Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam is getting a solo movie
The Hollywood Reporter brings the surprising news that Dwayne Johnson is set to star in a solo film based on the DC Villain Black Adam, having previously been attached to play the character in the Shazam movie. THR notes that Johnson met with DC Films co-head Geoff Johns last week about the film, which led to a reconfiguration of New Line’s Shazam, with both features set to be developed simultaneously.
Originally Teth-Adam of Kahndaq, the character first appeared in Marvel Family #1 in 1945 and has gone on to be both a villain and an anti-hero throughout his history. The character has powers comparable to that of Shazam, including flight, strength, agility, lightning manipulation, as well as magic.
Johnson has expressed interested and been attached to the role of Black Adam for nearly ten years at this point, so it seems that things finally came to a head for the actor who has seen his profile rise dramatically in that time. THR‘s Borys Kit also notes that the current plan in place is for the first Shazam movie to not feature Black Adam as its primary villain, though he could appear in a later film, but also that it’s possible a tease for Black Adam could come as early as 2018’s Aquaman.
This development also begs the question about Johnson’s curious meeting with Henry Cavill, wherein he teased “DC Worlds Will Collide,” and whether that appearance will remain in the solo Shazam movie or whether it will be in Black Adam instead.
Shazam was previously announced for an April 5, 2019, though it remains to be seen if that release date will stick or if the film will be moved in light of this news. Screenwriter Henry Gayden is reportedly penning the script for Shazam, while no filmmakers are attached to Black Adam as of yet.
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