captaindemotion Vice Admiral Location: Ireland	Re: Shane Black signed to direct Doc Savage for Columbia Pictures There are no limits to the ways in which this rocks. This could well be the best 30s-set pulp movie since Raiders. __________________ Hodor!!!!!!!

February 23 2010, 09:57 PM	#6
Nerys Myk Admiral Location: House of Kang, now with ridges	Re: Shane Black signed to direct Doc Savage for Columbia Pictures But will it wash the memory of the Roy Ely Doc Savage from my mind?

STAR TREK

CSI

ABOUT US

February 23 2010, 10:22 PM	#7
ClayinCA Commodore Location: New New Jersey	Re: Shane Black signed to direct Doc Savage for Columbia Pictures Looks like it's partially been washed away already, as it was Ron Ely. (Sorry...couldn't resist!)

February 24 2010, 09:14 AM	#10
Dream Admiral	Re: Shane Black signed to direct Doc Savage for Columbia Pictures Robert Downey Jr will be playing Doc Savage. __________________ TWoP Forums .

February 24 2010, 05:27 PM	#11
S. Gomez Rear Admiral Location: Vancouver, BC	Re: Shane Black signed to direct Doc Savage for Columbia Pictures Never heard of Shane Black, but... Set in the 1930's? He's got a huge collection of pulps? Yes! This could very well rock. __________________ NOW READING: Count To A Trillion by John C. Wright Marvellous Adventure--Online periodical with escape, excitement, and adventure

February 24 2010, 05:31 PM	#12
Captaindemotion Vice Admiral Location: Ireland	Re: Shane Black signed to direct Doc Savage for Columbia Pictures ^ Shane Black wrote Lethal Weapon,The Last Boy Scout, The Long Kiss Goodnight and wrote and directed Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang. He also appeared in Predator and co-wrote The Last Action Hero. __________________ Hodor!!!!!!!

February 24 2010, 05:38 PM	#13
S. Gomez Rear Admiral Location: Vancouver, BC	Re: Shane Black signed to direct Doc Savage for Columbia Pictures ^I got most of that from the thread already. __________________ NOW READING: Count To A Trillion by John C. Wright Marvellous Adventure--Online periodical with escape, excitement, and adventure

February 24 2010, 08:06 PM	#14
Captaindemotion Vice Admiral Location: Ireland	Re: Shane Black signed to direct Doc Savage for Columbia Pictures ^ Then you should have said 'I had never heard of Shane Black.' __________________ Hodor!!!!!!!

February 24 2010, 08:13 PM	#15
TheSeeker Vice Admiral Location: New York, NY	Re: Shane Black signed to direct Doc Savage for Columbia Pictures I've never read any of the novels but I used to like reading the Doc Savage comics from DC in the 80s and I always thought it would make a good movie. Having seen Kiss Kiss Bang Bang I am really looking forward to it!