Originally published February 24, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
It’s been a long while since we first learned the Dwayne Johnson is set to play the character of Black Adam in Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema’s Shazam movie, and just last month it was also announced that a solo Black Adam film has been added to the upcoming DC Extended Universe slate.
In the comic book universe, Black Adam is traditionally a villain, but Johnson has spoken on several occasions that he’ll be portrayed as an antihero / hero on the big screen, and during a YouTube QUA (via Dark Horizons), The Rock has explained how he plans to approach the character:
“Yes, of course, Black Adam – in the mythology – is a villain,” said Johnson. “Or he can be considered an antihero. Or, to some, he’s a hero. To some who have a black heart, like me [chuckles]. Again, I love the backstory that he started off as a slave and he was held down. I think that kind of backstory – about a man who’s held down and he rises up out of that to become greater and then dealing with the conflict and pain of losing his family – it’s dark. But it also adds to the gravity and adds to the weight of the story… And it means to me, uh, he’s a hero.”
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Shazam is currently slated for release on April 5th 2019 (with Lights Out helmer David F. Sandberg rumoured to be in line to direct), while it’s unclear at present where Black Adam will fall into the schedule.
