Confusion reigns in James Gunn's DCU as conflicting reports emerge over supposed cancellation of Colin Farrell-starring movie

• James Gunn's DC Universe has reportedly suffered a minor release schedule issue
• Confusion reigns over the fate of its Colin Farrell-starring Sgt Rock movie
• It's unclear if production has been delayed or if the film has been canceled

Has Luca Guadagnino's DC Universe (DCU) film Sgt Rock been delayed or canceled? It seems nobody really knows.

If you've been living under a, well, rock for the last 24 hours, allow me to fill you in on the details…

Yesterday (April 30), a report from The Wrap suggested that the World War II-era DC Comics flick, which will supposedly see Colin Farrell tackle the title role, had been outright canceled.

Per The Wrap's sources, the DCU Chapter One film would have required a lot of exterior shots once principal photography was underway. With Sgt Rock reportedly set to start filming in mid-2025, there were apparently concerns that it would miss that production start date.

Rather than simply delay the Farrell-starring movie, though, The Wrap claimed that DC Studios had decided to scrap the entire project.

That doesn't tell the whole story, though. Hours after The Wrap's article went live, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter (THR) published their own pieces, with both outlets indicating that Sgt Rock had been delayed, rather than officially canned.

According to the pair's sources, production has been shelved for the foreseeable future. However, Deadline and THR claim the film's development will be reassessed towards the end of 2025, with a view to potentially kickstarting production in mid-2026.

Comment from r/DCULeaks

With the movie set to shoot in the UK, the outlets' sources also suggest that a summer filming schedule makes sense. If the bulk of Sgt Rock's action is set to take place in outdoors settings, it would be better to film it when the weather is less temperamental, and conditions are much more favorable for its cast and crew.

THR also intimates that some Warner Bros. executives are still hesitant about Guadagnino helming a superhero film, due to his lack of experience in the action genre.

DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran, though, are reportedly convinced he's the right man for the job. The Italian filmmaker's acclaimed back catalog, which includes hits like Challengers and Call Me By Your Name, have bred confidence among the studio's chiefs.

Add in the fact that they were pleased with the strength of the script, which was penned by frequent Guadagnino collaborator Justin Kuritzkes, and Gunn and Safran don't seem as worried as their fellow Warner Bros. execs.

The film's titular hero – full name John Franklin Rock – made his DCU debut in episode 4 of Creature Commandos' first season, which is currently only available to stream on Max. Voiced by Maury Sterling in that adult animated TV show, Rock is the leader of Easy Company, a World War II unit that GI Robot was also a part of.

Per THR, Sgt Rock would have followed the eponymous hero and his squad as they attempt to track down the Spear of Destiny. The supernatural object is believed to be the same spear that was used to pierce the side of Jesus Christ during his crucifixion, and with the Nazis also thought to be looking for it, Rock and company will reportedly team up with a French resistance fighter in a bid to locate it first.

We'll see if that ends up being the actual story if Sgt Rock ever sees the light of day. I've reached out to Warner Bros. for an official comment on the conflicting reports about the movie, and I'll update this article if I receive a response.

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