Dwayne Johnson gives an update on Doc Savage movie from Shane Black

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

I like to think of Dwayne Johnson as a more ripped and taller version of Guillermo del Toro, in that he has too many projects in the works to count. With RAMPAGE in theaters tonight and several others on the way (SKYSCRAPER, JUNGLE CRUISE, BLACK ADAM) it’s hard to keep track of what he’s got going on. One movie that may have slipped through the cracks is the project he is meant to do with Shane Black, DOC SAVAGE. Well, there’s a big reason why we haven’t heard anything about it in a bit, and sadly, it spells bad news for the flick.

Johnson was speaking with Collider when he was asked about the progress of the movie, which would be a modern adaptation of the classic pulp stories centered on a scientist, adventurer, detective, inventor, explorer (and so much more) with heightened abilities. According to Johnson, the project has been moving slowly due to issues with the series’ rights, a matter that has yet to be resolved.

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First of all, love Shane Black and we’ve had multiple meetings on that project that we were going to work on. Right now, Shane’s doing things. I’m doing things. That project had a few issues, not creative issues but more so business affairs issues — where the project once was, who had rights to it, where we were trying to move it to. There was a lot of that, which we’re still kind of working through. At the end of the day, Shane’s such a spectacular writer or director, but whether it’s that project or something else, we’ve made a pact that we’re going to work together at some point in our careers.

Johnson seems excited to work with Black on something, but from the sound of it, it may not be this movie. Though the superstar may have some hope for the movie, it sounds like this whole deal with the rights has moved things into a position where they may not be able to go much further until something gives. Who knows when that will be, and Johnson is continuing to stack on projects by the minute. While you read this he’s signed on to play The Thing in a Fantastic Four movie and nabbed the lead role in a biopic about Fabio. 

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Pairing Black and Johnson together would be a real treat for movie fans, and I hope they get a chance to do it soon. It's unfortunate they may not get a chance to do it with something so potentially cool as DOC SAVAGE, which could be over-the-top and pulpy and all-around amazing. Perhaps if Black's THE PREDATOR goes well Johnson could star in the sequel, bringing back some of that muscle power back to the franchise.

RAMPAGE is in theaters tonight with its first preshows!