The Sgt. Rock movie that has been in development at DC Studios has been canceled and is not moving forward.
The flick was set to star Colin Farrell as the titular character and had Luca Guadagnino attached as director, with the script by Justin Kuritzkes, who wrote Guadagnino’s Challengers and Queer.
Sgt. Rock was in pre-production, including casting additional roles, and was supposed to start filming this summer in England. It’s said actor Mike Faist, who starred in Guadagnino’s Challengers, was up for a role as part of the men of Easy Company, the combat unit fighting Nazi forces in Europe. It’s also said a role was eyed for the part of a female French resistance fighter.
The plot is said to follow Sgt. Rock trying to find the Holy Spear before the Nazis.
Why was Sgt. Rock canceled?
Via THR, the reason for the shutdown isn’t clear, but one insider for the site pointed to scheduling issues tied to outdoor filming. It is added that the source says the project isn’t dead and could be revisited later this year, with a potential summer 2026 shoot.
Another source for the site has suggested the studio had doubts about Guadagnino directing due to lack of experience with action movies, and while the $70 million budget is modest by comic book standards, it’s claimed that studio confidence may have faltered leading to the cancellation of Sgt. Rock.
It’s added that DC co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran were big on Sgt. Rock, even though it wasn’t part of their original DCU slate. It’s said they made space for the flick based on the strength of Justin Kuritzkes’ script, again, who previously wrote Guadagnino’s Challengers and Queer.
Who is Sgt. Rock?
Sgt. Rock is one of DC Comics’ most legendary war heroes, created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Joe Kubert. He debuted in Our Army at War #83 in 1959 and quickly became the face of the series, which was later renamed Sgt. Rock in his honor.
Frank Rock, known simply as Sgt. Rock, commands Easy Company—a gritty, battle-hardened unit fighting through the trenches of World War II. With his Thompson submachine gun, grenadier’s belt, and steely glare under his helmet, Rock stands as a symbol of grit, loyalty, and unbreakable resolve.
