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Dwayne Johnson To Star In 'Doc Savage' Superhero Flick

Rock, meet Doc.
Not Superman, but close.
Frazer Harrison via Getty Images
Not Superman, but close.
Not Superman, but close.
Frazer Harrison via Getty Images
Not Superman, but close.

After releasing a first look at the upcoming "Fast 8" movie, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has even more news for us: He'll be starring in "Iron Man 3," director Shane Black's adaptation of "Doc Savage" from Sony Pictures.

If you're unfamiliar with "The Man of Bronze," also known as "the world's first superhero," Johnson helpfully clued in the clueless on Instagram.

It's OFFICIAL: For all comic book fans you already know the world's first superhero (pre-dating Superman) is the "Man of Bronze" himself Clark "Doc" Savage. Want to thank my bud director/writer Shane Black and his writing team Anthony Bagarozzi and Chuck Mondry for flying in from LA and sitting with me and our @sevenbucksprod's producer @hhgarcia41 on this Memorial Day weekend to chop up creative and break story on this very cool project. Comic book fans around the world know that the cool thing about "Doc" Savage is that he's the inspiration for Superman. First name Clark, called "Man of Bronze", retreats to his "Fortress of Solitude" in the Arctic etc etc. Doc was physically and mentally trained from birth by his father and a team of scientists to become the perfect human specimen with a genius level intellect. His heightened senses are beyond comprehension. He can even identify a women's perfume from half a mile away. He is literally the master of everything. But here's the #1 reason I'm excited to become Doc Savage.. HE'S A F*CKING HILARIOUS WEIRDO! Confidently, yet innocently he has zero social graces whatsoever due to his upbringing so every interaction he has with someone is direct, odd, often uncomfortable and amazingly hilarious. After speaking for hours w/ Shane Black I can see why the creator of Superman took only the best parts of Doc Savage and leaving the "weirdo" part behind. But to us, it's that "weirdo" part that makes Clark "Doc" Savage dope! Can't wait to sink my teeth into this one of a kind character. #ItsOfficial #WorldsFirstSuperhero #GeniusIntellect #PhysicalSpecimen #FnLoveableWeirdo #DocSavage

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on

According to the wrestler-turned-actor, Clark "Doc" Savage is the inspiration for Superman. "Doc was physically and mentally trained from birth by his father and a team of scientists to become the perfect human specimen with a genius level intellect," he wrote of the character. Yup, sounds like Johnson is the man for the job.

The character was first immortalized on film in 1975's "Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze," starring Ron Ely as the titular character. Cinema Blend reported that Black was first working on a script for the superhero back in 2009. With Johnson now on board, clearly it was worth the wait.

Despite Doc Savage's meticulous tutelage, it's the character's imperfections that drew Johnson to the project: "He's a f*king hilarious weirdo! Confidently, yet innocently he has zero social graces whatsoever due to his upbringing," Johnson wrote.

It's hard to imagine Johnson -- the dad, the horse whisperer, the adorable arm wrestler -- playing someone that lacks social graces. That must be why they call it acting.

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