Shane Black signed to direct Doc Savage for Columbia Pictures

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

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]

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

 

[Harvey]

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]

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

 

[Captaindemotion]

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]

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

 

[ClayinCA]

Looks like it's partially been washed away already, as it was Ron Ely. (Sorry...couldn't resist!)

 

[Nerys Myk]

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]

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]

Robert Downey Jr will be playing Doc Savage.

 

[S. Gomez]

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]

^ 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]

^I got most of that from the thread already.

 

[Captaindemotion]

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

 

[TheSeeker]

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!