Black Adam finally coming to theaters in 2021

It has, at times, felt like Duane Johnson’s big screen adaptation of DC Comics’ Black Adam was never going to happen. Well, it’s happening.

Teth-Adam

You’d be excused if you thought this day would never be coming. After all, it’s been literally years since The Rock (Johnson) and Warner Bros announced that Black Adam would be getting the silver screen treatment.

Back when the film was originally announced, the DCEU looked mighty different too. Now it’s effectively two film universes, one with the original Wonder Woman/Aquaman/Justice League line, and one that will spin out of 2021’s The Batman.

It’s unclear which of these will play host to Black Adam, though one would presume the former, since that’s the one with Shazam. But either way, it’s a super-anti-hero flick that’s officially official.

Check out The Rock’s thoughts on playing the character below:

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The Man in Black ⚡️ Like most kids growing up, I dreamed about being a superhero. Having cool superpowers, fighting for what’s right and always protecting the people. It all changed for me, when I was 10yrs old and was first introduced to the greatest superhero of all time – SUPERMAN. As a kid, Superman was the hero I always wanted to be. But, a few years into my fantasy, I realized that Superman was the hero, I could never be. I was too rebellious. Too rambunctious. Too resistant to convention and authority. Despite my troubles, I was still a good kid with a good heart – I just liked to do things my way. Now, years later as a man, with the same DNA I had as a kid – my superhero dreams have come true. I’m honored to join the iconic #DCUniverse and it’s a true pleasure to become, BLACK ADAM. BLACK ADAM is blessed by magic with the powers equal to SUPERMAN, but the difference is he doesn’t toe the mark or walk the line. He’s a rebellious, one of a kind superhero, who’ll always do what’s right for the people – but he does it his way. Truth and justice – the BLACK ADAM way. This role is unlike any other I’ve ever played in my career and I’m grateful to the bone we’ll all go on this journey together. BLACK ADAM 12.22.21 ⚡️ Huge thank you to my friends, @jimlee and @bosslogic for this first time ever bad ass collaboration.

A post shared by therock (@therock) on Nov 14, 2019 at 9:06am PST

Some interesting stuff in there. Adam has never been a purely heroic character, in fact he’s been a straight-up villain for a good amount of DC Comics history. At times though, the ruler of the fictional country of Kahndaq has indeed been something of an anti-hero.

What’s completely left out of the above though, is mention of Captain Marvel Shazam. As you may know, he’s already played by Zachery Levi in the DC movies.

Adam is tied into Shazam by origin, with the powers of both having come from the original Shazam, who was an ancient wizard. Will the movie tell Adam’s origin story, which would be set in ancient Egypt, or bring things into the modern age? And might we see Levi’s Shazam in there somewhere?

We’ll find out, but not for a while, as Black Adam isn’t set to arrive till December 22nd, 2021.