Black Adam star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson explained in an interview that he can empathize with "unhappy and pissed" DC Extended Universe fans.
In an interview with Total Film magazine, Johnson explained that his production is looking to get things right with the character. "You get one shot out of the gates to build these characters properly, "John said. "We paid attention to some of the pitfalls that other films had experienced in the past, in the world of DC, and what, rightfully, got a lot of fans unhappy and pissed – and, as a fan, I was one of them. Johnson went on to say that Black Adam will respect the titular character's history, though will avoid being "handcuffed" by it. He also said Black Adam is aiming to "keep the audience first."
The DCEU began in 2013 with Man of Steel. Directed by Zack Snyder and starring Henry Cavill as Clark Kent/Superman, the film proved a box office success, grossing $668 million against a budget of between $225 and $258 million. However, Man of Steel received mixed reviews from critics. Currently, the movie holds a 56 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, though its audience score is higher at 75 percent. Subsequent films in the early DCEU met with mixed critical success, resulting in a number of tone and creative changes over the years. Newer movies have fared much better critically, but there are still many in the DCEU fandom that prefer the style of the original films.
In 2014, Johnson was announced as playing Black Adam in Shazam! However, changes to the movie and production delays eventually resulted in Warner Bros. greenlighting a solo Black Adam film starring the actor. The movie looks to be one of the darker installments in the DCEU, as despite the movie's PG-13 rating, Black Adam producers have repeatedly reiterated that the movie will have a "very high kill count." Johnson has also repeatedly boasted that his version of Black Adam will be able to stand toe-to-toe with the DCEU's heaviest hitters, including Superman.
Black Adam sees the titular character awakening after 5,000 years of imprisonment. Specific plot details are scare at this time. However, the Justice Society of America (JSA) will play a big role in the film. The beloved team features such characters as Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo), Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell) and Kent Nelson/Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan). Sarah Shahi will also make her debut as Adrianna Tomaz/Isis, a key love interest for Black Adam in the comics.
Created by Otto Binder and C.C. Beck, Black Adam debuted in 1945's The Marvel Family #1 as the archnemesis of Shazam, then known as Captain Marvel. In the comics, Black Adam derives his Shazam-like powers from such Egyptian deities as Horus, Amon and Shu. Over the years, Black Adam's role in the DC Universe has changed pretty drastically, and he's morphed into something of an antihero thanks to the work of such creatives as Geoff Johns, Jerry Ordway and David S. Goyer.
Black Adam is slated for release on July 29, 2022.
Source: Total Film magazine, via GamesRadar+