Black Adam has been stuck in development limbo for quite some time, but momentum picked up for the film last year due to the consistent promotional efforts of its lead star, Dwayne Johnson.
The WWE legend has been at the forefront when it comes to all things Black Adam in recent months, with the actor giving out important production updates on social media as well as leading the charge on the film's presentation during last year's DC FanDome event.
Alongside Johnson, Black Adam is set to banner a stacked ensemble of A-list stars including the likes of Pierce Brosnan, Noah Centineo, and Aldis Hodge. These cast members will portray the Justice Society of America, and it looks like they will go up against the powerful magic user in the film.
Aside from the imminent clash between the JSA and the titular antihero, details about the film's narrative are still scarce. Despite that, it is expected that the upcoming origin tale will explore the dangerous power set of Black Adam in the film.
To shed some light on the subject, Johnson clarified how Black Adam stands out from the rest of the heroes of the DCEU.
DWAYNE JOHNSON OPENS UP ABOUT BLACK ADAM
Black Adam star Dwayne Johnson sat down with The Hollywood Reporter to talk about the difference between his anti-hero and Superman.
Johnson explained that while Black Adam has "all the powers of Superman," a key advantage of the DC Comics antihero is the fact that he is "blessed with magic:"
"Black Adam has all the powers of Superman, but the difference is he is blessed with magic. And also, by a code of ethics in the world of superheroes, they don’t kill the bad guys, but Black Adam does."
The WWE Hall of Famer then shared why he chose to portray Black Adam in the DCEU, admitting that it is a "real opportunity" while also saying that everything that he'd done in the past "led to this particular role:"
"There were a lot of elements like that that made me feel this is a real opportunity here. I felt like everything that I had done in the past in terms of my career, all the movies that I had done over the decades, even the ones that didn’t do well, all led to this particular role.”
A FUTURE SUPERMAN AND BLACK ADAM CLASH?
Hardcore DC comics fans should be well aware of Dwayne Johnson's comments about Black Adam's magic. In fact, this particular asset of the antihero is his sole advantage against Superman, considering that the Kryptonian can be damaged by magic.
This is why Black Adam is confident whenever he goes up against the Man of Steel, but it's worth pointing out that this does not equate to a sure win for the antihero. It remains to be seen if a live-action showdown between the DCEU heavyweights will be in the cards in the future, but many would agree that it will be a visual treat if that ever happens.
At this stage, it is unknown if Henry Cavill will return as the DCEU's Superman, especially after it was revealed that the franchise is leaning toward a multiverse approach. Still, Johnson's remarks should serve as a preview of how a potential clash between Black Adam and Superman could go down, whether it will be Cavill's version or the alternate take that J.J. Abrams and his production crew are developing.
Johnson's passion toward the Black Adam character has been apparent from the get-go, and his latest comments should drive that point home once more. Playing a complex antihero like Teth Adam presents an opportunity for the WWE legend to expand his acting chops like never before.
Black Adam producer Dany Garcia teased that the film is only the beginning of a "long-term partnership" of Johnson with DC, and this could hint that there will be more appearances for the antihero in the near future. The character will continue to evolve in future projects, thus allowing Johnson to explore new ways on how to portray the antihero.
Black Adam is set to premiere in theaters on July 29, 2022.
