As James Gunn’s DC Universe continues to expand, not all projects have advanced as planned. One such film, Sgt. Rock, which starred Colin Farrell as the lead, has been put on hold indefinitely. Farrell, known for his role as the Penguin in The Batman, spoke about the cancellation during his recent appearance on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast.
The Irish actor praised the screenplay, stating,
“That was a fantastic script. I wonder what’s happening with it.”
He also revealed limited knowledge about the project’s status:
“I know nothing about it, brother,”
and added that he was initially set to work on the film with director Luca Guadagnino. Farrell recalled,
“We spoke about it a couple of times and had some really nice chats.”
Despite the uncertainty, he remains convinced of the script’s quality, noting,
“I have no idea where it is now, but it should be made. It’s really, really good. There’s some wonderful stuff it.”
Background on Sgt. Rock and DC Studios’ Project Strategy
Sgt. Rock was officially cancelled on April 30, 2025, as DC Studios decided to pause the film’s development. The script, written by Justin Kuritzkes—who collaborated with Guadagnino on the film Challengers—was a key part of the project. Under the leadership of Gunn and Peter Safran, DC Studios enforces a strict policy of moving forward only with projects that have completed scripts and a clear creative vision. This rule applies to both DCU timeline productions and Elseworlds stories.
Earlier rumors mentioned that Mikey Madison was being considered for the film’s female lead. However, on July 18, 2025, Gunn confirmed that Guadagnino was no longer attached to the movie. While Gunn expressed hope that Sgt. Rock might be revived in the future, its current status within DC Studios remains unclear.
Upcoming DCU Releases and Colin Farrell’s Future as Penguin
Colin Farrell is set to return as the Penguin in Matt Reeves’ The Batman – Part II, with the film scheduled for release on October 1, 2027. Filming is expected to commence in 2026. Meanwhile, the broader DCU slate will resume in 2026 with new titles including Supergirl on June 26, Clayface on September 11, and the HBO show Lanterns, which has yet to receive an official premiere date.
The cancellation of Sgt. Rock underscores the careful approach James Gunn and Peter Safran are taking to ensure each project aligns with their creative and narrative standards. For fans, this means that while some films may be delayed or shelved temporarily, the focus remains on maintaining quality and coherence across the expanding DC Universe.
