TheDCUniverse felt a bit one-note in its most recent on-screen incarnation. The franchise tried to copy the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe without the level of restraint it employed on its way to the top. With the DCEU over and done with, the new DCU needs to take a lot of new directions. One way to mix things up would be to dispense with superheroes entirely and try out a few new genres. They may have that idea in mind if they are truly planning on making the rumored Sgt. Rock movie.
One of the interesting things about James Gunn’s takeover of the DC Universe is thatGunn tends to lock-in onless loved characters. It’s easy to push Batman or Wonder Woman, but selling a project about Booster Gold takes creativity. James Gunn finds something to love in every character, even if he has to fundamentally change them to do it. The creators he hires should demonstrate the same virtue, hopefully instilling a degree of appreciation in every new DC project.
Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert
First Appearance Date
June 1959
Sgt. Frank Rock was the most popular hero ever to come out of the1950s war comic boom. His predecessor, simply known as The Rock, debuted in an issue ofG. I. Combatin 1959. He made his full first appearance a few months later, gradually taking overOur Army at War. The series eventually became known asSgt. Rock. His backstory would emerge over the following hundreds of issues. Rock comes from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His father, John, won distinction in the First World War, but he sadly didn’t make it back. Rock quit school to support his mother, finding some success as a prizefighter before turning to a steel mill for more stable employment. Rock joined the Army after the attack on Pearl Harbor. His early career saw him rise through the ranks quickly as his superior officers died in droves. In time, he took a leadership position in his unit, known as Easy Company. Rock and his group fought in every single major US military action in the Europeantheater of World War II. In his original tale, Frank Rock follows his father’s path. Most versions of Sgt. Rock’s stories end as the war does. He suffers a fatal wound from the last enemy bullet fired before the war ends.
Did Sgt. Frank Rock survive World War II?
In many versions of the story, Rock dies in the war, but he’s also a fixture in DC Comics. Rock hasEarth-One and Earth-Two variants, but he’s also a slightly different character in the post-crisis timeline. The new Rock interacts with several superheroes and plays more interesting roles in the franchise. An Earth-Two story saw him work with Bruce Wayne, who was operating undercover and pretending to be a British spy. Batman joined Easy Company to prevent the Nazis from using a nerve gas, and Rock even got to return the favor by saving Wayne’s life shortly thereafter. Most war comics ended before or during the 1980s, but DC still saw potential in Rock. Rock became one of the earliest leaders of Task Force X, the blackops organization that included the Suicide Squad. Rock would serve multiple tours as the field commander of the unruly group, continuing his long march through the ranks. Rock became a general.Lex Luthor made himhis Chief of Staff when he became president. Rock’s other death saw him lead a suicide mission involving a plane full of nukes to damage the impenetrable armor of an alien set on causing a new big bang. Rock’s creator, Robert Kanigher, maintained that the character had to die in the war, stating:
As far as I’m concerned, Rock is the only authentic World War II soldier. For obvious reasons. He and Easy Company live only and will eventually die, to the last man, in World War II.
Will DC make a Sgt. Rock movie?
Matthew W. at Nexus Point Newsexclusively reported the questionable announcement that Luca Guadagnino and Justin Kuritzkes, the director and writer of this year’sChallengers, will direct a Sgt. Rock film for the DC Universe. The rumor has become a popular point of discussion online. It comes after a similar suggestion in February, suggesting both a Sgt. Rock movie and a high-profile director behind it. There isn’t much substance behind this suggestion at the moment, but theconcept has started a conversation. This wouldn’t be the first attempt to make a Sgt. Rock movie.
Arnold Schwarzenegger was set to playRock in a movie in the late 1980s. The project enjoyed several scripts from massive talents like David Peoples and Steven E. de Souza. It slid into the late 90s before they announced Schwarzenegger’s departure. Bruce Willis became a potential replacement. Even Guy Ritchie got involved, but he stepped aside to direct 2008’sSherlock Holmes. By 2009, they had directorFrancis Lawrence (Constantine)and writer Chad St. John (Replicas) attached. The project went silent, as it remains to this day. The closest thing fans have is a 14-minute animated short film calledDC Showcase: Sgt. Rock, which came withBatman: Hushin 2019.
TheSgt. Rockmovie rumors seem unlikely, but they could be partially accurate. A cinematic adaptation of Sgt. Rock’s story would be a bold new direction for the DCU. It’s a great way tospark something new in the franchise, but it’s no sure thing. Sgt. Frank Rock may have to keep waiting for his big-screen debut, but nothing’s easy in Easy Company.
