DC Studios has pressed pause on Sgt. Rock, the high-concept World War II action thriller from director Luca Guadagnino, just weeks before cameras were set to roll in England.

The film, which had The Banshees of Inisherin star Colin Farrell locked in for the title role and was actively casting its Easy Company ensemble, is no longer moving forward this summer. Sources close to the production say the project had entered the preproduction phase and was deep into location scouting, casting, and logistical planning for a large-scale international shoot.

Slated for a $70 million production budget—lean by superhero standards but sizable for a period war-action hybrid—the film was expected to shoot largely outdoors in the English countryside, presenting scheduling hurdles that reportedly factored into the delay. According to one insider, the project will be reassessed later this year, with a possible summer 2026 production start still on the table.

Sgt. Rock was something of a wildcard on DC Studios’ development slate. The project wasn’t originally part of co-chairs James Gunn and Peter Safran’s first announced “Chapter One: Gods and Monsters” lineup. But insiders say they made room for the film based on the strength of the script by Justin Kuritzkes (Challengers, Queer), Guadagnino’s frequent writing collaborator.

Set against a stylized WWII backdrop, the film reportedly paired Sgt. Rock with a French Resistance fighter in a race to find the mythical Spear of Destiny—a relic said to carry supernatural powers—before it falls into Nazi hands. The tone was expected to merge war epic with mystical thriller, giving the studio something markedly different from its traditional superhero fare.

Mike Faist (Challengers) was in talks for a supporting role, and sources confirm the role of the female lead had been cast. While some speculate the delay may also reflect studio uncertainty about Guadagnino’s action credentials, others maintain it’s simply a matter of timing and outdoor logistics.

For now, the project joins the long list of stalled Sgt. Rock adaptations, which in previous decades nearly attracted stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis. Whether Farrell’s version ultimately makes it to screen remains to be seen, but one thing’s clear—this particular production campaign is on ice, at least for now.