Columbia Pictures has hired Shane Black (Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, Lethal Weapon) to direct Doc Savage, the Man of Bronze who was originally published in American pulp magazines during the 1930s and 1940s.

Doc Savage was created by publisher Henry W. Ralston and editor John L. Nanovic at Street and Smith Publications, with additional material contributed by the series' main writer, Lester Dent.

Black will direct from a screenplay he is writing with Anthony Bagarozzi and Chuck Mondry. Neal Moritz will produce through his Sony-based Original Film.

"Doc Savage is an icon, a character with limitless possibilities," said Columbia co-president Matt Tolmach, "We have had a great experience working with Neal to bring another classic character of the era, the Green Hornet, to a new generation of fans, and we think he and Shane make the ideal team to bring Doc Savage back to the bigscreen."

Ron Ely previously played Doc Savage in the 1975 Warner Bros. release, Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze. That film was directed by Michael Anderson.