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Dwayne Johnson Talks Playing SHAZAM’s Black Adam and Connections to Wider DC Universe

After pursuing the role for years, Dwayne Johnson is finally set to play the villain/anti-hero Black Adam in a Shazam film. Little is known about this adaptation; Turbo‘s Darren Lemke is writing the script, and an April 5th, 2019 release date was announced last fall. We still have yet to learn the director, as well as the actor who will play Shazam.

While we wait for official news, Johnson gave an interesting interview in the latest issue of Total Film. Regarding Black Adam’s evolution into an anti-hero, the wrestler-turned-actor says, “I think Black Adam is going to grow into becoming an anti-hero. It’s all written within the spirit of respecting and paying homage to the comics. As we know, Black Adam started out as a slave. When he’s given the powers, he utilised them. Then in the wake of his powers, tragedy strikes, which turns his sentiment and tone in terms of psychology.”


There has been some confusion concerning whether or not Shazam will exist in the DC Cinematic Universe, largely due to New Line Cinema’s involvement. It was apparently confirmed recently that it is in fact set in the same world as the Justice League films, and now Johnson reaffirms this. “It was all agreed that the worlds are all interconnected… One day you will see Black Adam go at it with Superman or Batman or any of the DC characters.” However, Shazam will still have a bit of independence from the wider DC Universe, (apparently) particularly in tone. “But that said, there’s a great independence to Black Adam from the DC world, allowing us to inject, not only viciousness, but also winking humour,” says Johnson.

This should lay to rest any confusion over Shazam‘s place in the DCCU, as Johnson confirmed that the movies are all “interconnected.” Stay tuned for more news as we have it.

Founder and Editor-in-Chief of WOBAM! Entertainment.