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This past Saturday, Ain't It Cool News reported that the amazing Shane Black (he used to be Shane Black the Great but now he's amazing) will be writing and possibly directing the adaptation of the pulp fiction hero "Doc Savage".  AintItCool also noted that power producers/screenwriters Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci would be producing the film.  Contrary to popular opinion, Kurtzman & Orci do not produce every upcoming genre property passing through Hollywood.  It's an honest mistake on AICN's part but we know the film's real producers.  Hit the jump to find out.

First off, let me say that everything in Harry's story is pretty much true except for the producers-part.  Shane Black is writing it.  Black may direct it.  And it will be set in the 30s and not modernize the story.  However, the film's producers are not Kurtzman and Orci.  The producers of "Doc Savage" are Neil Moritz and Ori Marmur.  They're the guys who are also producing "The Green Hornet", "Battle: Los Angeles", and "Jack the Giant Killer."  Furthermore, they have a deal at Sony so if the film gets made, "Doc Savage" will be made at Sony.

I'm sure this was an honest mistake on Harry's part.  As Harry reported in his story, he ran into Shane Black at a bowling alley.  Maybe what happened was Shane told him who was producing and said "Ori" and Harry must have heard "Orci".  That makes a lot of sense since Orci and Kurtzman are developing so many major genre projects and Harry probably just made the leap to that duo.  Everything else in Harry's story is true except for this minor detail so we're definitely not trying to rain on his parade.  His parade is fantastic.

For those unfamiliar with the character, let us consult almighty Wikipedia:

Doc Savage's real name was Clark Savage, Jr.. He was a physician, surgeon, scientist, adventurer, inventor, explorer, researcher, and, as revealed in The Devil Genghis, a musician. A team of scientists assembled by his father deliberately trained his mind and body to near-superhuman abilities almost from birth, giving him great strength and endurance, a photographic memory, a mastery of the martial arts, and vast knowledge of the sciences. Doc is also a master of disguise and an excellent imitator of voices. "He rights wrongs and punishes evildoers." Dent described the hero as a mix of Sherlock Holmes' deductive abilities, Tarzan's outstanding physical abilities, Craig Kennedy's scientific education, and Abraham Lincoln's goodness. Main writer Lester Dent described Doc Savage as manifesting "Christliness." Doc's character and world-view is displayed in his oath, which goes as follows:

Let me strive every moment of my life to make myself better and better, to the best of my ability, that all may profit by it. Let me think of the right and lend all my assistance to those who need it, with no regard for anything but justice. Let me take what comes with a smile, without loss of courage. Let me be considerate of my country, of my fellow citizens and my associates in everything I say and do. Let me do right to all, and wrong no man.

The character originated in the 1930s in pulp magazines and later starred in other media including radio, film, and comics.

I'd be excited for any Shane Black property but this sounds like such a fantastic match that I can understand the drive to develop this property. I wish the best of luck to Mr. Moritz and Mr. Marmur in getting this to the big screen.

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