Back in 2013, director Shane Black’s follow-up to Iron Man 3 was reportedly going to be an adaptation of Doc Savage for Columbia Pictures. Instead, Black went on to direct The Nice Guys, which is hitting theaters on May 20.

During a new interview with Thrillist, Black touched upon the current status of Doc Savage, and it’s not good news if you were hoping to see it anytime soon. “Doc Savage is sort of in the ether now,” said Black. “We’re hoping to make it sometime next year. I would very much like to do Doc with a fellow named Dwayne Johnson if we can make that work. I made a decision that Dwayne is the guy. It’s on the back burner while he’s busy.”

Doc Savage was a pulp hero created in 1933 by Lester Dent, Henry W. Ralston, and John L. Nanovic who predates Superman by five years. Doc Savage a.k.a. Clark Savage, Jr. was very nearly superhuman, with incredible strength and a very high level of intelligence that allowed him to be a scientist, an inventor, a musician, an explorer, a researcher, a master of disguise, and even a physician. Basically, Doc Savage had any skills that a story required him to have.

The last time Doc Savage was featured in a theatrically released film was in 1975, but Arnold Schwarzenegger was reportedly attached to a potential adaptation in the early 2000s. Doc Savage doesn’t quite have the cultural foothold that he used to have, but the character lives on in new comic book adventures published by Dynamite Entertainment.

Are you eager to see Shane Black and The Rock tackle Doc Savage? Let us know in the comment section below! And check back on Black’s interview with Thrillist to hear the Iron Man 3 director chat about his latest endeavors.

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HT: Thrillist

Image Credit: Dynamite Entertainment