Will Dwayne Johnson’s BLACK ADAM Make a Return to the DC Universe?
By Movieguide® Contributor
During an interview at the Oscars, Dwayne Johnson weighed in on BLACK ADAM, DC Studios new bosses and Henry Cavill dropped as Superman.
While BLACK ADAM performed with mediocrity at the box office, raking in less than $400 million worldwide, Johnson and DC Studios had mapped out multiple sequels, laying the groundwork for the DC Universe. The movie went as far as to include Superman in a post-credit scene, with a plan to have him play a central role in the BLACK ADAM movies.
“We really want to craft a long-form of storytelling and show that these two characters exist in the same universe and are going to have to deal with each other often, either on the same or opposite sides,” Hiram Garcia, Johnson’s production partner said around the release of BLACK ADAM.
Henry Cavill, who had played Superman since he first appeared in MAN OF STEEL in 2013, also announced his return to the role on social media during BLACK ADAM’s opening weekend.
The plans for the DC universe all changed when James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios a few days before BLACK ADAM opened in theaters. Just two months after Cavill had said he would reprise the role as Superman, Gunn announced that Cavill was out and they were going to reset the franchise with a new, younger Superman, in 2025 with SUPERMAN: LEGACY. Gunn and Safran also dropped Black Adam’s centrality in the DC Universe.
“James Gunn and I connected, and Black Adam will not be in their first chapter of storytelling,” Johnson shared last December, “However, DC and Seven Bucks have agreed to continue exploring the most valuable ways Black Adam can be utilized in future DC multiverse chapters.”
“It’s almost like when you have a pro football team and your championship quarterback wins championships and your head coach wins championships and then a new owner comes in and says, ‘Not my coach, not my quarterback. I’m going to go with somebody new,’” Johnson said in reference to Gunn and Safran’s change in DC Studios’ direction.
While Johnson may not return as Black Adam anytime soon, he is still proud of the movie he delivered and is thankful for the way it allowed him to connect with fans.
“All that I can do, and all that we could do when we were making BLACK ADAM, was to put our best foot forward and surround ourselves with the best people and deliver the best movie we could,” Johnson said. “Our audience score was in the 90s. Critics took a couple shots, but that’s just the business of it.”
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
