Unveiled last fall, Warner Bros.' ambitious slate of DC Comics-based films carved out April 2019 for "Shazam!," which meant of course that fans who've long waited to see Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam will have to remain patient. However, the actor now suggests the wait may not be all that long.

Speaking with MTV Sunday at the 87th Academy Awards about "Shazam!" finally getting off the ground, Johnson rather cryptically said, “You know, it may happen a little earlier than what has been predicted."

“The script is coming in, it’s great. The support from the studio has been great," he continued. "And it is just a great opportunity especially with Black Adam where you can take a guy that starts off as bad guy turns into an anti-hero. We can make him vicious; a little bit of winking charm.”

Although the immediate reaction is probably, "Hey, they could push up the film's release," that may be a bit of a leap. The actor is undoubtedly plugged into scheduling plans, but "Shazam!" very well may be part of a larger tapestry that includes the "Justice League" films and solo projects like "Cyborg" and "Aquaman." Therefore, moving one of those pieces around won't be that easy.

It's possible Johnson meant that Black Adam would appear earlier than expected, potentially in another film -- similar to how Wonder Woman and Aquaman (at the very least) will debut in "Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice." Black Adam has gone up against several DC Comics heroes, which could lend credence to Johnson's multiple references to his character moving from villain to anti-hero in the cinematic universe.