Entertainment - Media News Watch originally published at Entertainment - Media News Watch
Back in the early nineties, Arnold Schwarzenegger and John McTiernan almost made Sgt Rock, only to be torpedoed by an unlikely hold-out.
In the late eighties/ early nineties, shortly after they did Predator together, Arnold Schwarzenegger, John McTiernan and writer Shane Black were all set to team on a big-budget movie adaptation of the DC comic book Sgt. Rock. This is why, at the end of Predator, Black is seen reading a Sgt Rock comic during the cast roll. According to Nick de Semlyan, author of “The Last Action Heroes”, the project was heavily conceived in ’88 and 1989, but was ultimately scuttled by Monty Python’s John Cleese. The film was to adapt an old Danny Kaye comic called
Imitation general. Cleese was to play an English cook who posed as a General during WW2 while being protected by Schwarzenegger’s Sgt Rock. Rock was reimagined to be a German who fled after Nazis killed all of his family. Everyone was certain that this would be a thrilling action-packed movie – except Cleese. McTiernan writes in the book that Cleese, during a meeting was “very polite” but, as far as he is concerned, we are just a couple of thug American Action-Movie Makers. McTiernan acknowledges that at the time Die hard had not yet hit the theatres. If he had seen Die Hard I think he would have signed up. But he judged us on our reputation.”As McTiernan explains, everyone was so attached to the idea of Cleese co-starring with Schwarzenegger that when the actor passed, the project fell apart. It would have made for a great movie – John Cleese and Arnold would have had a lot of fun making fun each other. That was the whole essence of the movie.”Ultimately, things worked out well for all involved, with Arnold making
Total Recall instead, while McTiernan went on to make
The Hunt for Red October. Even so, one wonders how Sgt. Rock would have turned out if it had been made in 1989/90. It could have been another classic action movie.
Entertainment - Media News Watch originally published at Entertainment - Media News Watch
