So what has Shane Black been doing since writing and directing 2005’s Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang? There was word that he was going to direct a covert-ops film called Cold Warrior. He’s been rumored to be writing a fifth Lethal Weapon flick as well as a follow-up to The Long Kiss Goodnight. Personally, I’m wishing for a mash-up of KK, BB and The Last Boy Scout. Willis and Wayans at odds with Downey and Kilmer over a case; it would be priceless. Just imagine the exchanges between Joe Hallenbach and Gay Perry.
But in the meantime, he’s apparently at work on a new adaptation of Doc Savage (aka “The Man of Bronze”), the pulpy alphamale from the ’30s and ’40, for the production duo of Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (of the Transformers and Star Trek franchises). Black told AICN that this won’t be updated for the modern day; it will retain its original period setting.
I have to say that I like this resurgence in old school heroes. Upcoming we have Guy Ritchie’s take on Sherlock Holmes, Spielberg’s collaboration with Peter Jackson on Tintin, as well as his involvement with a Matt Helm project – the latter albeit modernized. Not sure how a contemporary Matt Helm movie will be received overseas. A U.S. counter-agent who would rather get himself into situations to kill people than do espionage work. If James Bond and Jason Bourne can do it, why not Matt?
With more than 200 adventure novels featuring Doc Savage, Black has his work cut out for him when it comes to crafting a screenplay. Savage is a man’s man who can do it all: “physician, surgeon, scientist, adventurer, inventor, explorer, researcher, and, a musician.” And…”martial arts master.”
Savage will be joined by the Furious Fabulous Five. They are there to ensure that Savage not punch a hole in the time-space continuum, because his shear awesomeness is just too powerful. He’ll have a chemist, an attorney (to get him off in case a murder rap pops up), construction and electrical engineers, and an archaeologist.
Hell, Savage could be saddled with a girl scout and I’d still see it. Shane Black’s involvement already makes this high on want-to-see list.
