SGT. ROCK Flees World War II and Prepares for a Future War

Producer Joel Silver’s adaptation of the comic series Sgt. Rock, which began its run in 1959, will not be landing at Normandy or the beaches of Okinawa.  Hero Complex reports that the movie version about the leader of Easy Company will not take place during the comic’s setting of World War II, but in the “not-too-distant” future.   Putting Rock into this future war has returned life to the long-gestating project, but I find the idea depressing.  It’s naïve to think that there won’t be any wars in the future, but jumping onto a war that hasn’t happened yet feels cheap and disrespectful towards soldiers who have to fight in wars that are happening now.  Not all movies can be The Hurt Locker, but of the two wars we’re fighting, neither was deemed dramatic enough for this comic book adaptation?  I guess it depends on how far in the future Rock is going but it would feel less grotesque if it took place, for example, in 2120 as opposed to 2020.  The 2120 date would also gel with my personal motto: “Everything is better with lasers and jetpacks.”

With a script by Chad St. John and with director Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend) involved with the development, Silver says he’s feeling pretty good about the project but it isn’t a a “go” picture just yet.