Colin Farrell has publicly discussed the anticipated Sgt. Rock film, revealing his enthusiasm for the project despite its uncertain status. Known for his roles within the DC Universe, including Oz Cobb/The Penguin in Matt Reeves‘ The Batman and its HBO Max spin-off The Penguin, Farrell was set to portray the World War II hero Sgt. Rock in the rebooted DC Universe. However, DC Studios CEO James Gunn halted the project abruptly in April 2025.
Farrell Reflects on the Sgt. Rock Script and His Collaboration with Luca Guadagnino
In a recent interview on the Happy Sad Confused Podcast with Josh Horowitz, Colin Farrell expressed admiration for the Sgt. Rock script, calling it “fantastic.” Farrell revealed he had engaged in discussions with director Luca Guadagnino about the film but admitted he is now unsure of the project’s progression. When asked if he retained interest in Sgt. Rock without Guadagnino directing, Farrell responded candidly about his experience working with the filmmaker.
“I was going to do it with Luca. We spoke about it a couple of times and had some really nice chats. I have no idea where it is now, but it should be made. It’s really, really good. There’s some wonderful stuff in it.”
– Colin Farrell, Actor
James Gunn’s Explanation for Halting the Sgt. Rock Film
Colin Farrell’s remarks provide a sharp contrast to comments made by James Gunn in July 2025 during an NPR interview, where Gunn hinted at reasons for canceling a DC project. Although he did not directly name Sgt. Rock, many industry observers have linked his description to the film, which had Luca Guadagnino as director and Justin Kuritzkes as screenwriter. Gunn described extensive issues with the screenplay that led to his decision.
“We had a screenplay that—you know, a movie that was greenlit. We got second draft and third draft, and it just wasn’t changing. It wasn’t getting better. It was staying in the same place. And I said, ‘we can’t make this film. We can’t. It’s not good. We know it’s not good.’ Just because we have a good director attached and a good screenwriter, it doesn’t mean the script is working. Everyone is going to be upset at the end of this. It’s going to come out, the movie’s not going to be good. The director’s going to look bad, the screenwriter’s going to look bad, and we’re going to look bad. So I don’t want to have this. We’re not going to make the movie. And so we killed it.”
– James Gunn, DC Studios CEO
Details Surrounding the Abandoned Sgt. Rock Project
Few specifics about the script by Guadagnino and Kuritzkes have surfaced, but reports suggested the story revolved around Sgt. Rock and Easy Company pursuing the legendary Spear of Destiny. In this narrative, Mikey Madison, known for her role in Anora, was to portray the French Resistance fighter Mademoiselle Marie. Despite the cancellation, James Gunn has implied that the Sgt. Rock concept is still under some form of development within DC Studios, though Luca Guadagnino has since been replaced.
Interestingly, Guadagnino’s latest work, After the Hunt, features a brief visual nod to Sgt. Rock with a poster appearing in one scene, a subtle reminder of the film’s halted progress within the DC pipeline.
Colin Farrell’s Continued Role and the Uncertain Future of Sgt. Rock in the DC Universe
Despite the setback with Sgt. Rock, Colin Farrell remains actively involved in the DC Universe. He is scheduled to return as Oz Cobb in The Batman – Part II, though plans for a second season of The Penguin remain undecided. As for the Sgt. Rock character, the role has faced multiple delays since the 1980s, with its film adaptation trapped in development limbo.
Farrell’s interest signals potential future revival, yet the longstanding challenges facing Sgt. Rock’s cinematic debut suggest it may be a while before fans see the World War II hero brought to life on screen. Until then, Farrell’s engagement with the DC franchise continues to evolve amid the studio’s shifting priorities.
