Shane Black Needs To Remake One Of The Cheesiest Superhero Movie of All Time

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Today, superhero films are all over Hollywood, but comic books used to feature different kinds of heroes before Superman was created in 1938. Before Superman, the most popular form of entertainment, especially during the Great Depression, was pulp magazines. Now, over fifty years after a famously campy movie adaptation, fans are hoping director Shane Black will finally deliver a truly great version of the character.

Richard Donner’s 1978 Superman film was a turning point for superhero movies, launching a wave of comic book adaptations. While many now see it as delightfully cheesy and optimistic, the character of Superman actually appeared on film three years earlier in a movie that was even more humorous and lighthearted.

How Doc Savage Paved the Way for Superheroes

Before Superman burst onto the scene, Doc Savage already captured the essence of the classic American comic book hero. First appearing in Doc Savage Magazine (written by Lester Dent, with contributions from Henry W. Ralston and John L. Nanovic), this incredibly skilled adventurer was raised to be a symbol of human potential. Initially, he was similar to Indiana Jones, with stories focused on exploring remote locations, finding ancient artifacts, falling in love, and battling unusual enemies – a style typical of pulp magazines before the Golden Age of comics.

As the popularity of pulp magazines grew, the influence of Lester Dent’s writing style – particularly his character template – became apparent in a new wave of heroes. The similarities are especially clear with characters like Clark, who lives in a secluded Arctic base called the Fortress of Solitude. This makes sense, considering that the early Marvel and DC creators had spent years immersed in the same pulp stories that Dent wrote, as these were a primary source of entertainment during the Great Depression. Siegel and Shuster, the creators of Superman, were themselves fans and contributors to science fiction magazines and likely knew Dent and his work.

Pulp fiction fans now have plenty of movies and TV shows based on beloved characters, but the quality varies greatly. While some ’90s fantasy films like The Rocketeer, The Shadow, and The Phantom were popular, others, such as John Carter, failed to impress. Overall, pulp stories haven’t translated to film as successfully as they did in print. Even earlier, the creator of Doc Savage saw his only movie adaptation released to poor reviews, which unfortunately foreshadowed the struggles future pulp adaptations would face.

How Doc Savage Became the Cheesiest Comic Book Movie

In 1975, director Michael Anderson adapted the novel The Man of Bronze into a film. The story centers around the murder of the main character’s father, which leads him to uncover a criminal conspiracy with roots in Central America. Joined by his group of friends, known as the Fabulous Five, he embarks on a journey to a secret city to both avenge his father’s death and free people from the killer’s control.

The movie was a clear failure, both with audiences and critics, despite being the only film ever made about the character. While Ron Ely was perfectly cast as the charming hero, a role he was eager to play, the film had problems from the beginning. These ranged from a cheesy opening song and low-budget special effects to a sluggish pace and inconsistent tone. It struggled to find its identity, shifting abruptly between serious adventure and outright comedy – sometimes even within the same scene, with jarring sound effects. Certain moments felt like they belonged in a Mel Brooks spoof rather than a Doc Savage action film, like the bizarre image of a general sleeping in a giant crib.

The movie closely follows a 1972 Marvel comic by Roy Thomas, Steve Englehart, and Ross Andru, which itself was inspired by older pulp novels. In fact, many scenes feel like they were taken directly from the comic book panels, vividly recreating the original miniseries. However, the director struggled to connect these moments and didn’t handle the story’s gaps very well. Though the director deserves credit for being the first to bring this hero to the big screen, his choices ultimately harmed the character’s potential for the next fifty years.

If you thought Superman IV: The Quest for Peace was the worst superhero movie ever made, prepare to be challenged by Doc Savage. While some enjoy it as a nostalgic trip back to the ’70s, it’s clear the film has significant flaws that any modern remake would need to address. Given the current lack of exciting adventure movies in Hollywood, it’s time fans finally got a great Doc Savage adaptation.

The Long History of a Doc Savage Reboot

For over two decades, fans of Doc Savage have heard talk about a new movie or TV show. At various points, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson was set to play the lead, and the project has been considered as both a big-screen film, a television series, and a streaming release. Director Shane Black, known for films like The Nice Guys and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, has been involved with the idea since 2013. While he remains enthusiastic about bringing “the World’s First Superhero” to life, it’s currently uncertain how much he’s still working on it.

Plans for a Doc Savage adaptation have been in development for a TV series since 2020, but the project’s future is unclear. The biggest challenge seems to be casting Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson as the lead, as the writer-director reportedly wants him for the role, but the studio is unsure about his suitability for a scripted TV series. This hesitation suggests Johnson may not star in the show, and the original director might not be involved either.

No matter who takes on the challenge of reimagining Doc Savage, the 1975 film serves as a reminder that getting the details right is crucial. The success or failure of the upcoming project could decide if classic pulp heroes finally get the recognition they deserve, or if they remain forgotten by Hollywood. Essentially, there’s a lot riding on this new adaptation, and choosing the right creative team and lead actor will likely be the key to reviving both the character and the entire genre.

The time period a new character originates from can be crucial to their success. Like classic heroes such as The Shadow and The Green Hornet, this character truly shines when set in the Golden Age of adventure. While it might seem limiting to some, examples like Indiana Jones and Stephen Sommers’ The Mummy prove that this era is actually full of potential for exciting stories.

Shane Black Needs to Learn These Key Lessons From 1975

It’s been over fifty years since the Doc Savage movie came out, and plenty of people have pointed out its problems. One of the biggest issues was the inconsistent tone – it jumped between campy humor, a kind of parody that didn’t seem to realize it was a parody, and straight adventure. While fans of Doc Savage might not agree, the movie’s supporting characters, the Fabulous Five, were also a major weakness. They were fun, but they gave the film a low-budget feel and made Doc Savage himself seem less impressive.

If the character of Black is developed beyond superficial traits, moves away from unnecessary side characters, and highlights his intelligence and detective skills, it has the potential to become as popular as Batman. Looking at other examples, Indiana Jones offers a clear model, and any new project should prioritize thrilling adventures.

As a big fan, I’m excited about Dwayne Johnson taking on Doc Savage, but I’m also a little worried it could just become another action movie. I really hope the filmmakers – maybe Shane Black or whoever takes the lead – remember what made Doc Savage so special back in the Golden Age of pulp heroes. They need to capture that original spirit if they want this project to truly succeed!

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2026-02-14 18:38