An updated version of the recent Black Adam teaser still features members of the Justice League and Harley Quinn, though scrubs footage from Joss Whedon's theatrical cut of Justice League.Black Adam star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson shared the updated teaser on Twitter, explaining that the promotional video's content had been "[c]orrected." "Long before the world of heroes and villans [sic], [Black Adam] ruled it all," he wrote. "A god with zero mercy and power born from rage. The [Man In Black] hits theaters worldwide... ONE MONTH FROM TODAY. OCTOBER 21."
Like the previous version of the teaser, the corrected version leans heavily into the larger DC Extended Universe, featuring an up-close shot of Henry Cavill's Superman and a glimpse of one of Batman's batarangs, not to mention footage Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman, Jason Momoa's Aquaman and Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn. However, the previous version also included footage of Steppenwolf, the main antagonist of Justice League, which has now been removed from the updated version.
Notably, the footage of Steppenwolf featured in the original Black Adam teaser was taken from the 2017 theatrical cut of Justice League, which was infamously finished by Joss Whedon after original director Zack Snyder departed the project. Steppenwolf did indeed appear in the 2021 director's cut, Zack Snyder's Justice League, though the villain's design was noticeably overhauled to be more in line with Snyder's original vision. Fans have already begun speculating what Whedon's Steppenwolf being removed from the Black Adam promo means as far as the Snyder Cut's canonicity is concerned -- but at this stage, it's just that: speculation.
Black Adam Hits Theaters in October
The latest installment in the DCEU, Black Adam is scheduled to premiere in theaters in one month's time on Friday, Oct. 21. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, the film stars the aforementioned Johnson as Teth-Adam, also known as Black Adam, the errant champion of the wizard Shazam. As such, the film effectively acts as a spinoff of the 2019 DCEU film Shazam!. A sequel to that film, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, is itself due to premiere in theaters on March 17, 2023.
"In ancient Kahndaq, Teth Adam was bestowed the almighty powers of the gods. After using these powers for vengeance, he was imprisoned, becoming Black Adam," an official synopsis for Black Adam reads. "Nearly 5,000 years have passed and Black Adam has gone from man, to myth, to legend. Now released, his unique form of justice, born out of rage, is challenged by modern day heroes who form the Justice Society: Hawkman, Dr. Fate, Atom Smasher and Cyclone. Johnson stars alongside Aldis Hodge as Hawkman, Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher, Sarah Shahi, Marwan Kenzari, Quintessa Swindell as Cyclone, Mo Amer, Bodhi Sabongui, and Pierce Brosnan as Dr. Fate."
Black Adam releases in theaters on Oct. 21.
Source: Twitter