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“Nothing’s easy in Easy,” intoned many-a World War II dogface stationed overseas in the fictional Army unit of Easy Company. Created by writer-artist team Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert for issue 83 of Our Army at War (with a sideways nod of acknowledgement to two prototypes of Rock from writer Bob Haney in G.I. Combat #68 and Our Army at War #81), the character of Sgt. Frank Rock and his hard-hitting platoon of G.I.’s ultimately distinguished themselves from the likes of Marvel’s Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos by having one military-issue boot very much planted in the gritty world of reality. War is hell, and Kanigher never missed an opportunity to drive that salient fact home month after month for decades. Though never a huge seller, the top drawer writing and breathtaking art kept the book afloat when scores of lesser lights fell by the wayside. And, over the years, buzz has come from the hallowed halls of Hollywood that they would like a chance to adapt Sgt. Rock to the silver screen. The last real serious attempt to pull off such a feat came during the 1980’s when Arnold Schwarzenegger was said to be in serious contention for the part. Thankfully, that didn’t happen (we love Arnie, but it felt like unusual casting to pass the Austrian born and bred actor and former muscle man off as an American World War II-era service man). Sadly, when Schwarzenegger bowed out, so too did the money men who would have financed such an effort. Things were beginning to look up for this oddball DC property once again (even with the odd bite here and there, such as actor Bruce Willis and his brief dalliance with the part) when it was recently reported that actor Daniel Craig was circling the role for an upcoming Sgt. Rock movie. This felt like more right-on sort of casting, and so we primed ourselves for what might just be a worthy adaptation of a favorite comic book character. Sadly, things seem to have taken yet another turn in this never-ending battle to get Easy Co. onto the big screen.
From our ‘It never rains, but it pours’ pals over at The Hollywood Reporter comes the news that acclaimed actor Daniel Craig has deserted post and opted out of portraying stoic WWII Seargeant Frank Rock. Had Craig decided to take on this part, it would have seen him team up again with Luca Guadagnino who directed him in Queer.
All is not lost yet, however: A full-fledged script is waiting int he wings to be shot for the Sgt. Rock film from scribe Justin Kuritzkes and, according to word ‘round industry campfire, another potential actor lined up to replace Craig, Jeremy Allen White, The battel may be over kiddies, but this war to get Rock to the silver screen has only just begun!
