Shane Black Offers A DOC SAVAGE Update; Says Chris Hemsworth Is "Not A Bad Idea"

"Obviously in the books, there's an element of goodie-goodie that we like. Doc Savage was the basis essentially for Superman because his name is Clark and he has a Fortress of Solitude, and oh, Superman has the same thing...that's odd! But that kind of perfect hero who never makes mistakes is great to a point, and the type of adventure and pulp it represents is so imitated; Raiders of the Lost Ark is essentially a child of Doc Savage.

We needed something more cerebral. We've kept it in the 30s. We've beefed up the rationale behind what it would take to be the perfect person and to be trained as such from childhood and how that would scar someone and what it would take to be a parent who is capable of inflicting that on a kid. But beyond that, we're also trying to be true to the series. Give him the helper, while also reinvigorating it and introducing a whole new brand of people to this is a challenge because it's been around for 75 years.

I've read all of them. I love them. I read my first one 45 years ago. I love Doc Savage and hope everyone comes to see it.

Here's the problem. They kind of gotta be tall. He's the perfect physical specimen and when people look at him, they're overawed by the sort of symmetry and perfection he exudes. I don't know that you could use like a James McAvoy as Doc Savage. You couldn't do it. He's a fine actor, but we need someone big. Back in the day Schwarzenegger was talked about to play Doc Savage. I don't know yet; who do you think? [Chris Hemsworth?] That's not a bad idea! You need someone magnetic and someone a little but off because that's the fun of the character. He's been secluded from people and kept from any social niceties for so long that he's become a savant."