James Gunn recruits A-listers in bombshell DC Comics movie nobody expected

DC Studios is currently in the midst of launching its own movie franchise. Led by James Gunn and Peter Safran, the studio was put-together after the Warner Bros. and Discovery merger which has since led to the cancellation of multiple completed, in-development and in-production DC titles. It's all part of a plan to launch a single shared universe of DC superheroes and supervillains that will share continuity across film, TV, animation, and even video games.

Gunn has been very upfront with fans about what they can expect from it, including updates and announcements about titles in development and titles that are on the horizon. Among those titles are upcoming animated series Creature Commandos (which will be the DC Universe's first ever installment), and the Gunn-directed Superman starring David Corenswet, which arrives in movie theaters next summer.

Now, however, a huge project has just been announced - one that promises to push boundaries and challenge what audiences can expect from the DC Universe in general.

Sgt. Rock movie in development with Daniel Craig attached to star

DC Studios is developing a Sgt. Rock movie, which is set to star Daniel Craig in the title role. But that's not all, the film is set to be directed by Luca Guadagnino, reteaming him with the star of his own recent flick Queer in Craig, as well as the screenwriter of both that and Challengers, Justin Kuritzkes. The news was first reported by Nexus Point News and subsequently confirmed by Deadline today.

This is something of a coup for DC Studios, as few really expected Guadagnino to direct a film set in the DC Universe, but it is an indicator of how the franchise won't be afraid to branch outside the norm of what you might expect from a film series like this. This won't be a typical superhero movie, and we're excited to see what the Call Me By Your Name director brings to this one.

Sgt. Rock made his DC Comics debut in summer 1959. A World War II soldier who served as an infantry non-commissioned officer, he eventually headlined his own series which ran from 1977 to 1988. While not a super-powered character, as a trained marksman and a US military combatant, he was highly skilled in what he did (and that included throwing grenades with insane accuracy and shooting down German fighter planes with a single submachine gun). He also has incredible endurance and has withstood multiple gunshots and explosions throughout his time in the comics.

While he isn't as well-known to mainstream modern audiences, the DC Studios movie will no doubt introduce him to a whole new audience. Having an action star like Daniel Craig will also go a long way in doing that, as the former James Bond star has proven himself as a leading man when it comes to larger-than-life characters.

Sgt. Rock is set to be a part of James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Universe. It's not yet clear how it will fit into Chapter One: Gods and Monsters, but it will join Creature Commandos, Superman, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and Lanterns as a part of the ever-growing franchise.