With the release of Black Adam only days away, Dwayne Johnson is building hype by promising Marvel Cinematic Universe-level growth for the DC Extended Universe.Responding to a film critique tweet, Johnson posted from his own account expressing gratitude for the positive review. He uses the phrase "phase 1," indicating a fresh start for the DC Extended Universe. The keyword evokes a comparison to the marketing strategy of Kevin Feige and the MCU. Feige famously use "phases" to sort the storyline trajectories of movie and TV projects since the franchise's early days. The technique has led to the MCU becoming the most financially successful film series of all time. Johnson has indicated that strong leadership is necessary to help the DCEU grow, and he's dedicated to finding the person to fill that position.
The DCEU's Black Adam Reset
Black Adam tells the story of Teth-Adam, a villain empowered by the wizard Shazam, who awakens after being imprisoned for nearly five thousand years. Johnson's passion for this film has been building for quite a while, as his casting was announced in 2006 (more than a decade before the 2019 release of Shazam!) and he has been instrumental in bringing the film to fruition. The title character is a different type of hero than the ones previously presented in this universe, and Black Adam nearly garnered the DCEU's first R-rating from the MPAA for its excessive violence and Adam's reportedly high kill count.
The film features the DCEU debut of the Justice Society of America, including the heroes Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), and Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo). Djimon Hounsou, who portrayed Shazam in Shazam!, returns to play the wizard again, thereby cementing the film's status as a spinoff.
Johnson has a strong track record when it comes to joining established film series, and poked fun at his nickname of "franchise Viagra" in a 2015 Saturday Night Live sketch. To date, he has been added to the casts of The Mummy, Journey to the Center of the Earth, The Fast and the Furious, G.I. Joe, and Jumanji. Currently, Black Adam is projected to be the biggest opening weekend of Johnson's career.
Black Adam opens in theaters on Oct. 21.
Source: Twitter