THE DC COMICS WWII HERO, SGT. ROCK IS COMING TO THE BIG SCREEN
To be frank, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) has had a much rockier go of things compared to the success found in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Because of this, DC finds itself restarting its direction once again and opening up new projects on familiar faces and lesser-known characters within its universe. Sgt. Rock may not have the fame of Superman or Batman but he’s an essential military-based character, and a former James Bond is taking on the DCEU role.
Who Is Sgt. Rock?
Sergeant Franklin John Rock aka Sgt. Rock is a superhero in DC Comics who served in the U.S. Army's European Theatre during World War II as a member of Easy Company.
Rock enlisted after Pearl Harbor and rose through the ranks, earning respect for his leadership and bravery in combat.
Easy Company would go on to fight in many major WWII battles, with Rock leaning on his calm demeanor, accurate shooting, superhuman physical abilities, and unique instinct he called his "Combat Antenna," which allowed him to anticipate enemy attacks.
Typically, Rock was equipped with a Thompson submachine gun, a Colt M1911A1 pistol, and olive drab fatigues.
Despite his toughness, Rock displayed a deep moral compass and was profoundly moved by the tragedies of war, especially when they involved children or enemy conscripts forced into battle.
Overall, the comics Sgt. Rock would appear focused on the juxtaposition of humanity amid the horrors of conflict, along with themes of leadership, sacrifice, and larger wartime narratives connected to the real war.
Daniel Craig Joins the DCEU?
DC Comics is bringing Sgt. Rock to the big screen as James Gunn works on rebooting the DCEU with a range of content from the company’s impressive catalog.
Not only is the WWII hero coming to the movie world but notable director Luca Guadagnino is linked with possibly working on the project while Daniel Craig could star.
Since his first appearance in 1959 as a part of Our Army at War, Sgt. Rock has been a part of various series and during that time, he was part of several WWII-inspired comics that would come to mix reality with science fiction.
One of the unique aspects Gunn and his crew will be able to tackle with Sgt. Rock is his humanity. While gifted with many strengths, at the end of the day, he was simply a warfighter in Europe fighting the Axis Powers.
Sgt. Rock being a part of DC Comics has seen the Soldier team up with iconic superheroes Superman and Batman, depending on the timeline and theme at the time, but in the end, you can expect the focus to remain on the troops in Easy Company.
How Will the Sgt. Rock Movie Fit In the DC Extended Universe?
It’s going to be a challenge, and a unique angle will be needed to incorporate Sgt. Rock into the DCEU.
However, we’ve seen military ties in superhero movies before, including past attempts to bring the character to the big screen, which would have starred Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Furthermore, the DCEU is going into WWII one way or another, as Creature Commandos is also coming out in December 2024, which will feature G.I. Robot, who also served in the war (fictionally, of course).
We still don’t know what Sgt. Rock will bring to the movies but with the talent of Dunn, Craig, and Guadagnino attached, the film could have some real promise.
Image Source: DC Comics
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