Colin Farrell Cast As Sgt. Rock in James Gunn's DC Universe

By: Olivia Matthews, Published March 17 2025

Colin Farrell Eyes Another DC Role in Sgt. Rock

Colin Farrell, who dazzled audiences as Oz Cobb (aka The Penguin), is circling yet another intriguing role within the DC Universe—this time stepping into the combat boots of Sgt. Rock. According to Deadline, Farrell is poised to star in an upcoming Sgt. Rock project helmed by acclaimed director Luca Guadagnino. Though Farrell already inhabits the Gotham underworld as The Penguin in DC's Elseworlds universe, this new venture isn't tied to Matt Reeves' Batman continuity but instead resides comfortably within James Gunn’s freshly rebooted main DCU timeline.

A Packed Slate: Farrell Balancing Multiple High-Profile Projects

Farrell's plate is nothing short of full, with Hollywood commitments stacked sky-high. In addition to potentially embodying the gritty, battle-hardened Sgt. Rock, he is juggling several exciting projects. These include Season 2 of Apple TV+'s anticipated series "Sugar," Edward Berger’s upcoming drama "The Ballad of a Small Player," and Sony’s romantic drama "A Big Bold Beautiful Journey," where he'll share the screen with powerhouse talents Margot Robbie and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Clearly, Farrell remains one of Hollywood’s busiest—and most versatile—actors.

Sgt. Rock Role Previously Linked to Daniel Craig

Before Colin Farrell stepped into consideration for Sgt. Rock, Daniel Craig had been eyed to portray the iconic DC military hero. However, Craig subsequently dropped out, reportedly due to scheduling conflicts. Sources close to The Hollywood Reporter suggest that these conflicts arose from overlapping commitments involving Craig and his wife, actress Rachel Weisz. Another speculation hints at the lukewarm critical and commercial performance of Craig’s prior collaboration with director Guadagnino, the drama "Queer," possibly leading to his withdrawal from the project.

Sgt. Rock: A Legendary Comic Hero Returns

Created by comic legends Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert, Sgt. Rock debuted back in 1959 within the pages of "Our Army at War #83." Quickly becoming one of DC's most beloved wartime heroes, Sgt. Rock is a gritty, battle-scarred World War II soldier known for his unmatched toughness and courage under fire. Although traditionally depicted as a non-superpowered character, he's been shown to possess almost superhuman strength, resilience to injury, and a unique "Combat Antenna"—akin to Spider-Man’s spider-sense—that alerts him to impending threats.

Farrell’s Award-Winning Turn as The Penguin

Colin Farrell’s portrayal of the villainous Oz Cobb in "The Penguin" has earned him widespread acclaim and multiple awards, most notably winning Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television at the 2025 Golden Globes. This marked the actor's third Golden Globe victory, following his unforgettable performances in "In Bruges" (2008) and "The Banshees of Inisherin" (2022). Ever the charismatic performer, Farrell humorously remarked during his acceptance speech, "No one to thank on this one. I did it all by myself. Just a raw, pared-away performance," before acknowledging, in earnest, the collaborative nature of filmmaking and the many talents who supported him throughout his career.