Daniel Craig has exited Sgt. Rock, DC‘s World War II-themed superhero film that would have marked a reteam with director Luca Guadagnino on the heels of A24’s Queer, sources have confirmed to Deadline.
Reps for DC Studios couldn’t be reached for comment, and the reasons for the departure aren’t yet clear. We were first to tell you about Craig’s boarding of Sgt. Rock, which has been eyed as Guadagnino’s next film, ahead of an American Psycho reboot for Lionsgate. Justin Kuritzkes, Guadagnino’s collaborator on the recent films Challengers and Queer, penned the script.
Created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Joe Kubert, Sgt. Franklin “Frank” Rock was first introduced in Our Army at War #83 in June 1959. He’s perhaps one of the most iconic war comic book heroes, with his no-nonsense leading of the fictional Easy Company during World War II. Craig is just the latest actor to attach to the role over the decades, joining the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis.
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Opening in November after world premiering at Venice, Guadagnino’s Queer is an adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ semi-autobiographical 1985 novella, in which Craig plays William Lee, an American expatriate grappling with his sexual identity amid his pursuit of a younger man (Drew Starkey) in 1950s Mexico City. Both actors drew rave reviews for their work, though the film wound up falling short of Oscar recognition.
Next up for Guadagnino is the Amazon thriller After the Hunt, starring Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri and Andrew Garfield, which hits theaters October 10. Craig has the Knives Out threequel Wake Up Dead Man, out later this year.
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