Colin Farrell, fresh off his acclaimed performance as the Penguin, is in advanced negotiations to take on another iconic DC role - this time as the lead in 'Sgt. Rock'.
- Mar 18, 2025
AceShowbiz - Known for his critically-acclaimed role as Oswald Cobb, aka the Penguin, in Matt Reeves' dark and gritty "The Batman" and the subsequent HBO spin-off "The Penguin," Colin Farrell is now eyeing another significant part within the DC Universe (DCU).
According to insiders and multiple reports, Farrell is in talks to star in "Sgt. Rock," a period piece directed by Luca Guadagnino for DC Studios.
The role of Sgt. Rock, a tough-as-nails WWII combat leader of Easy Company, has long been coveted by Hollywood elites, with previous stars like Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger once circling the character for potential films.
The film, scripted by Justin Kuritzkes who has worked with Guadagnino on "Challengers" and "Queer," promises to be a compelling adaptation of one of DC Comics' most enduring military series. Created by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert, Sgt. Rock first appeared in 1959's "Our Army at War" and later headlined his own series.
This movement comes on the heels of "Queer" star Daniel Craig stepping away from the project despite initial interest, to pursue a role in Greta Gerwig's Netflix adaptation of "Narnia."
DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran mentioned in February that the shoot would commence this summer only if the "perfect actor" was found. With Farrell now leading the charge, the project seems to be on track for a summer shoot in the United Kingdom.
Farrell is not the first actor playing double roles in the DC franchise. For instance, Jason Momoa, who starred as Aquaman as recently as 2023, will take on the role of anti-hero Lobo in "Supergirl: The Woman of Tomorrow," currently in production and aimed for a June 2026 release.
Farrell's previous engagements with DC have earned him critical acclaim and numerous awards, including a SAG Award and a Golden Globe. He's expected to reprise his role as the crime lord Penguin in Reeves' forthcoming "The Batman: Part 2," which DC Studios aims to begin filming by the end of the year in the U.K.
For now, "Sgt. Rock" represents an exciting new venture under the DCU's evolving banner. It signifies Gunn and Safran's mission to demonstrate the range and depth of the stories they aim to craft within the universe, aligning the production of this WWII epic with their broader vision for DC Studios.
